Plants & Varieties
Your Agave’s Blooming–Now What?
Your agave is blooming! Now what? In my new video, Q&A and photo gallery you’ll find expert advice, agave IDs and how to start the plants from seeds and bulbils.
Read MoreHow to Prune and Handle Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Sticks on Fire’
In both English and Spanish, landscaper José Arias explains and shows how to prune and handle Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Sticks on Fire’, a beautiful succulent with toxic, milky sap.
Read MoreSucculent Ice Plants, Gallery and Video
The brilliantly beautiful succulent ice plants you’ll see in my new page and video thrive in Zones 8-11. They come in eye-popping hues of purple, pink, lavender, rose-red, bright red, gold, orange and yellow.
Read MoreWhat Makes Succulents SUCCULENT?
Become a better plant parent by learning the “how’s” and “why’s” of these lovable chubby plants. Discover what makes succulents so efficient. Slicing and squishing may seem unkind, but be assured there’s method to my madness.
Read MoreEuphorbia or Cactus? How to Tell
How can you tell a spiny euphorbia from a cactus? Observe key characteristics: the type of spines, flowers and leaves (or lack thereof). As I compiled my site’s new Euphorbia page, I happily acquired the ability to tell at a glance which is which. Sure, you can scratch a plant, and if it drips milky sap, it’s
Read MoreKelly Griffin Collectors’ Group
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
Read MoreRefresh Your Echeveria Garden
Eighteen months after I planted it, my multipot echeveria garden was looking ratty. Over time, as new leaves formed from the centers of echeverias, lower leaves dried and clung to ever-lengthening stems. Bloom spikes I’d left intact for hummingbirds were several feet long and untidy. Watch me rejuvenate it in my new video: Refresh Your Echeveria Garden (6:31).
Read MoreBizarre Succulents
To me, a bizarre succulent is one that suggests something it’s not in an eerie way—i.e. a cancerous growth, reptile or body part. When I take a second look and ponder what on earth it is, I experience a deliciously unsettling ah-ha (or bwa-ha-ha) moment.
Read MoreTen Edible Succulents and How to Prepare Them
These ten edible succulents can go from garden to kitchen. Most are fairly easy to obtain, cultivate and prepare. The mucilaginous (goopy) texture of certain edible succulents makes them—to spin it positively—great in soups and stews. Vitamin C is
Read MoreAgave Dermatitis: How harmful is agave sap? Are you susceptible?
You’re already wary of poison oak, cactus glochids and the milky sap of euphorbias. Add agave sap to the list. In susceptible individuals, it causes the skin condition “agave dermatitis.”
Read MoreFuzzy Kalanchoes: Varieties, Uses, Tips
I’m eager to share with you my fondness for fuzzy kalanchoes. The varieties and design uses of these unusual succulents are diverse and wonderful. Included are important tips to ensure your success.
Read MoreWhich Shade Succulents Are Best for You?
You requested more info on low-light succulents, and I happily complied. I’ve added a Shade Succulents page to my site and created a YouTube video of the same name. My site’s new Shade Succulents Gallery shows a whopping 80+ varieties, many growing in my own climate-challenged garden.
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