One moment.
The Journal of Cultivation
Care & cultivation.
Bench notes from thirty years of California specimen growing. Each guide is written by Al, edited against the living plants — not from memory.
— Every genus on the bench
Light, water, soil, dormancy — by genus.
Eight plain fields for each genus we grow. Where Al has recorded a genus guide it shows here; otherwise the entry carries the notes for its family, which get you most of the way. The same notes sit on every product page.
0 with a genus guide · the rest carry family notes
A
- Adenia7 in stockCaudiciforms· Family notes
Fat-stemmed, fat-rooted plants that store water for the dry season and grow in bursts. The rule at the bench: read the plant, not the calendar. Water when it is in leaf, stop when it is not.
- Adenium3 in stockCaudiciforms· Family notes
Fat-stemmed, fat-rooted plants that store water for the dry season and grow in bursts. The rule at the bench: read the plant, not the calendar. Water when it is in leaf, stop when it is not.
- Adromischus1 in stockSucculents· Family notes
Leaf and stem succulents: gasteria, haworthia, agave, aloe, the mesembs. Forgiving plants that fail one way only, which is too much water in too little light.
- Agave6 in stockSucculents· Family notes
Leaf and stem succulents: gasteria, haworthia, agave, aloe, the mesembs. Forgiving plants that fail one way only, which is too much water in too little light.
- Aloe7 in stockSucculents· Family notes
Leaf and stem succulents: gasteria, haworthia, agave, aloe, the mesembs. Forgiving plants that fail one way only, which is too much water in too little light.
- Ariocarpus5 in stockCacti· Family notes
Copiapoa, ariocarpus, mammillaria, the Chilean and Mexican bench. Slow plants that want more sun and less water than almost anyone gives them.
- Astrophytum2 in stockCacti· Family notes
Copiapoa, ariocarpus, mammillaria, the Chilean and Mexican bench. Slow plants that want more sun and less water than almost anyone gives them.
B
- Beaucarnea—Caudiciforms· Family notes
Fat-stemmed, fat-rooted plants that store water for the dry season and grow in bursts. The rule at the bench: read the plant, not the calendar. Water when it is in leaf, stop when it is not.
- Beiselia1 in stockBonsai· Family notes
Bursera, operculicarya, commiphora, boswellia: the tree-forming caudiciforms we train as bonsai. They think like trees. Shape them in growth, rest them in winter.
- Boophone6 in stockCaudiciforms· Family notes
Fat-stemmed, fat-rooted plants that store water for the dry season and grow in bursts. The rule at the bench: read the plant, not the calendar. Water when it is in leaf, stop when it is not.
- Boswellia9 in stockBonsai· Family notes
Bursera, operculicarya, commiphora, boswellia: the tree-forming caudiciforms we train as bonsai. They think like trees. Shape them in growth, rest them in winter.
- Brachychiton—Caudiciforms· Family notes
Fat-stemmed, fat-rooted plants that store water for the dry season and grow in bursts. The rule at the bench: read the plant, not the calendar. Water when it is in leaf, stop when it is not.
- Bursera18 in stockBonsai· Family notes
Bursera, operculicarya, commiphora, boswellia: the tree-forming caudiciforms we train as bonsai. They think like trees. Shape them in growth, rest them in winter.
C
- Calibanus—Caudiciforms· Family notes
Fat-stemmed, fat-rooted plants that store water for the dry season and grow in bursts. The rule at the bench: read the plant, not the calendar. Water when it is in leaf, stop when it is not.
- Ceraria2 in stockSucculents· Family notes
Leaf and stem succulents: gasteria, haworthia, agave, aloe, the mesembs. Forgiving plants that fail one way only, which is too much water in too little light.
- Ceropegia—Caudiciforms· Family notes
Fat-stemmed, fat-rooted plants that store water for the dry season and grow in bursts. The rule at the bench: read the plant, not the calendar. Water when it is in leaf, stop when it is not.
- Commiphora4 in stockBonsai· Family notes
Bursera, operculicarya, commiphora, boswellia: the tree-forming caudiciforms we train as bonsai. They think like trees. Shape them in growth, rest them in winter.
- Copiapoa16 in stockCacti· Family notes
Copiapoa, ariocarpus, mammillaria, the Chilean and Mexican bench. Slow plants that want more sun and less water than almost anyone gives them.
- Cussonia—Caudiciforms· Family notes
Fat-stemmed, fat-rooted plants that store water for the dry season and grow in bursts. The rule at the bench: read the plant, not the calendar. Water when it is in leaf, stop when it is not.
