Q: I have three starfish plants and I want to repot them because they are so large now. My husband and I got them from my mother-in-law, and I need to know if these need a sand/potting soil mixture, or what. Do I "have" to put them in clay pots?? I have way too many plastic pots and would like to use them if I can. I guess my MAIN question is the type of dirt/soil/sand mixture for potting. Thank you so much for your time and any advice you can give me.

A: Yes you can use plastic pots for the starfish, but be very careful not to over water, since these are succulents they like to be more on the dry side. Plastic tends to keep moisture and wetness in longer. I would use a good potting mixture that is sterile and more on the sand side, or add sand to what you have.

I know everyone is tempted to use just outside "dirt" and once in a while I get lazy and do the same, but...............this is not sterile and sometimes fungus and bacteria can do your plant in.

I am glad you are enjoying your starfish. I love mine !! And they do grow fast !!

Q: Can you tell me why after about 6 years, all at once my Starfish Flower plant would die? I know I am asking an impossible question, but I have never changed the care or even the location & all at once it started "rotting" like it was over watered, yet the soil was dry. I even tried taking several cuttings to salvage some of the plant & lost them as well. When I contacted the person it come from originally she said hers did the same thing about a year ago, and she had hers for over 10 years. Is there a bug or disease this plant gets? I have not been able to find any info in that direction.

A: To have a ten year old and a six year old Starfish cactus die is certainly worth taking note, since it has proved you know how to take care of it. However, every so often something surprises us.

Nevertheless, sadly, the only two things that 'attack' this plant is bacterial and fungal stem rot and mealy bugs. With mealy bugs you probably would see evidence of white fluffy cotton crawlers. With the bacterial and fungal stem rot sometimes it is too late before anything can be done. It could be a slow or fast decline. This would look like over watering in some instances.

Since they grow relatively fast and fun to propagate, I hope you are able to have this plant again.