Set in Southern California, my HO scale layout includes a Southern Pacific train order office surrounded by a desert scene. Although this arid landscape has sparse vegetation, my scene needed two ...

With our long, hot summers and drought seemingly becoming the norm, many home gardeners are on the lookout for water-efficient plants. Although often overlooked, the cacti found in North and South ...

Shawn Jadrnicek had long loved prickly pear cactus for its tasty fruit, so when he heard the plant could also be used as animal fencing, he was curious. After first creating a pen for his own backyard ...

Dear Roger: I've started growing cacti and I know you grow lots of them. How about some advice on the best cacti to grow indoors, not just the usual Thanksgiving and Christmas types? — Boyd, ...

Houseplants might not be top of your agenda this time of year, but there's more to festive foliage than holly, mistletoe, and poinsettias. The Christmas cactus is one of the best ways to introduce a ...

The cacti arrive in buckets and cardboard boxes, in truck beds and plastic cups. Some are prickly green knobs smaller than a fist; others are saguaros a few feet tall—miniature versions of the ...

Prune Christmas cactus after it blooms but before new growth starts. Use fingers or sterilized shears to prune up to one-third of the plant. Propagate cuttings in water or soil for new plants.

Since we’ve been on kind of a Christmas horticultural theme lately, what about Christmas cacti? While a Christmas cactus is a popular holiday gift, there are actually a variety of holiday cacti to ...

The joy of the holiday season can feel fleeting. There’s a blur of get-togethers, cooking, shopping — and then, suddenly, it’s all over. A plant that’s commonly used for decorating this time of year, ...

A close-up of Opuntia, commonly known as prickly pear cactus. A couple of years ago, if someone mentioned "cactus water", you'd probably picture it as something you'd reluctantly consume as a last ...