- Cycas—Caudiciforms· Family notes
Fat-stemmed, fat-rooted plants that store water for the dry season and grow in bursts. The rule at the bench: read the plant, not the calendar. Water when it is in leaf, stop when it is not.
- Cyphostemma8 in stockCaudiciforms· Family notes
Fat-stemmed, fat-rooted plants that store water for the dry season and grow in bursts. The rule at the bench: read the plant, not the calendar. Water when it is in leaf, stop when it is not.
- Cyrtocarpa—Bonsai· Family notes
Bursera, operculicarya, commiphora, boswellia: the tree-forming caudiciforms we train as bonsai. They think like trees. Shape them in growth, rest them in winter.
D
- Deuterocohnia—Succulents· Family notes
Leaf and stem succulents: gasteria, haworthia, agave, aloe, the mesembs. Forgiving plants that fail one way only, which is too much water in too little light.
- Dioon—Caudiciforms· Family notes
Fat-stemmed, fat-rooted plants that store water for the dry season and grow in bursts. The rule at the bench: read the plant, not the calendar. Water when it is in leaf, stop when it is not.
- Dioscorea2 in stockCaudiciforms· Family notes
Fat-stemmed, fat-rooted plants that store water for the dry season and grow in bursts. The rule at the bench: read the plant, not the calendar. Water when it is in leaf, stop when it is not.
- Dorstenia6 in stockCaudiciforms· Family notes
Fat-stemmed, fat-rooted plants that store water for the dry season and grow in bursts. The rule at the bench: read the plant, not the calendar. Water when it is in leaf, stop when it is not.
- Dudleya1 in stockSucculents· Family notes
Leaf and stem succulents: gasteria, haworthia, agave, aloe, the mesembs. Forgiving plants that fail one way only, which is too much water in too little light.
E
- Echinocactus3 in stockCacti· Family notes
Copiapoa, ariocarpus, mammillaria, the Chilean and Mexican bench. Slow plants that want more sun and less water than almost anyone gives them.
- Echinocereus2 in stockCacti· Family notes
Copiapoa, ariocarpus, mammillaria, the Chilean and Mexican bench. Slow plants that want more sun and less water than almost anyone gives them.
- Encephalartos—Caudiciforms· Family notes
Fat-stemmed, fat-rooted plants that store water for the dry season and grow in bursts. The rule at the bench: read the plant, not the calendar. Water when it is in leaf, stop when it is not.
- Epithelantha2 in stockCacti· Family notes
Copiapoa, ariocarpus, mammillaria, the Chilean and Mexican bench. Slow plants that want more sun and less water than almost anyone gives them.
- Euphorbia89 in stockEuphorbias· Family notes
The deepest bench at the nursery. Euphorbias are tougher than they look and quicker to rot than they should be. The sap is the main hazard: wear gloves and keep it out of your eyes.
F
- Ferocactus2 in stockCacti· Family notes
Copiapoa, ariocarpus, mammillaria, the Chilean and Mexican bench. Slow plants that want more sun and less water than almost anyone gives them.
- Ficus2 in stockBonsai· Family notes
Bursera, operculicarya, commiphora, boswellia: the tree-forming caudiciforms we train as bonsai. They think like trees. Shape them in growth, rest them in winter.
- Fockea2 in stockCaudiciforms· Family notes
Fat-stemmed, fat-rooted plants that store water for the dry season and grow in bursts. The rule at the bench: read the plant, not the calendar. Water when it is in leaf, stop when it is not.
- Fouquieria9 in stockCaudiciforms· Family notes
Fat-stemmed, fat-rooted plants that store water for the dry season and grow in bursts. The rule at the bench: read the plant, not the calendar. Water when it is in leaf, stop when it is not.
G
- Gasteria19 in stockSucculents· Family notes
Leaf and stem succulents: gasteria, haworthia, agave, aloe, the mesembs. Forgiving plants that fail one way only, which is too much water in too little light.
- Gerrardanthus2 in stockCaudiciforms· Family notes
Fat-stemmed, fat-rooted plants that store water for the dry season and grow in bursts. The rule at the bench: read the plant, not the calendar. Water when it is in leaf, stop when it is not.
- Gymnocalycium4 in stockCacti· Family notes
Copiapoa, ariocarpus, mammillaria, the Chilean and Mexican bench. Slow plants that want more sun and less water than almost anyone gives them.
H
I
K
L
- Leuchtenbergia1 in stockCacti· Family notes
Copiapoa, ariocarpus, mammillaria, the Chilean and Mexican bench. Slow plants that want more sun and less water than almost anyone gives them.
