A Rare Collection of Cacti and Succulents

Insider's Garden : Episode TIG-202 -- More Projects »

Gene Oster began growing cacti and succulents about six years ago and now has a 2,500-square-foot growing space devoted to more than 600 varieties. His growing space includes a patio covered with polycarbonate and 30-weight shade cloth, and a greenhouse for plants which can't tolerate temperatures lower than 40 degrees.

Figure A

Figure B

He was attracted to cacti and succulents by their easy maintenance, color, variety of shapes and species, and portability. Some of the unusual varieties he has include Caudiciforms ("trunk that stores water"), some of which have large trunks that look like a rock or basketball (figure A) and can go for as long as six months without water, and the Dioscorea elephantipes that has vines that grow two to four inches a day and up to 40 feet in three months. He also has a number of cacti that have color variegation within the same plant (figure B), a very rare occurrence. Color is more common and quite vivid in the cacti blooms, which come in shades ranging from soft pastel to hot pink.

Also in this Episode

Insider's Garden : Episode TIG-202
•	Cacti and Succulents
•	A Rare Collection of Cacti and Succulents
•	Indoor Desert Scape

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A Rare Collection of Cacti and Succulents

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