For 90% of (desert) cacti, you just shouldn't bother watering them in winter. Little to gain, lots to lose. Following your saga with the rains, I couldn't imagine you wanting to add any more water to any of them until spring. A 2-3 month dry spell in fairly cool conditions is nothing to these plant...

Wait. They don't need to be watered immediately and occasionally it is fatal. Not watering for a few weeks is never fatal. Good idea. When cacti are taken out of their existing soil, some of the roots will inevitably get broken off. A certain amount of "transplant shock" is necessary, alt...

Ah, thanks so much, Ian -- you were quite helpful! As I get to know more about the cacti in my collection, I appreciate being able to learn the ins and outs of the needs that I should be mindful with specific plants.

I got this from the California Cactus Center. The plant tag IDs it as a Neoporteria nidus v. senilis: http://www.cactiguide.com/forum/userpix/4655_Neoporteria_nidus_v_senilis_1.jpg Is the ID correct, or is it something else? If it's something else, I hope someone can enlighten me on what the species...

How low can turbs go? I have some outside now in the 39-41 degree range. There's a frost advisory in some part of socal right now. I just took in an adenium and a copiapoa.. not sure what else. Turbs will generally go down to 25 degrees for a short period, so frost shouldn't be a worry unless it's ...

Thanks much, Toddo -- you have definitely given me some food for thought. Since you're in the Long Beach area, it's good to hear from someone who is pretty close to the climate conditions I deal with. I'll welcome hearing from other people with their own perspectives, and this is helpful to consider...

After my previous note on the rain shelter I posted, this caused me to revisit my approach to watering in general. I know -- we're just a few weeks away from Christmas, and I already have the next growing season in mind. However, I figured that some advice on spring and summer wouldn't hurt as I thi...

I just perused Erik Haustein's cactus handbook, and it looks like Espostoa guentheri, with the beginnings of a lateral cephalium. I'm concerned about etoliation at the top, which would be a problem if the plant isn't being given enough sunlight. Unfortunately, keeping cacti inside the house is gener...

Thanks much to those of you who looked at my post. If I could indulge you a bit more, here's a follow-up. In case you haven't already seen it, this is my "cactus coop" with the winter rain shelter over the top: http://www.cactiguide.com/forum/userpix/4655_Cactus_coop_rain_shelter_2.jpg Wha...

Seems excessive, at least in your climate. Don't you have some plants that don't mind a little winter water? Or rotate them. Almost any cactus won't mind dampening once or twice so long as they dry out properly in between (and don't freeze that night!). It is worth bearing in mind that your winter ...

Little old me here in Los Angeles (again). I put up my rain shelter for the winter, and since my collection has to stay outside, this was the best I could do. When I gave it a "field test" on the 20th, I found that a little rain was still bound to get in. The back half of the plant bench w...

Looks like Senecio serpens, also known as Blue Ice or Blue Chalksticks. If it is that, we have this in the garden outside and it just grows and grows and grows. Our sales plants are potted and kept in the greenhouse. They seem to do well in either situation. Here's a pic to compare http://www.cactu...

My collection is mostly cacti, but I also have a few succulents. This one I know only as a pickle plant, so I'm hoping for an ID: http://www.cactiguide.com/forum/userpix/4655_Pickle_plant_2.jpg I believe the Genus is Kleinia, but that covers quite a few species, so I'd really appreciate finding out ...

Thanks, Ian and Mughal. I'll follow your advice and see if I can bring my asterias back. If you don't mind, I'd like to ask a couple of follow-up questions: 1. The growing season here in Los Angeles will start at the beginning of April. If the roots do come back, how long would they take to properly...

Looks like it might have lost its roots. They do that easily. Ah, I didn't see that one coming. Now that you mention it, I just pulled on the asterias enough to feel if the roots seemed to be established. Nope, I'm afraid root loss is the case. Guess there's nothing more I can do over winter except...