- Lithops1 in stockSucculents· Family notes
Leaf and stem succulents: gasteria, haworthia, agave, aloe, the mesembs. Forgiving plants that fail one way only, which is too much water in too little light.
- Lobivia1 in stockCacti· Family notes
Copiapoa, ariocarpus, mammillaria, the Chilean and Mexican bench. Slow plants that want more sun and less water than almost anyone gives them.
- Lophocereus1 in stockCacti· Family notes
Copiapoa, ariocarpus, mammillaria, the Chilean and Mexican bench. Slow plants that want more sun and less water than almost anyone gives them.
M
- Mammillaria12 in stockCacti· Family notes
Copiapoa, ariocarpus, mammillaria, the Chilean and Mexican bench. Slow plants that want more sun and less water than almost anyone gives them.
- Matucana1 in stockCacti· Family notes
Copiapoa, ariocarpus, mammillaria, the Chilean and Mexican bench. Slow plants that want more sun and less water than almost anyone gives them.
- Monadenium—Euphorbias· Family notes
The deepest bench at the nursery. Euphorbias are tougher than they look and quicker to rot than they should be. The sap is the main hazard: wear gloves and keep it out of your eyes.
- Myrtillocactus4 in stockCacti· Family notes
Copiapoa, ariocarpus, mammillaria, the Chilean and Mexican bench. Slow plants that want more sun and less water than almost anyone gives them.
N
- Neochilenia—Cacti· Family notes
Copiapoa, ariocarpus, mammillaria, the Chilean and Mexican bench. Slow plants that want more sun and less water than almost anyone gives them.
- Neoporteria1 in stockCacti· Family notes
Copiapoa, ariocarpus, mammillaria, the Chilean and Mexican bench. Slow plants that want more sun and less water than almost anyone gives them.
O
- Obregonia1 in stockCacti· Family notes
Copiapoa, ariocarpus, mammillaria, the Chilean and Mexican bench. Slow plants that want more sun and less water than almost anyone gives them.
- Operculicarya50 in stockBonsai· Family notes
Bursera, operculicarya, commiphora, boswellia: the tree-forming caudiciforms we train as bonsai. They think like trees. Shape them in growth, rest them in winter.
- Othonna1 in stockCaudiciforms· Family notes
Fat-stemmed, fat-rooted plants that store water for the dry season and grow in bursts. The rule at the bench: read the plant, not the calendar. Water when it is in leaf, stop when it is not.
P
- Pachycormus—Bonsai· Family notes
Bursera, operculicarya, commiphora, boswellia: the tree-forming caudiciforms we train as bonsai. They think like trees. Shape them in growth, rest them in winter.
- Pachypodium7 in stockCaudiciforms· Family notes
Fat-stemmed, fat-rooted plants that store water for the dry season and grow in bursts. The rule at the bench: read the plant, not the calendar. Water when it is in leaf, stop when it is not.
- Pelargonium1 in stockCaudiciforms· Family notes
Fat-stemmed, fat-rooted plants that store water for the dry season and grow in bursts. The rule at the bench: read the plant, not the calendar. Water when it is in leaf, stop when it is not.
- Pelecyphora—Cacti· Family notes
Copiapoa, ariocarpus, mammillaria, the Chilean and Mexican bench. Slow plants that want more sun and less water than almost anyone gives them.
- Petopentia1 in stockCaudiciforms· Family notes
Fat-stemmed, fat-rooted plants that store water for the dry season and grow in bursts. The rule at the bench: read the plant, not the calendar. Water when it is in leaf, stop when it is not.
- Pleiospilos1 in stockSucculents· Family notes
Leaf and stem succulents: gasteria, haworthia, agave, aloe, the mesembs. Forgiving plants that fail one way only, which is too much water in too little light.
- Portulacaria14 in stockSucculents· Family notes
Leaf and stem succulents: gasteria, haworthia, agave, aloe, the mesembs. Forgiving plants that fail one way only, which is too much water in too little light.
- Pseudobombax1 in stockCaudiciforms· Family notes
Fat-stemmed, fat-rooted plants that store water for the dry season and grow in bursts. The rule at the bench: read the plant, not the calendar. Water when it is in leaf, stop when it is not.
- Pseudolithos—Succulents· Family notes
Leaf and stem succulents: gasteria, haworthia, agave, aloe, the mesembs. Forgiving plants that fail one way only, which is too much water in too little light.
- Pterodiscus3 in stockCaudiciforms· Family notes
Fat-stemmed, fat-rooted plants that store water for the dry season and grow in bursts. The rule at the bench: read the plant, not the calendar. Water when it is in leaf, stop when it is not.
