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Winter Care Tips For Succulents and Cacti

Succulents and cacti are fun plants to add to your indoor space to add life, color, and a beautiful living decoration to your home. These plants are pretty low maintenance as long as they have enough sun and aren’t overwatered. While people love adding new plants to their home during the summer, the winter months may seem like the wrong time to welcome new plants to your tables and windowsills. Since the winter months mean shorter days, less sun, and colder weather for many places, it can make it seem difficult to care for succulent and cactus plants. But it doesn’t have to be a challenge!At Planet Desert, we believe plants can make a great addition to your home no matter the time of year or the climate where you live. In a previous blog, we discussed why winter was a great time to add plants to your home, and today, we are going to give you some winter care tips for all the new succulents and cacti that you are going to welcome into your home this winter! Read on to learn more and be sure to shop our collections for new, unique, and beautiful succulent and cactus plants. Before we get started on our list of tips, we wanted to note one thing — most succulents and cacti go dormant by the time fall comes, which means that they will not grow throughout the winter. If you notice that your succulents and cacti stop growing, don’t take this as a sign that they need more water. Read on for tips for caring for your cactus and succulent plants in the winter. Tip 1: Know When To Start To keep your succulents alive and thriving during the winter season, it is important to know when to start winter care for your plants. Winter care for your plants starts earlier than the winter solstice, so it is important to keep that in mind. Your winter plant care should start when the days begin to shorten, so sometime in the fall. Tip 2: Be Aware of Placements A dormant succulent or cactus does not need as much sun as they do in the summer and can survive in indirect lighting. However, to help them thrive, it is best to ensure they get at least three to four hours of bright light a day. If possible, place them near a south or east facing window, you can also use artificial light, such as a grow lamp, to give your succulents and cacti the proper amount of light. If your succulents and cacti are already near a window that gets plenty of sun, you can just leave them in their current home! Tip 3: Proper Potting Needs While this is something you should be aware of whether it is summer or winter, it is important to ensure that you are following your succulents potting needs properly. Succulents and cacti grow best in well-draining soil that doesn’t hold moisture. Be sure to pot your succulents in pots with drain holes and use soil that is sandy and well-draining. If you have some succulents and cacti that are not currently potted like this, be sure to repot them following these tips. Tip 4: Water Less During the winter period, when your plants are dormant, they do not need to be watered as much as during the summer. Cacti should be watered even less often than succulents, since they are more prone to rot than succulents. Since your cacti aren’t going to be flowering or growing during the winter period, they need very little water to stay alive. Be sure to let the soil that your cacti and succulents are planted in to dry out completely before watering. They won’t die if they go a little longer being dry but they may die if they get root rot from overwatering. Tip 5: Stop Feeding During the winter period, you should also stop feeding your cacti and succulents. When you feed your plants during their dormant period, the extra amount of nitrogen can stress them out and cause them to rot quicker. Be sure not to feed your cacti and succulents from September through March. Tip 6: Control the Temperature While we are sure you are already paying attention to temperature in your home in order to keep yourself comfortable and happy during the winter months, it is important to keep it in mind for your plants as well. Succulents and cacti are fine in temperatures as low as 50 to 55 degrees fahrenheit. Be sure to keep your home above that temperature, which we are sure you will do unless you are out of town. So, if you are heading out of town, be sure to set your thermostat so your heat kicks on if it drops too low. Tip 7: Look Out For Pests Winter is a dry season and your home will tend to be drier since you likely will have the heat on or a fire going. Unfortunately, pests, such as mealy bugs, love the dry climate and may find a new home on your succulent and cactus plants. Be sure to check your plants for pests regularly. Unlike your other house plants, you should avoid using horticultural oil on succulents and cacti. These products will eat away at the waxy skin layer of these types of plants. Instead, let the soil dry out fully and then use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to dab at the pests. If your pest problem has gotten out of hand, you can put the rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle and spray your plants. These tips should be a great starting point for caring for your succulent and cacti plants in the winter! But one final tip we have is to not overthink it. Oftentimes, these plants thrive on neglect. Be sure to not overwater them and that they get some light and they should be good to go! Planet Desert is a family-owned and operated online nursery that offers unique and beautiful succulent and cactus plants. We will safely and carefully ship our plants to your door for you to add to your collection! Shop our collections of succulents and cacti today and enjoy a new plant all winter long. Contact us with any questions you may have.

