Succulents received from a Swap

by Trina
(Lakeland, FL)

Hello Jacki,

I received a ton of succulents from a recent swap. Most of them came labeled but these 3 didn't. I hope you can help me.

The first picture was labeled sedeveira but I don't know what kind and I have never had a sedeveira before.

Also the tall one is a cutting. Should I just insert it dry cactus mix? I don't know how to care for them as well.

The 2nd picture (I don't think this is a succulent)is a cutting with thorns near where the leaves are attached. Can I stick this in water to root? I am simply guessing.

Please help me care for these plants. Thank you as always.

Hi Trina, wow, your collection is growing by leaps and bounds!

So Sedeveria is a hybrid of Sedum and Echeveria, and in most cases these are really easy care. This plant does not resemble those, but it does look like Sanseveria - the tall one looks like Sanseveria cylindrica, and the short one looks like the species trifasciata.

As the tall one seems to have a couple of roots, it likely will root easily in some cactus soil; spray very lightly around the base of it, and then in a few weeks, gradually start to water it more deeply, letting it dry out a bit between times. This encourages the roots to seek out moisture lower down.

Picture 2 looks to me like Devil's Backbone, which is Euphorbia tithymaloides; if it is, the sap is caustic and poisonous - please use caution (glasses, rubber gloves) when handling it especially if the stem is cut and allows the white sap to come out.

Euphorbia of all kinds have this trait.

I think you may want to propagate this in the same way as the tall thing - you could put an upside down jar over it if you think it needs to be kept more humid.

Hope that helps with the new members of your tribe!
Jacki