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.

succulents in the ground

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.

succulent being watered

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. 

succulents in pots on a windowsill

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

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…
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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…
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Shih-tsu with flower in mouth

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…
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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…
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Kelly Griffin dwarf aloes

Apr 2 2024

Dwarf Aloes Perfect for Pots

If you're into aloes, you're probably aware of highly collectible Kelly Griffin hybrids. Kelly, a premier plant breeder, is responsible for dozens of cultivars in the commercial marketplace. Naturally he has a following
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Succulent topiary dancer (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Mar 21 2024

See Succulent Topiary Musicians & Dancers

In this Southern CA destination garden, life-sized topiary figures of Mexican mariachi musicians and dancers wear colorful, ingenious costumes planted with succulents.
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Spring succulent garden (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Mar 10 2024

Your Spring Succulent and Garden Checklist

Use this Spring Succulent and Garden Checklist to help ensure your plants attain their full, glorious potential and to avoid potential problems in future. Links take you to helpful, explanatory info elsewhere on this site.
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Aloe vaombe in bloom mid-February (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Feb 23 2024

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 that creating new hybrids and “playing with plant genetics” are what he does best. He especially enjoys Aloe hybridizing and  breeding rare and desirable…
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20 tough street side succulents (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Feb 8 2024

20 Tough Succulents for Streetside Gardens

Photos show the garden six weeks after installation. A list of plant names is at the end.  A succulent-scape that Hannah Eubanks of Design for Serenity created for Grangetto’s Farm and Garden Supply solves multiple problems and showcases 20 types of tough succulents. Grangetto’s three locations serve homeowner-gardeners and agricultural clients. The Escondido store is on…
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Calandrinia (Cistanthe grandiflora, rock purslane) in bloom with other succulents (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Jan 24 2024

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. Here and in my new video you’ll find out how to keep calandrinia healthy and flowering, and how to use it to enhance your own garden. Calandrinia is native…
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Aloe arborescens and Mexican feather grass (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Jan 4 2024

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 friendly neighbors who grow it will likely give you cuttings. But before you go knocking on doors, here’s what you need…
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Kalanchoe luciae (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Dec 29 2023

About Kalanchoe luciae (succulent flapjacks)

Kalanchoe luciae, commonly called paddle plant or flapjack plant, is a highly popular succulent due to its bright coloration and flat, rounded, pancake-like leaves. These are green near the stem and red on the edges. Shades of red in paddle plants vary from rose and magenta to burgundy; greens go from lime to teal blue.…
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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