Cacti and Succulents Sat, 14 Mar 2026 19:22:05 +0000 Sat, 14 Mar 2026 19:22:05 +0000 UBC Botanical Garden Forums https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/cacti-and-succulents.184/ Fri, 28 Mar 2025 02:46:57 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/help-lace-aloe-white-patchy-problem.105087/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/help-lace-aloe-white-patchy-problem.105087/ invalid@example.com (choufleur) choufleur
I've had a problem with spreading white patches on a lace aloe. The plant is 9 years old in high inorganic content succulent soil. It recently flowered, and normally appears very robust.

The plant is indoors for the humid season and stays outdoors in the dry summer, both in SE exposure. Indoors, it gets ~8h-10h of grow light, turns on 2h after dawn and sits at a window. Typically, other succulents and cacti do very well in this location and show year round growth.

The only...

HELP: Lace aloe white patchy problem]]> Mon, 09 Dec 2024 13:26:06 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/new-and-curious.104900/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/new-and-curious.104900/ invalid@example.com (KosukeCreations [Lyan]) KosukeCreations [Lyan]
New and Curious]]> 9 Sat, 29 Jun 2024 08:41:56 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/mites.104499/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/mites.104499/ invalid@example.com (tomatillotransfer) tomatillotransfer
I am in Ottawa. I have a pot with a few cacti that I've moved outside for the first time just a couple days ago.

I noticed a few mites (I think) in the pot. I attached a picture. They are red and very small.

Are those a problem? If they are, how do I get rid of them?]]> 1 Sun, 12 May 2024 02:02:21 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/leaning-gasteria.104419/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/leaning-gasteria.104419/ invalid@example.com (McWifey) McWifey 1 Wed, 31 Jan 2024 22:36:52 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/aloe-vera-falling-over.104010/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/aloe-vera-falling-over.104010/ invalid@example.com (Vimvimvim) Vimvimvim I'm trying to get some advice. I have this aloe vera plant which is getting so top heavy it is falling over. Its being propped up with sticks but I'm wondering:

- can I do anything to save it. Cut it back etc
- have I done something wrong to get it to grow like this.]]> 4 Fri, 08 Dec 2023 16:21:12 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/crassula-jade-plant.103888/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/crassula-jade-plant.103888/ invalid@example.com (AlainK) AlainK
I've never kept a Portulacaria afra for very long, they don't seem to like my climate.

On the contrary, Crassula ovata, and other species oof Crassula are easy to keep in my environment : I take them out as soon as there are no more frosts, and bring them inside when they come back. When they're in full sun in summer, they get a red hem on the leaves.

And it's so easy to take cuttings....

Crassula / "Jade plant"]]> Sun, 26 Nov 2023 15:19:48 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/please-help-me-with-my-cactus-its-may-be-dying.103848/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/please-help-me-with-my-cactus-its-may-be-dying.103848/ invalid@example.com (Xarin) Xarin
View attachment 246952]]> 6 Tue, 08 Aug 2023 07:57:01 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/help-me-save-this-madagaskar-palm.103556/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/help-me-save-this-madagaskar-palm.103556/ invalid@example.com (Neg) Neg This Madagaskar palm (Pachypodium lamerei) was sent to me from another city. Due to bad packaging and transformation, the roots are hurt on the way. It seems like the roots do not absorb water right now. Please take a look at the pictures.
i'm worried it could go completely withered soon. I really need to save it. Could anyone please help me figure out what i need to do?]]> Sat, 05 Aug 2023 05:12:00 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/saguaros-fry-in-phoenix.103548/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/saguaros-fry-in-phoenix.103548/ invalid@example.com (togata57) togata57 At the Desert Botanical Garden, three of the treasured institution’s more than 1,000 saguaro cactuses have toppled over or lost an arm in the last week

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/03/phoenix-extreme-heat-withers-saguaros-cactus]]> 1 Wed, 21 Jun 2023 23:59:16 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/abandoned-succulent.103454/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/abandoned-succulent.103454/ invalid@example.com (notsogreenthumb) notsogreenthumb 8 Thu, 15 Jun 2023 19:39:11 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/please-help-my-ponytail-palm.103441/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/please-help-my-ponytail-palm.103441/ invalid@example.com (Nicole0426) Nicole0426
Please help my Ponytail Palm!]]> Mon, 22 May 2023 19:09:20 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/strange-scales-on-jade-plant.103345/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/strange-scales-on-jade-plant.103345/ invalid@example.com (Eleanor Burke) Eleanor Burke View attachment 243418 View attachment 243419 View attachment 243420 View attachment 243421 View attachment 243422 View attachment 243423 View attachment 243424 View attachment 243425 View attachment 243419 Hi all, I have owned 2 different breeds of Crassula for almost 2 years now. They have always been in the same spot which isn’t particularly drafty or bright at any time.

recently I started noticing that one had some sort of mysterious disease where it produces scales on some of...

