A Peanut cactus care: how to grow Chamaecereus silvestrii (Echinopsis chamaecereus) indoor

Chamaecereus silvestrii (Echinopsis chamaecereus, Lobivia silvestrii) also known as a Peanut cactus. This prickly friend has got conflict-free temper. He adapts to home conditions very easy. Lately my Camaecereus silvestrii made me happy with wonderful flowering. Today I'd like to tell you about a Peanut cactus care. I'm going to write how I grow my Echinopsis chamaecereus indoor. First of all let me show you a couple of photos:

My Peanut cactus is flowering

 ...And a pic with Pegasus:

Chamaecereus silvestrii

Growing a Peanut cactus indoor is not a big deal. I locate this cactus on a sunny place at my windowsill. In Spring and in Summer I water the plant once a week. In Fall and in Winter I cultivate my
Echinopsis chamaecereus with temperature 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius).

Echinopsis chamaecereus (Lobivia silvestrii)

The houseplant locates near a window. Near my windows temperature is colder than near radiators because my windowsills is very wide. Also in cool seasons I water my Peanut cactus only once a month.

Usually Chamaecereus silvestrii flowers in Spring. The flowers live 2-3 days and then fade. (As a rule, the plant blooms indoor in the morning). This year my Peanut cactus flowered in May 11. And he had been blooming for 2 days. 


I adore the red-orange flowers. I hope you enjoy the flowering as well.

Sansevieria Laurentii care indoor: how to grow a Snake plant with yellow edges

When I saw the plant for the first time I fell in love with it. These leaves with yellow edges and light-green horizontal stripes charmed me. Oh! This amazing succulent looks like an green-yellow flame. Therefore I was happy like a child when one of flower lovers gave me a shoot of the "phyto-flame". 

Sansevieria Laurentii

I'm talking about Sansevieria Laurentii (S. trifasciata Laurentii). This is a variegated cultivar of a Snake plant (the succulent also known as a Mother-in-Low tongue and Saint Georgie's sword). It isn't a big plant. My S. Laurentii has a medium size. Therefore this green friend is suited for a small space. And that's not all. This lovely ornamental plant is able to flower! My "yellow Snake plant" is flowering now. It is another reason why I'm writing about the succulent. 

Sansevieria Laurentii in flower

What does Sansevieria trifasciata Laurentii demand indoor?

Care of this houseplant is not a big deal. Green-yellow "phyto-snake" prefers bright diffused light and infrequent watering. Plant lovers, triumph! We may irrigate this plant by tap water. Also this phyto-alien bears dry air. He doesn't need spraying even if he grows near a radiator. However this stoic has an Achilles' heel. He is afraid of over-watering. I water the plant once a week.

Sansevieria trifasciata and S. trifasciata Laurentii are flowering abreast

Also I'd like to speak about flowers of Sansevieria Laurentii. They look like tiny white Bengal flames. The flowers are very fragrant. The scent of the Sansevieria reminds the aroma of lily. A snake plant with yellow edges flowers at night. (It starts to flower in the evening and finishes to bloom in the morning).


P.S. My big Sansevieria trifasciata (a "common" Snake plant with green striped leaves) is flowering too. The plants are smelling sweet together.

How to grow Sansevieria sulcata (S. bacularis)

"The town-garden will be here in 4 years", - said Vladimir Mayakovsky. May be, my Sansevieria sulcata (S. bacularis) likes poems of this poet. This succulent has bloomed in 4 years after appearance at my flat. Today I would like to tell you about how to grow Sansevieria sulcata.
 

Sansevieria sulcata (S. bacularis)

This houseplant has an exotic form. Its sharp and long stems look like green arrows. The tips of this "arrows" are dry. It is norm for this succulent.

Sansevieria sulcata is a sister of a Snake plant (S. trifasciata). Therefore care of this exotic Sansevieria is the same as care of the "phyto-snake" in a pot.

The "green arrows"

The houseplant prefers bright diffused light, infrequent watering and poor soil. (When I going to transplant my S. bacularis, I buy a special commercial potting soil mix for cacti and succulents).

Sometimes I locate my plant on my wardrobe, because this green friend is very beautiful and he decorates my room interior. However I keep the houseplant at this shade place a few days. Than I return this succulent on the windowsill.

Exult! You should not filter water for watering. This plant likes a tap water!

My Sansevieria sulcata is blooming

However this green friend hates over-watering. The Sansevieria may rot in this case. Please, water your succulent very carefully. Usually I irrigate my "Arrow plant" once a week.