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Why Choose Plants For the Winter Season

cCacti and succulents are plants that most people want to add to their home during the summer. The warm weather, sun rays beaming through the windows, and desire to be outside, make people want to bring the outdoors in and add to their plant collections! While it makes sense to buy plants in the summer, there are many reasons to also invest in plants in the winter.At Planet Desert, we work with plants year round, and we think you should enjoy them year round as well! Our Southern California nursery works hard to grow and create unique cacti and succulents that allow you to add something completely different to your plant collection. If you need a reason to buy a new plant this winter, keep reading! There are many reasons why you should invest in plants during the winter months. Plants Relieve Stress It is no secret that the colder months can be more stressful. With holidays stacked up back to back, having to plan for different holidays, prepare, and ensure everything goes smoothly can cause people a lot of stress during the winter. Plants have been shown to help reduce stress and lessen feelings of anxiety. While buying a plant may not take all the stress out of the holidays, it may help give you a bit of relief! We think you should test it out and order a new plant from us today! Plants Provide Calm Going along with the fact that plants can relieve stress, plants can also add a sense of calmness. This means that you can relax and enjoy a bit of calm before the storm with the help of some beautiful house plants. Enjoy your morning coffee, cozied up next to the window, surrounded by plants. Take a moment to yourself, draw a bath, and fill your bathroom with some plants. These little moments can help keep your calm and allow you to relax a little during this hectic season. Say Goodbye to SAD Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD, is a real thing. SAD is a type of seasonal depression that generally starts in the fall and continues on through the winter mothers. SAD can leave you feeling fatigued, depressed, hopeless, and, well, sad. Whether it is because the sun sets way too early during the winter or because you are not spending as much time outside in nature (which has been shown to improve a person’s mood), SAD can affect anyone and everyone.Plants could help reduce the symptoms of SAD. Plants have been shown to help improve people’s moods, making them feel better and worry less. Plants have also been shown to help improve mental health. They can increase feelings of well-being in people who suffer from depression, anxiety, dementia, and other conditions. This means that plants can help you feel better when you experience SAD as well. Plus, they give you that bit of nature your body and mind crave during the winter months. If you ask us, that is a great reason to fill your home with more plants! They Make Great Gifts Plants make great gifts for the holiday season! Whether someone in your family already collects plants or you are getting a friend their first plant, this can be a fun and special gift that is unique! We doubt that anyone will be expecting to get a strange looking succulent during the holidays, but we are sure they will be thrilled! Even those who are not great at keeping plants alive may love giving it another shot with an easy-to-care-for cactus. If you are trying to figure out a unique and fun gift to give someone on your list, be sure to check out our plants, we are sure you will find one that they will love. Brings Your Home To Life Winter can feel very cozy and welcoming, especially if you decorate and add a ton of soft blankets to your hangout space. But plants can bring your home to life during the winter seasons. Many people may not be huge fans of winter and may not feel as cozy in their homes during these colder months, a plant can help add a touch of summer to a home and make it feel more alive and colorful. A plant could be just what you need to make the winters more enjoyable in your home!No matter what reason you decide fits you the best, there are so many benefits to investing in plants during the winter season. While the weather is colder, the days are shorter, and the time spent in nature is limited, you can bring nature inside and enjoy fun, colorful, and beautiful plants that add some cheer to your home. Shop Planet Desert for unique cactus and succulent plants! We are sure you will find one you love or the perfect one to give as a gift!

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How Plants Can Affect Your Health

