Success With Succulents

Discover succulents with Debra Lee Baldwin, bestselling author of
Designing with Succulents, Succulent Container Gardens and Succulents Simplified

Welcome!

I'm pleased to offer you over 100 pages on every aspect of succulents, all ad-free. If that seems too good to be true, scroll down to "Why No Ads?"

Need a plant ID? Go to TYPES OF SUCCULENTS. Worried? Go to PESTS AND PROBLEMS. Want to grow succulents perfectly? Go to SUCCULENT CARE BASICS. Need garden maintenance? See REFERRALS. Do use the MENU and SEARCH BAR above. Overwhelmed? Browse until you're better, or CONTACT me.

Looking foR Videos?

Then you'll love my YouTube Channel. With over 8,000,000 views, it provides entertaining, expert info on succulent design, cultivation, plants, tips, gardens, and much more.

HOW-TO'S, TIPS & IDEAS

SUCCULENT DESIGN

Discover how to plan and design lovely, carefree succulent gardens in containers and in the ground. Also under Design you'll find firewise landscaping info, DIY gifts and projects, and holiday decorating ideas - all beautifully showcasing succulents.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

SUCCULENT CARE

Get expert advice on growing, caring for and propagating succulents. Find out how to water, fertilize, control pests and diseases, overwinter succulents, grow them indoors, and by season and region. Under Varieties, view hundreds of labeled photos of easy-care kinds.

LOCAL & NATIONAL

SUCCULENT RESOURCES

Wondering where to find and purchase top-quality succulents? Which tools, books and supplies you need? It's all here under Resources, along with nurseries, public gardens and destinations in America's finest succulent city (San Diego) and beyond.

Subscribe to My Newsletter and Receive

Debra's 7 best succulents

In this free PDF exclusively for subscribers to my "Celebrating the Joy of Succulents" newsletter, you'll learn the 7 best easy-care succulents that thrive in pots and landscapes. Whether you're new to growing succulents or an experienced succulent "parent", you'll love these 7 beautiful plants.

Succulent Updates and Articles

Beaucarneas form a fairy-tale forest at Lotusland, near Santa Barbara (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Sep 27 2024

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, nicely branched, and 7 feet tall; with a 3-foot-diameter, half-ton caudex. No doubt you’ll marvel—as I did—at how Laura…

Mature euphorbia trees (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Sep 12 2024

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 are ideal for dry (but not desert or frost-prone) landscapes. You’ll see tough specimens to consider when planning or refreshing your own garden.…

Purple succulent on slope (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Aug 31 2024

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 a-wastin’). Interested? Here’s the listing. Bernie Mases and wife Linda graciously welcomed my spur-of-the-moment visit. I quickly realized it…

Succulent with mouse damage (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Aug 17 2024

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 must-do’s, with the goal of keeping your succulents healthy and trouble-free. What’s new in my…

Jul 3 2024

Don’t Let a Heat Wave Ruin Your Succulents

You have two options for protecting your succulents from heat waves that follow cool weather: 1. Move them. Of course this is only possible if they're in pots. But don't forget to do it! When sudden heat and sun hit, succulents that haven't had time to acclimate may sunburn. There's no reversing the resulting brown or beige patches.

Jul 3 2024

Summer Care for Succulents: Heat and Sun Concerns

Don't let summer sun and heat harm your succulents! Heat generally isn't a concern. Although some succulents (like sempervivums) tend not to thrive in temps above 80 or 90 degrees F, the majority are fine. It's heat plus sun that's the concern.

Wanda Mallen and Debra Lee Baldwin with Wanda's euphorbia collection (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Jun 20 2024

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 jackhammering) the property’s decomposed granite substrate. “The good thing is DG drains well,” Wanda says. The result is a many-layered landscape unlike any other.…

Euphorbia mammillaris variegated (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Jun 7 2024

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, selling on the show circuit, greeting nursery visitors, and sharing a lifetime of info and enthusiasm. Al’s story bubbles out of him as…

Mesemb expert Steven Hammer (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

May 25 2024

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 not unique to me, and is certainly not original. I just say it more often than some people do.” I love the way his…

A collector's boxful of cacti & succulents from the San Diego show

Apr 27 2024

See My Succulent Show-and-Sale Videos

The idea of making behind-the-scenes videos about the San Diego Cactus & Succulent Society shows-and-sales came from friend/collector Rick Bjorklund. Such events are a huge undertaking, and organizers and volunteers deserve accolades. Plus they have great tips to share. I met up with Rick the day before the show during set-up and took photos and…

Apr 12 2024

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 can be, well, clueless. Yes, we’ll wear sunscreen, closed-toe shoes and bring a hat and drinking…

San Diego Cactus & Succulent Show and Sale, vendor area (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Apr 12 2024

Upcoming Succulent Shows & Sales

Find a list of upcoming succulent shows and sales on the main website of the Cactus & Succulent Society of America. Go to: CSSA & AFFILIATED SOCIETIES EVENT CALENDAR To request or update a listing, email Laurel Woodley at calendar@cactusandsucculentsociety.org. Related Info on This Site Garden Etiquette Gaffes No one wants to commit an etiquette…

Why no ads?

I don't like (or trust) websites stuffed with ads, and I figure you don't either. It's ungracious to make visitors hunt for info buried amid commercials.

If you'd like to support me (thank you!), obtain my books, watch my videos, and follow links to the few vendors I'm affiliated with. Want to use my text or photos? All I ask is attribution: Imbed the excerpt with a link to the page it came from.

Mainly, do learn from and enjoy my site. It's my pleasure to share its wealth with you. -- Debra Lee Baldwin

See More on My Succulent YouTube Channel