News from the world of
Designing with Succulents
Debra's latest YouTube videos, potting classes, new book underway
Spring Home/Garden Show coupon for two, seasonal plant care
Fresh ideas, trends, photos, links, how you helped, and more!
I'll present Fresh Ideas with Succulents
Friday, March 2 at 1:15; and Saturday and Sunday at 12:15.
Show hours are Friday, March 2, 11 to 6; Saturday, March 3, 10 to 6; and Sunday, March 4, 10 to 5.
This link has a printable coupon for admission for two. See you at the show!
I'll present Fresh Ideas with Succulents at the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show, San Mateo Convention Center,
Wednesday, March 21 at noon, and Thursday, March 22 at 2:30. The show runs March 21-25.
Left: Amethyst crystals and other gemstones make intriguing additions to a jewel-like succulent garden. By Danielle Romero, Los Angeles
Middle: Can succulents grow in terrariums? Certainly, if you're careful not to overwater. At DIG nursery, Santa Cruz, CA
Right: A seahorse topiary, with magenta Crassulaschmidtii and a fin of Kalanchoe 'Fantastic'. Terra Sol Garden Center, Santa Barbara
Spring care: As the weather warms and succulents you've overwintered indoors emerge from dormancy, gradually increase water and sunlight as you harden them off to outdoor conditions. For best form, growth and color, most succulents need a minimum of four hours of sun daily (exceptions are the few shade lovers, such as haworthias). To stimulate growth, apply a liquid fertilizer diluted 1/2 and 1/2 with water. Cuttings taken now from spring/summer growers will root quickly.
Florist Robyn Foreman uses a wide variety of succulents in eye-catching, over-the-top arrangements. She went all out with creative, sophisticated tabletop displays---even a succulent chandelier---for my article in Country Gardens, a Better Homes & Gardens publication (on newstands March 10). Robyn's exquisite designs show lavender roses and echeverias; burgundy Aeonium 'Zwartkop' with chartreuse pom-pom mums; and velvety red roses with fuzzy kalanchoes.
One gardening trend is using repurposed items (such as minnow buckets, flour sifters and bird feeders) as plant containers. Succulents lend themselves to this because they're shallow-rooted, start readily from cuttings and continue to look good even if the soil dries out. Such one-of-a-kind combos are in my book, Succulent Container Gardens, and in an article I wrote for Flea Market Gardens magazine, on newstands now through April.
In my last newsletter, I asked for sources of reasonably-priced succulent cuttings. There's now a list on the Links page of my website. Thanks very much for the input!
I recently signed with Timber Press to do a third book! Their working title is Debra Lee Baldwin's Guide to Succulents, which I find a little embarrassing, but doubtless I'll get over it. It'll be softcover and a prequel to my previous books in that it'll explain everything a novice succulent enthusiast needs to know.
Sign up now for my SPRING POTTING DEMO and WORKSHOP
Saturday, MAY 5 at Oasis Water Efficient Gardens, Escondido, CA
Just in time to make a Mother's Day succulent container garden! Registration required. Don't delay, as space is limited.
Tips and Tools for Potting Succulents (2:56) In which I show my own potting area, tools and soil mix.
Potting Lithops (3:10)
Ways to effectively grow and display the "living stones" of South Africa.
How to Plant Succulents in Glass Containers (2:29)
No drainage? No problem!
Pairing Succulents with Pots ~ Red/Green/Yellow/Blue Grouping (3:16) Shows one of the coolest design tips I've yet to run across.
I'm a garden photojournalist who authored the Timber Press bestsellers Designing with Succulents and Succulent Container Gardens.
I speak at horticultural venues and teach classes at nurseries. My aim is educate and entertain in equal measure, and to earn comments like this:
"I attended one of your succulent potting workshops at Oasis. You were so generous with your time and knowledge, and your passion is apparent. You were a big inspiration to me when I started my own business." Ginny Fogelberg, Exquisite Succulents, San Diego
Right: Drosanthemum 'African Red'
Please feel free to share this newsletter with friends who might be interested. It also is on my website.
May you have a fun and succulent spring!
-- Debra Lee Baldwin
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