- Pygmaeocereus1 in stockCacti· Family notes
Copiapoa, ariocarpus, mammillaria, the Chilean and Mexican bench. Slow plants that want more sun and less water than almost anyone gives them.
- Pyrenacantha—Caudiciforms· Family notes
Fat-stemmed, fat-rooted plants that store water for the dry season and grow in bursts. The rule at the bench: read the plant, not the calendar. Water when it is in leaf, stop when it is not.
R
S
- Sansevieria—Succulents· Family notes
Leaf and stem succulents: gasteria, haworthia, agave, aloe, the mesembs. Forgiving plants that fail one way only, which is too much water in too little light.
- Sesamothamnus—Caudiciforms· Family notes
Fat-stemmed, fat-rooted plants that store water for the dry season and grow in bursts. The rule at the bench: read the plant, not the calendar. Water when it is in leaf, stop when it is not.
- Stenocactus5 in stockCacti· Family notes
Copiapoa, ariocarpus, mammillaria, the Chilean and Mexican bench. Slow plants that want more sun and less water than almost anyone gives them.
- Sulcorebutia1 in stockCacti· Family notes
Copiapoa, ariocarpus, mammillaria, the Chilean and Mexican bench. Slow plants that want more sun and less water than almost anyone gives them.
T
- Tephrocactus1 in stockCacti· Family notes
Copiapoa, ariocarpus, mammillaria, the Chilean and Mexican bench. Slow plants that want more sun and less water than almost anyone gives them.
- Thelocactus—Cacti· Family notes
Copiapoa, ariocarpus, mammillaria, the Chilean and Mexican bench. Slow plants that want more sun and less water than almost anyone gives them.
- Trichocereus—Cacti· Family notes
Copiapoa, ariocarpus, mammillaria, the Chilean and Mexican bench. Slow plants that want more sun and less water than almost anyone gives them.
- Trichodiadema—Succulents· Family notes
Leaf and stem succulents: gasteria, haworthia, agave, aloe, the mesembs. Forgiving plants that fail one way only, which is too much water in too little light.
- Turbinicarpus2 in stockCacti· Family notes
Copiapoa, ariocarpus, mammillaria, the Chilean and Mexican bench. Slow plants that want more sun and less water than almost anyone gives them.
- Tylecodon2 in stockCaudiciforms· Family notes
Fat-stemmed, fat-rooted plants that store water for the dry season and grow in bursts. The rule at the bench: read the plant, not the calendar. Water when it is in leaf, stop when it is not.
U
W
X
— Long-form guides
From the bench, in long form.
Care · Pachypodium·3 min read
Growing Pachypodiums
Pachypodiums were some of the first exotic succulent plants I became enamored with. The first specices I purchased was Pachypodium lamerei. This is most likely the first for many a collector, because of its high availability. Pachypodiums are indigenous to Africa and Madagascar. There are 25 plus species and subspecies. They are in the Apocynaceae [...]
Read the guide →
Care · Euphorbia·3 min read
Growing Euphorbias
The family of Euphorbiaceae is large and diverse. It is estimated that there are in excess of 5000 species from around the world. Of this group there are hundreds of succulent Euphorbias. Many of the succulent Euphorbias originate from Africa and Madagascar. However many Euphorbias originate from other countries like the common Poinsettia which is [...]
Read the guide →
Care · General·3 min read
Growing Bonsai
In this section we will be going over the care of bonsai, specifically succulent bonsai. True bonsai has very specific parameters. When creating succulent bonsai it is difficult to follow traditional rules. With succulent bonsai we are still trying to capture the look of mature plants from the wild, in a container, and a smaller [...]
Read the guide →
Care · Pachypodium·5 min read
Growing Succulents
The term "succulent plant" can refer to many different plants. Basically a succulent, is a plant that stores water in either its roots, stems, or leaves. This deffiniton can apply to common garden plants such as daylilies. For purposes of this article we will be focusing on succulent plants that mostly originate from dry, arid [...]
Read the guide →
Care · Dioscorea·7 min read
Reading the leaf flush.
When to stop watering, when to start. The only signal that matters, illustrated through eight years of bench photographs.
Read the guide →
Care · Pachypodium·8 min read
The trickiest caudiciform.
Soil mix, root pruning, and the three weeks where you can lose a $1,400 plant if you blink.
Read the guide →
Care · Bursera·9 min read
Seven years to a six-inch tree.
Building a Bursera bonsai. Patience as a horticultural practice.
Read the guide →New guides land with the Friday drop.
One guide, one drop, one founder note — every Friday. Subscribe at the bottom of the homepage.