There are many reasons why people love having plants in their homes, from bringing nature indoors to watching something grow to having something to care for. No matter what your reason may be, there are actually many benefits for having house plants. House plants can provide you with a variety of mental, emotional, and physical health benefits. At Planet Desert, we are a family-owned nursery that has a passion for plants and providing our customers with unique flora friends that will make their collection even more fun! We offer a huge selection of cacti and succulents that are unique and hard to find in your local nursery. Be sure to shop through our collections and enjoy the many benefits that come with your indoor plant collection. In this blog, we are going to talk about the benefits that plants can provide you. Read on to learn more! Reduces Stress Having house plants can actually help to reduce stress levels, which is something we all need every once in a while! Several studies have found that plants can help to reduce symptoms of stress. People who were around plants and performed indoor gardening tasks showed lower heart rates and blood pressure. Plants provide a calming effect, which make them extremely beneficial to have in your home and office! Indoor plants have the same effect on your stress levels as taking a walk through nature. Next time you are feeling stressed, just add another houseplant to your collection! Boosts Productivity Plants can also help give you a boost in your productivity, which is another great reason to add some plants to your office space! Many studies have found that having plants in the workplace can help increase productivity, as well as creativity. There is a popular study that is often referenced when talking about the benefits of plants and productivity. In this study, students in a campus computer lab were found to work about 12 percent faster and experienced less stress when plants were placed nearby. Plants can also help boost your focus, strengthen your memory, and make it easier for you to concentrate on whatever task you are working on. If you are struggling to keep your mind focused on your work and you want to be more productive, add a few plants to your workspace! Improves Mental Health Plants have also been shown to help boost and improve mental health. There are studies that found that having plants in your home can help to increase feelings of well-being in people with a number of conditions, including depression, anxiety, dementia, and others. Gardening and nurturing plants can provide people with a ton of different benefits and help those suffering from different conditions. While they may not by the only form of therapy you need, they can help boost your mental health and provide you with unique benefits. Boosts Mood Many people add plants to their home or office to boost the appearance of their space, but plants can also boost their moods! Studies have found that plants in an office can help employees feel better about their jobs and worry less. Plants have also been connected to fewer sick days, which is great for the employees and the employer! If you want to boost the mood in your workspace or in your home, add a few beautiful plants. Plants that bloom as especially beneficial for improving the mood! Purifies The Air Certain types of indoor house plants can help improve indoor air quality. Believe it or not, indoor air quality is often worse than outdoor air quality, which makes it even more beneficial to clean your air with plants! The process of plants removing contaminants for the air is known as phytoremediation. The roots and soil of houseplants have been shown to significantly reduce airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs). While modern technology and biofilters purify your air quite well, adding a few plants to the equation will only help! Speeds Up Recovery Plants may also be able to help speed up the recovery of illness, injury or surgery. A study found that people who were recovering from different types of surgeries needed less pain medication and spent a shorter time in the hospital when they had greenery to look at during their healing period. This may be why people give flowers to those who are sick or recovering from an injury! Next time someone you love is sick or had a procedure done, send them a happy little succulent to boost their mood and help them recover more quickly. They will then be able to enjoy that plant for years to come!There are many different benefits the house plants can provide. Whether you want to be more productive at work, enjoy a beautiful mood booster, or you simply love the look of nature inside, our nursery can provide you with unique and beautiful cacti and succulents that can elevate your space and provide a number of different benefits. Shop Planet Desert now!

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How to Propagate Stem Cuttings

