Cactus lovers/growers?

[Aggie_Ama]

Fidl- That is a cool little plant but I don't know what might be making it brown.

Astrophytum is blooming! I will snap a photo tonight, looks like they are going to be yellow blooms.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Fidlfreak,
To me that looks like some sort of scale....they are little sucking bugs that build a hard shell over themselves. Florida red scale is an example. Here in the northeast I got some white scale on one of my cactus, and I read up a bit and got rid of it by rubbing a Q-tip soaked in alcohol on each scale several times over a couple of weeks. Mine were only a few dozen scales though, so it was easy.
You seem to have a lot, and you might want to cut off the most badly affected leaves, and perhaps swish the whole plant in a mild dish-soapy bath, followed by the alcohol treatment? Make sure your plant is in an airy place that is not stuffy.
Just a few thoughts but I don't know for sure.

[fidlfreek]

Ok so I have to do something drastic or my beautiful little gem will die! Ahhh!! I'm a bad mother. She is on a windowsill w/ other succulents. Plenty of air, I mean as much as anywhere else in the apartment. Will get right on it. Thanks Bleecker!

[Aggie_Ama]

My astro blooms came and closed (I promise photo next time) do you cut them off? Let them fall off? This plant is supposed to bloom multiple times a year but I am clueless on how to care for it.

I think I need to water them today as well but was waiting to see if the driving rain came through so they didn't get over watered. These aren't supposed to be stressful!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

My astro blooms came and closed (I promise photo next time) do you cut them off? Let them fall off? This plant is supposed to bloom multiple times a year but I am clueless on how to care for it.

I think I need to water them today as well but was waiting to see if the driving rain came through so they didn't get over watered. These aren't supposed to be stressful!

I would cut off the dead blooms to encourage it to bloom again.
Keeping it fairly dry will also encourage more blooming.
After the winter ends- water and fertilizer encourage green growth, while dry and no food encourages blooming.
I cant believe you missed taking pictures! Oh well, next time, huh?

[Aggie_Ama]

Bleeck- I was really busy and thought I had more than one day! They were just opening then full size one day then closed the next, I was heartbroke. But the owner of the nursery claims those little guys are popular because they bloom a lot. I hope that is the case.

I got some great wild cacti photos hiking today, I will have to upload them.