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About Aloe arborescens (torch aloe)
One of the most widely grown succulents in California from the coast to the foothills is Aloe arborescens (torch aloe). There’s no need to buy it. It’s so common, it’s a “pass-along plant,” meaning...
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Grow Calandrinia (Cistanthe grandiflora, Purslane)
Gray-green calandrinia (Cistanthe grandiflora) shrubs sit quietly, building their strength, from late summer until spring. Then, like the fireworks they resemble, they explode with neon-bright blooms....
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20 Tough Succulents for Streetside Gardens
Photos show the garden six weeks after installation. A list of plant names is at the end. In a streetside garden near a busy intersection, utilitarian items are inevitable, but with a little...
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See Josh Allen’s Rare Aloe & Cycad Nursery Near San Diego
Josh Allen is making his dream come true: Developing a nursery and botanic garden specializing in rare succulents and cycads. “There’s a big market for beautiful, hard-to-find plants,” he says, adding...
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Your Spring Succulent and Garden Checklist
Use this Spring Succulent Checklist to help ensure your plants attain their full, glorious potential. Links below take you to detailed information elsewhere on my site. "Ice plant" is a general term...
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See Succulent Topiary Musicians & Dancers
At this Southern CA destination garden, life-sized topiary figures of Mexican mariachi musicians and dancers wear colorful, ingenious costumes planted with succulents. Topiary dancers in the SDBG's...
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Dwarf Aloes Perfect for Pots
Dwarf or “star” aloes are becoming hugely popular. No two are exactly alike, yet all share similarities. Most are hybrids selected for their beauty and collectibility. I'm very grateful for this...
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Upcoming Succulent Shows & Sales
Save the Dates! Upcoming Succulent Shows & Sales Some of these open early for members. I've listed dates and times that events welcome the general public. Details may change as dates approach;...
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Garden Etiquette Gaffes
No one wants to commit an etiquette gaffe, but when it comes to garden tours, plant shows and sales, and going to nurseries big and small, it's easy to do. We get caught up in all things spring and...
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Enjoy My Fun, Informative Succulent Show-and-Sale Videos
The idea of making a video about San Diego's show-and-sale came from friend/collector Rick Bjorklund. Such events are a huge undertaking, and organizers and volunteers deserve accolades. Plus they...
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Psychology of Succulents with Grower-Hybridizer Steven Hammer
In my latest video, mesemb expert Steven Hammer delves into the psychology of succulents. "The entire succulent preoccupation is a transposition of another form of desire," he says. "This insight is...
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Visit Botanic Wonders & See Al Klein’s Succulent Rarities
You think you like succulents? Al Klein of Botanic Wonders nursery calls them "an addiction." Al is a comet on the cactus and succulent scene. It seems he’s everywhere, doing speaking engagements,...
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Wanda’s Collection of Weird & Wonderful Plants
Wanda Mallen's collection of weird and wonderful plants on two acres in Fallbrook, CA, is a must-see for succulent enthusiasts. For 25 years she's directed husband Gary Vincent in planting (sometimes...
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Summer Care for Succulents: Heat and Sun Concerns
Don't let harsh sun and high heat harm your succulents! Heat, unlike frost (temps 32 degrees F and lower), usually isn't a concern for succulents. Although some tend not to thrive in temps above 80 or...
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Don’t Let a Heat Wave Ruin Your Succulents
See how I evaluate my own succulents during and after heat spells in this 10-min. video. Sunburn concerns When a heat wave follows cool weather, succulents exposed to hot sun may burn. Unfortunately...
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Troubleshoot Your Succulents
Just when you think you've seen it all, I show you pests and problems you may be unaware of. No worries, I explain what to do, but it IS important to catch them early. My new video also covers routine...
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See a Landscaper’s 45-Degree Succulent Slope
When I learned that a member of my Cactus & Succulent Society chapter was a landscape contractor, I was keen to meet him and see his garden--especially when I found out his home’s for sale (time's...
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South African Succulents at the Safari Park Garden
In my latest video, we explore the Old World Succulent Garden at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Here succulents small and large look good year-round, need minimal care or water, and offer inspiration...
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Yes, You Can Grow Beaucarnea recurvata (ponytail palm)
In my new video, we observe and learn how to relocate a Beaucarnea recurvata (ponytail palm) that had become too large for a homeowner's side yard. "Betty" is a gorgeous specimen: ten to 12 years old,...
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