Monkey Tail Cactus

Hildewintera colademononis

Monkey Tail Cactus, also known as Cleistocactus demonononis, looks just like monkey tails hanging from baskets. The tails can grow more than 12 inches each year, and their spines are soft to the touch.

Other Cleistocactus are Wooly Torch (C. strausii) and Foxtail (C. ferrarii).

 

tillandsia air plant

Most Popular Types

Just the Monkey Tail!

Light

Bright, indirect light

Temperatures

Monkey Tail cactus can tolerate temps as low as 20°F.

Watering

Water weekly during its growing season in spring and summer. Lightly water it in the winter when the soil is completely dry.

Toxicity

Toxic to pets and humans

Growth

Monkey Tail cactus has a trailing growth pattern and does best in hanging baskets. It can grow more than 12 inches per year. 

Bright red flowers appear along the “tails” iin spring and early summer.

Origin

Rocky soil of Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Propagation

While it can be propagated from seed, it is easiest to propagate Monkey Tail cactus from cuttings. Cut 4-5 inch sections and allow ends to callous several days before placing them in slightly moist soil in dappled sunlight. The cuttings typically root within a month.

Dormancy

Winter dormant

Hildewinteri colademononis monkey tail cactus

Hildewinteri colademononis monkey tail cactus started from seed

monkey tail cactus – Cleistocactus colademononis

Monkey tail cactus we purchased from a private collection.

monkey tail cactus

Monkey tail cactus is very showy, covered with blooms in the spring.

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

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Haworthia

Haworthia

Haworthia are shade-loving succulents with some curious names: fairy washboard, file leaf plant, window haworthia, zebra plant, and even horse’s teeth.

Grown in direct sunlight, haworthia are likely to turn a reddish-brown color.

These plants take in sunlight during the day and spend their nights transpiring – making them great air purifiers for bedrooms.

tillandsia air plant

Most Popular Types

Fairy washboard (haworthia attenuata)
 and Haworthia cooperi

Light

In their native environment, Haworthia grows in direct sun. The leaves of many of the varieities have translucent tips that allow the sun to collect inside the leaves during the day, providing more surface area for photosynthesis during the cooler evenings when the plant can open its pores.

Temperatures

Haworthia can surviive in temperatures above 30 degrees F.

Watering

Allow the soil to become completely dry before watering haworthia. Water the soil near the base of the plant rather than watering from the top.

Toxicity

Haworthia is non-toxic to people and pets.

Growth

Haworthia typically doesn’t grow beyond 8 inches in height. A groundcover in its native environment, haworthia will form in clumps.

Origin

Haworthia grows naturally in South Africa.

Propagation

While haworthia often put out flowers on extra long inflorescenses, it is difficult to start them from seed. Propagation is most easily done from offsets.

Dormancy

Haworthia is summer dormant. We think it still believes it’s growing in the southern hemisphere.

haworthia truncata

Haworthia truncata is also called the horse’s mouth plant.

Haworthia wandera Miami

The Haworthia wandera Miami variety is similar to the fairy washboard, but with stripes.

Haworthia super fasciata zebra plant

Haworthia super fasciata is also known as zebra plant.

Haworthia super fasciata zebra plant (2)

The Haworthia super fasciata grows in an upright pattern and often produces offsets.

haworthia fairy washboard

Haworthia limifolia, or fairy washboard, does well in shady areas.

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

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Graptopetalum

Graptopetalum

Graptopetalum is one of the more understated succulents. It works well as a spiller in container arrangements and as a seasonal groundcover.

Graptopetalum has been crossed with Sedum (Graptosedum) and Echeveria (Graptoveria) to encourage stronger stems and leaves.

tillandsia air plant

Most Popular Types

Ghost plant (Graptopetalum paraguayense) is always in stock at Growing Hobby.

Light

Full sun

Temperatures

Graptopetalum can withstand temps as low as 20°F.

Watering

Water when completely dry

Toxicity

Non-toxic to people and pets

Growth

Grows 12 inches in height by 3 ft wide. It may produce small yellow flowers in the spring.

Origin

Mexico, Arizona

Propagation

Leaf cuttings, stem cuttings

Dormancy

Summer dormant

Graptopetalum grey ghost

Graptopetalum, the grey ghost, work well as fillers and spillers in dish gardens.

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

Book A Workshop

Gasteria

Gasteria

This is the succulent that started it all. I got a thick-leaved Gasteria “Little Warty” and fell in love with these incredible plants. A few months later, Growing Hobby was born.

Gasteria takes its name from the Latin word for stomach, which the flowers resemble. 

tillandsia air plant

Most Popular Types

Gasteria Little Warty, Lawyer’s Tongue – G. bicolor, Cow Tongue – G. maculata, Horse teeth – G. truncata x maughanii, and Gasteria Flow

Light

Indirect light for most of the day. Two hours of direct sun will help to combat heart rot. However, new offsets should not be placed in direct sun, as their root systems won’t bring in enough moisture.

Temperatures

Gasteria cannot tolerate temperatures below 50°F.

Watering

Allow the soil to dry completely between waterings. Do not allow water to remain in the crown of the plant, as it may cause heart rot.

Toxicity

All Gasteria are toxic to humans and pets.

Growth

Gasteria is slow growing, and it needs several nights of 50-55°F temps in winter to force blooms in the spring.

Gasteria typically stays low to the ground, but it can reach 2 ft in height in its native habitat.

Origin

South Africa

Propagation

Offsets can be taken once a root system has developed.

Dormancy

Winter dormant

gasteria flowers

Gasteria is more apt to flowers when it undergoes several nights of 50 degree temps in the winter.

little warty with offset

Little Warty

gasteria in nature – fan shape

Gasteria can take many shapes.

gasteria sunburn

Gasteria can take on a reddish hue when it is underwatered and remains in direct sun.

gasteria flow and bicolor

Gasteria Flow to the left and Lawyer’s Tongue on right

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

Book A Workshop

Ferocactus

Ferocactus

Ferocactus is a genus with about 30 varieties of large barrel cactus with large spines and tiny flowers. Young ferocactus look like a column, but they fill out as they get older. Many have hooked spines.

Some ferocacti host ant colonies that are drawn in by nectar exuded near the top spines.

Close View Of Ferocactus Wislizeni In Botanical Garden

Most Popular Types

Ferocactus latispinus has spines that curve back toward the cactus. Ferocactus histrix has a slate blue surface and yellow spines.

Light

Full sun

Temperatures

Ferocactus cannot withstand freezing temperatures for long periods. We recommend bringing your cactus indoors when nighttime temps drop to 40°F.

Watering

Water sparingly and infrequently.

Toxicity

No toxic effects have been reported. The spines could be dangerous, though.

Growth

The young cacti are columnar, then they round out. As they get older, they grow upward again.

Flowers appear after about 10 years in early to late spring.

Origin

Altiplano of Mexico

Propagation

There are a few ferocactus varieties that can be propagated by offsets, however the most common way to grow new ferocactus is from seed.

Dormancy

Winter dormant.

Ferocactus alamosanus

Ferocactus alamosarus appears to have blood spattered on its spines, but it has beautiful yellow flowers in the spring.

Blue barrel cacstus - Ferocactus glaucescens

Blue barrel cacstus – Ferocactus glaucescens

Blue barrel cacstus – Ferocactus glaucescens

Close View Of Ferocactus Wislizeni In Botanical Garden

Close View Of Ferocactus Wislizeni In Botanical Garden

Close View Of Ferocactus Wislizeni In Botanical Garden

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

Book A Workshop