Does anyone grow cacti/succulents?

[Moopmoop]

Just fancied having a neb as I never see anyone talking about it. My mam has a collection of them as I had one or two as a kid but I've not had one for years until I bought a jade plant about 8 weeks ago. Anyone else got them? I'd be interested to see if there is anyone who has venus fly traps or similar

[Kristen]

I've got several that I'm growing from seed, mostly Agave and Aloes. I quite fancy a pair of huge Agave Americana in urns



amongst the ones I'm trying is Aloe polyphylla



ask me in 5 years time how I'm getting on!!

I tried Venus Fly Trap, didn't have any success. Sarracenia (Pitcher Plants) might be more worthwhile?

[Alison]

We have had a pitcher plant in the kitchen for a few years, it's dormant at the moment so in the greenhouse but will be back in shortly. It's great for keeping summer flies down. Bought another one last summer so hope that does well too. Also bought a Venus flytrap which has died right back. Was told this would happen over winter but am dubious about it returning at present.

Tried growing cacti from seed a couple of years ago.n they germinated fine but grew very slowly and then died. Suspect the conditions were not right and most of my limited time was going on looking after the veggies (you've got to eat). Bought some small plants instead which do brilliantly on the conservatory window ledges.

[Guest]

My Nanny used to have quite a few and as a teenager I thought cacti were great and grew loads from seed. However over 10 or less years lost interest and I think what was left went to charity shops. I have tried venus fly traps a couple of times and failed miserably, I have also a couple of pitchers and it took me a couple of years to kill those

I did try Mother in Laws tongue but in rotted off I sound really bad here - I am not we are talking over 20ish years. I have a money plant (jade tree), an aloe and a range of christmas cacti - which are one of my favourites.

Oh when I was younger I thought the living stones plants were great although I called them bum plants

[Kristen]

a range of christmas cacti - which are one of my favourites.

Forgot about them Granny had a fabulous one on a pedestal that came right down to the floor, I fancied doing that ... no one in the family still seems to have a "bit" which would have been nice as a starting point, so ever the scrooge I bought a couple on the "probably already dead so we've stopped watering it" rack in the local garden centre for a handful of peanuts ...

They are thriving, amazed how fast they are growing, the floor looks to be easily in reach within a lifetime but ... they are Bright Pink!! and I had assumed / wanted red ones.

[Alison]

I rescued a dead looking Christmas cacti from my great aunt's house when we cleared that after she died. It was totally brown and crispy looking but after repotting and watering it came back to life and gas doubled in size. Don't normally name plants but that one is Hazel

[Moopmoop]

I don't know what it is about cacti and succulents but everyone seems to love them. I've tried unsuccessfully over the years with venus fly traps but they've never made it very long. I quite fancy an aloe vera next.

[Alison]

Aloe Vera is very easy and can live outside in the summer.

[Gillykat]

Oh when I was younger I thought the living stones plants were great although I called them bum plants

Hahaha and I thought it was only me who called them that! I used to have a few in a terracotta pot but lost them when my puppy grew big enough to reach up to the windowsill and pulled them down!!! This was back in the early 90's so I think I may just try them again.

Perhaps cacti are the way to go on my south-facing window....the cats certainly won't chew them

Carnivorous plants fascinate me and I was tempted to try a few on the plot in a container and bring them into the greenhouse or polytunnel to overwinter.

[noviceveggrower]

I have a Christmas cactus that is doing OK. Quite a surprise as I usually kill indoor plants within a few weeks.
When I was little my sister got a small cactus. It did grow massive and the pointy prickle things were evil on it, think they are called spines?
I had the bad luck to be given it when she left home and when we moved to Scotland we had a glass lean to put on the house and it got put in there. Our last year there was one of the hottest years on record. One day we noticed it looked as if it has a caterpillar stuck to it and then loads more appeared. Over the next month it produced some of the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen. We left it in Scotland when we moved as all our stuff went into storage and the cactus was massive by then.

[Kristen]

Aloe Vera is very easy and can live outside in the summer.

That's another one I have and forgot to mention

Gets used at least once a year when someone burns themselves! Very effective for that - cut a bit off a "leaf" and smear the sap on the burn.

I'm not mad about that type of succulent, mine just produce masses of babies at the base rather than making a "proper plant"