Thanks, Darryl. I quickly realized that after checking serveral times, so try to "read/feel" the soil (my fairly std. homemade cactus mix), & trusting it more. Also realizing the downside of small gravel over much of top -- can't feel the soil! Generally don't water anything for a week...

Hey, Steve, thanks for the response. Glad your cacti hiatus is over! My youngest son is up for Christmas & noticed the asterias laying on its side in the pot & was asking what was going on. As I showed it to him, trying to explain about the roots, I discovered a far worse(& my orig. dx) ...

Thanks from an observer of this thread. I've have an asterias that I've gone thru this the last 2 winters. I thought it was root rot, but never saw a tear @ neck d/t rot. So I replanted in Summer & come Nov/Dec -- same ol, same ol. Right now it's pulled out, sitting in the pot because I just did...

Lythopsman: I never saw a response to your request back in June for O. humifusa. Did you get any? I just got thru cleaning a couple of hundred, some I was going to test my new propagation set-up. If you need some, I be glad to send -- no trade needed. If you've acquired extra seed since then, that's...

Excellent start, Red! And we all recognize "the signs"! I can vouch for Barracuda's comment, & I'm proof. I got bit @3 yrs ago, altho I always had a couple of C & S hanging around, thriving like crazy in my non-succulent world ignorance! The staggering thing is, since I "got a...

Don't know if this is a "Reply", but can't figure out the Posting Messages system yet. Short note of Into - other than profile. I'm a semi-retired veterinarian, transitioning into C & S, mostly cacti, esp. "cold-hardy" since I live in upstate/Finger Lakes region of NY. Life-l...