This houseplant blooms at night. Flowers of S. sulcata smell sweet. The scent is very intensive and nice. However some of people have head attack because of this smell. Fortunately, I can bear this aroma.



Every flower of this plant lives only one night. Nevertheless the buds of S. bacularis flower by turn, as a rule.

A Thanksgiving cactus care: Why does a Christmas cactus not bloom?

A Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera) is beautiful even without the flowers. The plant looks like a big green crab thanks to its unusual stems-"nippers". However we grow this phyto-alien for its blooming. A Schlumbergera's flowers resemble colorful lanterns. Usually this cactus flowers in December. Also we call this houseplant a Christmas cactus. Today I would like to devote my post to a Thanksgiving cactus care. I'm going to answer the question: "Why does a Christmas cactus not bloom?".

A Christmas cactus (A Thanksgiving cactus)

In truth, getting a Thanksgiving cactus to bloom is easier than getting desert cacti to flower indoor. The "green crab" doesn't need direct sunlight and doesn't demand dry wintering in a cool room in contrast to its desert "kin". However sometimes a Christmas cactus doesn't want to bloom. Our green friend has a few reasons for that:

1. The plant is too young. If you grow Schlumbergera from a cutting, you ought to know that the cactus is able to bloom in 2-3 years (sometimes in 4-5 years!) after the rooting.

A Christmas cactus looks like a big green crab

2. A dark place. The plant isn't able to bloom if it grows in the shade. A Christmas cactus needs bright diffuse light.

3. Lack of rest period. Schlumbergera needs short rest period when daylight hours shorten. In October/November we ought to diminish frequency of the plant watering. Also in this period we ought to locate the cactus in a room having temperature 59-64 degrees Fahrenheit (15-18 degrees Celsius). In other months this green person prefers room temperature.

Schlumbergera

4. Transposition. We shouldn't move a Christmas cactus when the budding starts or else the plant may shed the buds.

5. Dry air. Also the plant shed the buds and the flowers if air is dry. The "December cactus" adores humid air and likes spraying.

5. Soil depletion. The cactus may refuse to bloom if the soil is emaciated. In this case, please, transplant the houseplant. Thanksgiving cacti like mellow soil.


6. Over-watering. Another reason of a Thanksgiving cactus unblooming is over-watering. Of course, we should water this plant more frequent than desert cactuses. Nevertheless a bog in the pot is inadmissible. We must water the plant when a topsoil is dry. Also over-watering of the cactus produces abscission the segments of stems.

Kalanchoe rhombopilosa care

Have you ever grown a jewel in a flowerpot? How about Kalanchoe rhombopilosa? This succulent looks like a precious stone or a silver butterfly. So, this unique plant is as unpretentious as beautiful. Today I would like to tell you about Kalanchoe rhombopilosa care.

Kalanchoe rhombopilosa

This succulent has unusual leaves with undulate margins. It isn't a big houseplant. Therefore it doesn't occupy much area at a windowsill. From my point of view, it's a positive side. I have been cultivating the succulent for 2 years. How to grow Kalanchoe rhombopilosa?

The precious stone or the silver butterfly

First of all, this green person needs bright light. It is a child of the sun. The phyto-alien likes direct sunlight. You should locate this succulent at the lightest place in your flat. Let it have a piece of sun-pie. The leaves of this houseplant will be bright and gorgeous. Unfortunately if you cultivate K. rhombopilosa in the shade, the plant may wither.

This kalanchoe isn't afraid of the heat. My succulent bears high temperature in Summer. Also this plant isn't afraid of dry air. It can be located near a radiator in winter.

Kalanchoe rhombopilosa likes bright light

You will like this succulent, because it doesn't need frequent watering. This phyto-occupant of the house hate over-wetting. Sometimes you can spray the plant. But do it only in hot days.

How often should we water this houseplant? It depends on the air temperature. The soil must be dry before watering. So, usually I wet K. rhombopilosa once a week. In this case I use softened water.

If you tear off a kalanchoe's leaf by accident, don't worry about it. The houseplant will not die. Also you can grow a new silver butterfly. K. rhombopilosa propagate from the leaves. 
 
I fertilize this plant once a month in Spring & Summer. I use special fertilizer for succulents. But I think the best food for this green person is... bright light. Of course, it's my honest opinion.


In Summer you can locate your green friend outdoor. The plant will enjoy your flower garden or your veranda. But the succulent needs rain protection.



Generally, Kalanchoe rhombopilosa care isn't a big deal. This plant is my teacher. It teaches me to be thankful for small mercies.