Whether you are new to the world of plants or you have been collecting plants for years, there are a few things that everyone has to learn at one point or another. How to propagate succulent and cactus stem cuttings is one of those things. Propagating allows you to take a plant that is thriving and start a new plant from one of the leaves or stem cuttings. This is a fun and easy way to grow your collection or give some plants to a friend!At Planet Desert, we sell cuttings for different succulents and cacti plants that allows you to grow your own! Whether you buy our cuttings or use cuttings for your current plants, we thought it would be helpful to give you a list of steps that you can follow to make propagating your plant simpler. Read on to learn more! Step 1: Cut Leaves We are going to start by telling you how to cut your succulents or cacti to propagate them in case you wanted to propagate your own plants. The type of succulent or cactus that you are cutting will depend on what kind of cuttings you take. Some plants can propagate with a leaf while others need actual cuttings to grow more. If you are going to propagate using a leaf, it is important that you get the entire leaf, all the way up to the stem. If your leave is cut or breaks off before the stem, it will likely die. You can simply twist the leaf to pull it off of the stem, just make sure you get the entire leaf. If you are taking a full cutting to propagate your succulent, you will want to use sharp scissors or pruning shears. Cut the stem, just above a leaf. You can take your cutting from the top of the succulent or from an offshoot. For cacti cuttings, what you cut will depend on the type of cactus you have. If your cactus is growing pads, choose a mature one (not a smaller one towards the top) and cut that. If you have a columnar cactus, you will want to cut the stuff a few inches from the top. For columnar cacti, try to choose a thinner stem, this will allow it to root faster than thicker ones. Your cut should be as straight as possible. Step 2: Let Them Dry After you have your succulent or cactus cuttings, you need to let them dry. Place them somewhere safe, away from the sun and soil. You will want the cutting to form a callous. If you try to plant your cutting before it has a chance to scab, it will absorb too much water and drown. This is why it is important to give it a few days to dry and scab. Step 3: Water Them to Root Once your succulent and cactus cuttings have scabbed over on the cut end, you can start watering them. While you don’t have to water mature succulents and cacti often, leaves and cuttings you are trying to propagate need more watering. They need to be watered regularly without overwatering them. There are a few ways that you can do this. You can prepare a well-draining pot with some soil and plant your succulent or cactus cuttings, burying the end that you cut, which is the rooting end, in the soil. If you have a succulent cutting that you are planting, make sure you remove any leaves that are lower on the stem. You don’t want to bury any leaves. After planting your cuttings, you can keep the soil moist without overwatering. Another way that you can start getting your cuttings to root is to lay them flat on the soil, with the cut end not touching the soil. Then simply water the soil to keep it moist and allow your succulent or cactus cuttings to start rooting this way. This is also a great option if your cuttings won’t stand up. When you have succulent cuttings, rather than just leaves, you will want to try to plant it in the soil. It does not need to grow another plant, it just needs to be planted and watered, and it will start growing roots.The speed at which your roots grow will depend on a variety of factors but if you keep the soil moist and properly care for your cuttings, they should start rooting in two to three weeks. To see if your cuttings have rooted, you can give them a gentle pull after two-to-four weeks. If they are sticking into the soil, they are rooted! Step 4: Repot Once your cuttings have grown roots, they are ready to be planted in their permanent pot. Once your rooted succulents and cacti are repotted, you can water them more deeply but less frequently, just like you water your other mature plants. We suggest slowly moving your succulents and cacti to their preferred lighting conditions, giving them time to adapt. In other words, don’t move them from a shady area directly into the sunlight. Some Things To Remember While these directions make it seem like a simple process, it is important to remember that some of your cuttings might not make it. Some will die, some will grow slower than others, and some may grow roots but no leaves. It takes patience to propagate succulents and cacti. If you want to try propagating some succulents and cacti, we can help you! Our team at Planet Desert can send you cuttings that are done right, making you more likely to be successful as you try to propagate them! Start shopping through our collection of cuttings and other plants to find the perfect one for you. Contact Planet Desert with any questions you may have.

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Adenium obesum....all you need to know!

Care and how to grow There are five varieties of true Desert Rose, and all are native to arid or semi-arid climates, yet they can all adapt well to tropical and semi-tropical settings. Indeed, these rugged desert dwellers adapt to almost any situation as long as they have plenty of sun and warmth and well-draining soil.

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Opuntia

Nopal.... or better known as the Prickly Pear Cactus. There is so much more to know about this beautiful cactus. There are approximately two hundred and twenty known species endemic to Mexico. It's name comes from the Náhuatl nopalli. You probably didn't know that it can be eaten. And not only is it a delicious vegetable, but also nutritious as can be. Let me tell you a little bit about it....

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How to Transplant Succulents

Sometimes succulents and cacti can be touchy, and when you’ve finally got one stable and growing, it’s a scary proposition to rip it out of the pot and replant it. Don’t worry so much! Transplanting or re-potting is not only harmless – it’s usually beneficial!

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How Much Light

Many people new to succulents and cacti get tripped up on how much light to give their new plant. It's easy to think, "Oh, it's a desert plant, I'll just give it tons of light!" Or conversely, one might be skeptical about how much light a succulent can really handle.

When you take into account the different qualities of light it can be downright confusing!

So we're gonna break it down into the simplest terms. We'll even teach you how to get those beautiful colors succulents are so well known for!

https://planetdesert.com/blogs/news/how-much-light

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Succulent and Cactus Soil Guide

Once you’ve figured out how to properly water your plant, the next most important thing you can do for it is to put it in the correct soil.

