PHK Ceramics · Knowledge Hub
Learn, Grow
& Create.
A growing library of guides on cactus, succulents, bonsai, soil and handmade pottery — written in the studio, tested on the bench.
Featured · Sep 2026
North American Hardy Cactus: Yes, You Can Grow Cactus in Minnesota
Think you can’t grow cactus in Minnesota? Think again. While our winters can be brutal, several North American cactus species are surprisingly cold hardy and can survive well below freezing. The real challenge isn’t always the cold—it’s winter moisture. In this guide, we’ll look at some of the toughest cactus species for Zone 5 and colder, how they handle Midwest winters, and what you can do to give them the best chance of thriving year after year.
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Aug 2026 · 5 min read
Caudex Plants: 30 Fascinating Plants to Explore
Caudex plants are some of the strangest and most fascinating plants you can grow, but finding a good variety of them to explore can be surprisingly difficult. From familiar Adeniums and Pachypodiums to rare Dioscorea, Fockea, Adenia, Stephania, and Pterodiscus, this guide explores 30+ caudiciform plants worth adding to your collection—or your wish list.
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Aug 2026 · 5 min read
Why Are Mesembs So Hard to Care For?
Mesembs are some of the most fascinating—and sometimes frustrating—succulents you can grow. From Lithops to Conophytum, these unusual plants have evolved around very specific cycles of water, light, and dormancy. Learn why mesembs can be difficult to grow and how understanding their natural habits can make them much easier to care for.
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Aug 2026 · 5 min read
Hand Built Pottery- Why I love it
Discover why I choose to hand build my pottery and how inspiration from rocks, landscapes, and nature shapes each piece. From rugged textures to organic patterns, every pot is made to complement the unique character of cactus, succulents, caudex plants, and bonsai.
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Aug 2026 · 5 min read
Adeniums: Growing the Desert Rose
Adeniums, or Desert Roses, are tropical plants that thrive on heat, sunlight, and water during their active growing season. Learn where they come from, how to care for them, and how oversized pots can help develop massive caudexes.
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Aug 2026 · 5 min read
The Many benefits of Gardens Vs. Lawns
Native gardens offer far more than beautiful flowers. Once established, many native plants can tolerate drought with little supplemental water while providing food, shelter, and habitat for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. Discover why native plants can be a better choice than traditional lawn.
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Aug 2026 · 5 min read
The Art and Function of Top Dressing Cactus & Succulents
Top dressing can transform a simple potted cactus or succulent into a miniature landscape. Learn how to choose, mix, crush, and sift rocks, gravel, sand, clay, and other materials to create beautiful habitat-inspired plant displays.
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Aug 2026 · 5 min read
The Art of Staging Plants: Turning a Pot Into a Landscape
Plant staging is more than simply putting a plant in a pot. Learn how pottery, rocks, soil, orientation, and negative space can transform a cactus, succulent, bonsai, or caudex plant into a living landscape.
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Aug 2026 · 5 min read
Cycads: Ancient Plants for the Modern Collector
Cycads are ancient, fascinating plants with an unmistakable prehistoric character. Explore Zamia integrifolia, the Florida coontie, and learn about its care, caudex, container growing, bonsai pots, and relationship with the Atala butterfly.
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Aug 2026 · 5 min read
Preparing a Cactus for a Shallow Bonsai Pot
Thinking about putting a cactus in a shallow pot? Learn how to prepare your cactus, handle the roots, choose the right soil and container, and create a beautiful bonsai-style display without compromising the health of the plant.
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