Torch cactus flowers are breathtakingly beautiful and a shock to some people when they see them attached to the plant that bears them.

Sharp thorns protect the plant from animals, thirsty for the water encapsulated in the succulent body of the Trichocereus.

As an added bonus, the thorns provide shade, acting as a natural lath that filters the sun from the plant's exterior.

 

Amazing architecture and beauty…when in bloom.

When not in bloom, the Torch cactus looks menacing and  uninviting and is easily passed over by the gardener in search of pretty flowers.

 

The thick, cylindrical body of the Torch cactus grows to approximately 15"-inches tall by 12"-inches in diameter and has many offsets or "pups."

Multiple flowers emerge from along the top and body of the stem.

 

 

Although the Trichocereus is drought tolerant when established, more consistent watering is needed for a new plant.

After one month, taper watering as needed when soil is dry to the touch.

Protect from frost and set is in a sunny spot where it can enjoy the spotlight and flower from spring and through the warmer weather!

 

I've learned to appreciate the rugged beauty of cacti from my many visits to Joshua Tree, California.

The high desert holds an enormous attraction to me, especially when the plants are in bloom there.

 

Anyone love this plant or collect cacti or succulents?

Would love for you to share more information about it.

 

 

EdenMaker DIY:

Next time you trim your plants, don't add the "waste material" to your compost like you are encouraged to do.

That's right, I'm offering you advice that goes against the grain.

Why compost "certain" plants when you can use the cuttings (trimmings) to create new plants, or even a gorgeous container garden!

 

That's what I did!

 

I had two planters that needed some pruning but I was in a creative mood. I was itching to produce a work of garden art from my refuse material! 

 

1. Trailing sedum                                                              

 

  2. Bulbine 

The first planter (1) had overgrown trailing sedum that needed to be trimmed. The second planter (2) was home to a bulbine plant that was bursting at the seams and needed to be divided and repotted.

Perfect "donor" plants for a new container garden, I thought.

 

 

Echevaria

 

After gathering my cuttings, I noticed some fledgling echevaria plants  peeking out of another planter, "crying out" to be saved from under the weight of it's decaying mother plant.

How could I resist? 

 

 

  Echevarias, bulbine and other cuttings ready for planting     

                              

I Need a Container!

So you think I was going to go out and buy a container for my cuttings? How silly! Of course not.

I was in the mood for "FREE" and I was confident I could find something to repurpose as a planter around the storage shed. 

 

But first, my future planter had to meet some requirements:

 

1. Made of non-decaying material and stand up to water.
2. Made of material that I could drill a drain hole into without cracking.
3. Be of more value as a planter than as something that I never use!!
   

 

Repurpose a Copper Container!

 

I discovered a neglected copper beverage container that was destined for another purpose.

I reasoned that if it was designed to hold ice, it could  function  as a planter.

A little soil and water won't hurt it. 

Copper beverage cooler = great planter!    

 

     

I drilled a few drainage holes at the bottom of my new planter to ensure good drainage. Succulents are not fond of excess water.

 

  

Ups A Daisy planter insert 

 

Before adding soil, I placed an  Ups A Daisy planter insert into the container, about half way down.

The Ups A Daisy insert functions as a barrier between the plant and the bottom of the planter.  Since the plant is suspended away from the bottom of the pot where water drains, roots are never sitting in water.

Another benefit of using a planter insert such as the Ups A Daisy is that less soil is required to fill your container.

Lighter containers!

 

 

                                     

I filled my planter with "cactus mix"

You can purchase a special "cactus mix" at the garden center for planting succulents or you can make your own.

Here is a recipe by Jeff Moore as seen on the Fine Gardening website for you avid DIY'ers

 

I arranged the succulents along the perimeter and created a backdrop of bulbine behind them. I draped the pantyhose in the open area between the plants and tucked them in.

Pantyhose for the garden

 

Panty hose  are binding, suffocating and too hot to wear in Los Angeles. But like many things, they can be used in the garden.

Panty hose make a great soil barrier and keep some of my finishing touches such as colored glass or designer gravel from sinking into the soil!

  

 I topped the panty hose with tumbled, colored glass.

 

Colored glass is a sparkling accent that provides year-round color to the succulent container garden. The glass also highlights  the subtle colors of the succulent petals. 

 

 

This stylish succulent container garden only looks like a million bucks! Plants were free and the container was lost treasure!

 

What can you make from what you have  sitting around your yard?

Want to learn how to propagate other succulents? Watch my video: "Multiply This Plant"

It's fun and easy.

 

 

 

EdenMaker Garden Tour

I used to hate succulents and cacti when I was a kid.

What was I thinking?

I was too young and inexperienced in the garden to appreciate the sculptural beauty of these gems.

Not anymore!

 

"Pretty" back then meant "flowers," but today I'm awed by the form, texture and color of succulents, even when they are not in flower.

I use succulents in planters and place them in areas where I can appreciate them close up and show them off to other people as my "living art."

 

 Take a peek at the beauties I saw at the Huntington Library and Gardens in Pasadena recently.

 I was there on the day after Thanksgiving, "Black Friday" and have never seen so many people in line to visit a garden!

I called it my "Green Friday" and I was in great company! 

 

No, they were not giving anything away at the Huntington Gardens on Black Friday-only beauty! 

 

Aloe striata "coral aloe" will flower annually. The leaves grow from the center and eventually "fill out" the plant.

 

 

Aeonium pseudotabuliforme, lime green and sublime.

 

Testudinaria elephantipes, ("elephant's foot") The silver leaves look like a string of glass beads growing out of a giant wood carving! 

 

Aloe parvibracteata ready to flower!

 

Aloe suffulta- I love the markings on the strappy leaves 

 

 

Echinocactus grusonii "golden barrel cacti" hold back the brigade of "wooly torch," (Cleistocactus strausii).

This reminds me of what I saw under the microscope in biology lab.

 

Opuntia with ruby fruit.

You can eat the fruit and also the "paddles" make a delicious low calorie "nopalito salad."

 

 

Agave americana "Variegata" is the grand dame of the succulent garden with leaves that grow up to 5 feet long!

 

Once the agave puts out a flower on a 6 to 25 foot stem, the Agave begins to decline.

The good news is that it takes about 20 or 30 years for the agave to flower so this plants will be around for a while.

Curious about cacti and succulents?

 

How to Propagate a Kalanchoe Plant by Cuttings

 

 

 

Check out these websites and blogs:

Cold Hardy Cactus

Optuniads of the USA

Cactus Blog