With a great soil mix, you not only provide your plants necessary nutrients and anchorage but help to prevent root rot! In this article we are going to help you prepare your plants for future success by setting the roots right today.

https://planetdesert.com/blogs/news/succulent-and-cactus-soil-guide

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Exterminating Pests on Your Succulents and Cacti

Us succulent and cacti owners have it pretty easy – there are relatively few pests that prey on succulents and cacti. We’re extra lucky that our plants are incredibly tough; they can endure infestations for quite a while and can withstand harsh insecticide treatments.

When an infestation happens, don’t panic! By identifying the pest early and treating it promptly, you can almost always guarantee the survival of your beloved cacti.

But before we start, let’s talk about how to prevent pests from popping up in the first place!

https://planetdesert.com/blogs/news/exterminating-pests-on-your-succulents-and-cacti

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Nopalitos

Have you ever heard about cactus salad? If you grew up in the United States probably not. But cactus (Opuntia ficus indica) has been consumed by Mexicans for hundreds of years.

Some other time I will tell you all about the Opuntia. Its health benefits, nutritional value, uses, etc. It is a fascinating cactus.

But today I just wanted to share a delicious recipe made with the pads of the Opuntia (Prickly pear cactus).

https://planetdesert.com/blogs/news/nopalitos

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How to Water Succulents and Cacti

The key to growing cacti and succulents successfully lies in learning how to water correctly.

Poor watering habits are responsible for probably 90% of all succulent and cacti deaths. If you can figure it out, you’ll probably never lose another fat plant ever again!

Is it hard? Not at all. It just requires a new approach and a different mindset.

Here is everything you need to know to keep your drought-tolerant plants’ thirst under control!

https://planetdesert.com/blogs/news/how-to-water-succulents-and-cacti

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Othonna euphorbioides

Succulent Othonna euphorbioides is a native of South Africa. It belongs to the Asteraceae family and is commonly known as the Napkin Tree. This is a caudiciform succulent with a potato-like caudex. It grows as a miniature spiny succulent shrub. The caudex or the stem of the plant grows between 10 to 15 cm. The plant goes dormant in the hot summer season. As it starts to rain, it moves out of dormancy.  

https://planetdesert.com/products/othonna-euphorbioides

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Euphorbia horrida major nova

Euphorbia horrida major nova, also commonly called the African milk barrel is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family. This succulent grows as a columnar spiny succulent with sharp ridges on the stems lined with thorns. At times, one can view white and green striped markings on the stem. The growth style of this succulent is similar to that of cactus barrel cacti. A native of South Africa, the succulent flowers in summer with yellow flowers. It grows about 12 inches in height exhibiting a prolonged growth rate. It is dormant in winter and is frost-hardy. For best growth, this plant requires full sun to partial shade. 

https://planetdesert.com/products/euphoria-horrida-major-nova

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Haworthia emelyae var. major

Haworthia Emelyae Var. Major goes by the common name  “Haworthia Emelyae”. This succulent forms rosettes. The plant is native to South Africa and a member of the family of Asphodelaceae. It is dormant in the summertime and can grow up to a height of 3.2 inches. 

https://planetdesert.com/products/haworthia-emelyaz-major-cactus-cacti-real-succulent-plant

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Aloe Haworthioies

Succulent Aloe Haworthioies is a member of the Asphodelaceae family. It is a small perennial plant with evergreen leaves. The dark green lance-shaped leaves have pearly warts. It is a stemless succulent with rosettes. The Haworthioies Aloe is a native of Madagascar and South Africa. Between summer and autumn, the plant bears tubular pink-orange-colored flowers. The other common names of the plant are zebra cactus, pearl plant, and star window plant. Aloe vs haworthia is slightly frost-hardy and winter-dormant. It is a fast-growing plant, growing up to 4 inches in height, which loves direct sunlight for wholesome growth. 

https://planetdesert.com/products/aloe-haworthioides

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Echeveria Rain Drops

Echeveria Rain Drops belongs to the Crassulaceae family and is commonly known as Raindrops Echeveria. Native to the semi-deserts of Central America, this round-shaped plant can grow up to 6 inches tall. They go dormant in winter conditions. 

https://planetdesert.com/products/echeveria-rain-drops