Blu,

Remember, these are pachycaul plants but they're also tropicals in the growth season.

I've not used/made AGM, but if it's as gritty and porous as the name implies, and water drains from the pot, all things being equal, I should think that rain 1x/2x a week wouldn't be a problem. These want it warm (above 20C/70F), they want it sunny and they like lots of water when they're dry. I'd allow it to dry out between rain waterings, but not for too long until their next rain.

Re the oversized pot - ensure that it has superior drainage at the bottom, as we wouldn't want wanton root rotting, would we?

thanks CMC.

If you over pot go wide rather than deep that way the bottom dries just bit slower than the top. If it's too deep the top will be dry and the bottom will be still wet. As long as your mix drains freely these can large amounts of water.

I water mine every day once they have leafed out. My mix is very porous.

x

This weather here is driving me madder than usual - up, down, warm, cold, rainy (most of the time), sunny (some of the time), overcast (when it's not raining). It's so bad the leaves on my C. juttae darkened and were cut off - I hope it's because of the cold (high 40s during the day). The caudex remains firm, however.

Jeff,
Sounds like it could be slipping into dormancy with that cold you're having.

Keith,

I was thinking the same thing - yesterday, it was brilliantly sunny in the morning, so I watered it and put it on the warm driveway paving stones. Come afternoon, overcast (but at least no rain). I'm hopeful that it will grow a new set of leaves if we get some more heat and sun.

I'm in zone 9-10 and growing it in a shallow tray, with fast draining mix. It has leafed out beautifully, and I will thoroughly water it once a week until the plant tells me other wise. I can't lift it any more it has just grown too large for me. It is now showing flower buds. When it drops it's leaves I will stop watering until I see new growth.
The seeds of the flowers are poisenous and look like small grapes, so watch out or kids to they don't put it in their mouth. Norma