Strange scales on jade plant]]> 2 Mon, 24 Apr 2023 22:10:13 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/is-my-african-milk-tree-going-to-make-it.103242/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/is-my-african-milk-tree-going-to-make-it.103242/ invalid@example.com (Francisco Payés) Francisco Payés
Can you help me out? what can I do to help her? Thanks so much.]]> 2 Tue, 20 Dec 2022 19:24:44 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/aloe-id.103061/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/aloe-id.103061/ invalid@example.com (Mkirker) Mkirker Fri, 30 Sep 2022 19:46:47 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/re-potting-30-year-old-cacti.102869/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/re-potting-30-year-old-cacti.102869/ invalid@example.com (CactiCatman) CactiCatman Tue, 20 Sep 2022 16:11:13 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/can-you-help-me-find-out-whats-wrong-with-this-guy.102356/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/can-you-help-me-find-out-whats-wrong-with-this-guy.102356/ invalid@example.com (Gussimo) Gussimo
hope you're doing well. So I have a young Echinopsis Pachanoi that isn't doing well, it was never the healthiest but I think it got worse. Just wondering if anyone has suggestions about what I can do to help it :). I'll annex a photo.

Kind regards,
Gustavo]]> 9 Wed, 14 Sep 2022 05:50:07 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/what-to-do-about-black-stuff-on-jade-leaves.102813/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/what-to-do-about-black-stuff-on-jade-leaves.102813/ invalid@example.com (Karenbostonfern) Karenbostonfern 1 Tue, 06 Sep 2022 15:44:36 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/cactus-problems.102780/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/cactus-problems.102780/ invalid@example.com (John Cubberly) John Cubberly 3 Sat, 03 Sep 2022 03:26:24 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/identification-needed.102761/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/identification-needed.102761/ invalid@example.com (Giango) Giango 1 Tue, 30 Aug 2022 11:29:12 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/is-this-lophophora-williamsii.102749/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/is-this-lophophora-williamsii.102749/ invalid@example.com (Sergio88) Sergio88
https://photos.app.goo.gl/5T5wUT3bEwQUMPmZ6
https://photos.app.goo.gl/hxTqULhR6JUhaJoy5
https://photos.app.goo.gl/QQ6ffWEnagwPu8QD8
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Zb5AF8K5PjdK2Rpj9]]> Mon, 22 Aug 2022 06:50:42 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/lithops-leaves-burnt-but-stem-remaining.102686/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/lithops-leaves-burnt-but-stem-remaining.102686/ invalid@example.com (StephenOs) StephenOs
I've grown 4 lithops from seed.

Recently the leaf on one of them seemed to burn away over a couple of days, but the stem has stayed.

I think it may be from the wrong light and water...

Has anyone come across this?

Thanks]]> 7 Thu, 18 Aug 2022 18:33:11 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/4-ribbed-cactus.102694/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/4-ribbed-cactus.102694/ invalid@example.com (bmac19) bmac19 Thanks]]> Sat, 13 Aug 2022 03:16:10 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/plant-id.102673/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/plant-id.102673/ invalid@example.com (AlainK) AlainK
View attachment 235214

It's not the first time I've attached the leaves when new shoots appeared and it was evident the pot was too small :

View attachment 235215

I used to know its name, but I've forgotten. A friend suggested "Dracaena angolensis" but I don't think it is. The leaves have a kind of groove on one side, so I...

Plant ID]]> 3 Sun, 10 Jul 2022 02:12:41 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/plant-id-please.102493/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/plant-id-please.102493/ invalid@example.com (Pcbayou) Pcbayou It had begun to rot from the soil being kept too wet and I want to propagate what’s left of it into fresh, more appropriate potting mix. Since I have no idea what it is, it’s hard to determine how I should propagate and take care of it. I’ve attached several pictures and...

Plant ID, please]]> 6 Fri, 08 Jul 2022 04:31:15 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/strange-growth-near-top-of-cactus.101853/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/strange-growth-near-top-of-cactus.101853/ invalid@example.com (StephenOs) StephenOs
I have a little cactus which has recently grown a strange structure.
It looks like a root coming out of the top, which might mean it needs more water...
I might have seen such a structure before on this cactus or its parent- I have a vague memory of perhaps seeing it...
Essentially I'd just like to know if I should do anything about it.
Thanks :)]]> 8