BajaNomad - Succulents in Baja

Succulents in Baja

dianaji - 3-29-2009 at 04:23 PM

although i have seem some succulents growing and for sale in nurseries, i have been unsuccessful finding unusual varieties for sale in nurseries. wondering if anyone knows of any nurseries between rosarito and ensenada.

wilderone - 3-30-2009 at 09:48 AM

Succulents are very easy to propogate. Maybe keep an eye out, and ask for a snip when you see one. Or even make a day out of it and cross into US and get a really big supply of purchased and snips. I've got 5-6 varieties I could give you. Get some root stimulator and potting soil and containers for all your propogates too. Come at a time when the San Diego cactus and succulent society has a meeting in Balboa Park - they always have snips for sale real cheap.

http://www.sdcss.com/

dianaji - 3-30-2009 at 10:03 AM

wilderone,

that made me laugh! i will send u a photo and u will know why. and thank u for trying to help. the problem is bringing in the 100 varieties (or more) to baja. i have brought a few thus far, however. also, i have attended the succulent society both in san diego and in escondido many times and every nursery near and around san diego. they all know me. do u live in san diego? i also am selling my excess on ebay...

diana

wilderone - 3-30-2009 at 10:07 AM

Oh! ha! I guess you're just looking for the unusual species then. Yes, I live in San Diego, about a mile from Balboa Park and see the Succulent Society sales all the time when I walk. I've gotten a lot of stuff from them - some just 50 cents or so - and I make little container gardens for gifts. I like to use rocks and white arroyo sand, or black pebbles that I get on Baja trips.

dianaji - 3-30-2009 at 10:22 AM

i made this garden and want to make one in baja*sigh*

dianaji - 3-30-2009 at 10:24 AM

my patio

dianaji - 3-30-2009 at 10:27 AM

a few gardens that i make

some people brag about the fish they catch, some the avocados they grow, and as u can see what i love to do.

wilderone - 3-30-2009 at 11:37 AM

Those are lovely - very much like the one's I make!! So much fun, aren't they? I made a Baja-scape in a terrarium for a friend once - it had an indigenous scraper tool, a shell fossil, a bit of cactus bark. Even when not in bloom, very attractive. I try to mimic some of the places we've been.

dianaji - 3-30-2009 at 11:42 AM

do u have any pics? i'd love to see them.

wilderone - 3-30-2009 at 11:51 AM

I give most of them away - the pups break off and I don't have any more space to plant them, so I keep them a while in plastic cups and then make a mini-garden to give away. I have a couple I'll take a pic of.
I'm a frustrated farmer - I have such limited space but want to plant vegetables, fruit trees, bulbs, succulents, flowering containers, etc. - all with limited success because of soil, sunlight conditions.

dianaji - 3-30-2009 at 11:57 AM

one thing i found is raising veggies in a raised garden is the best way for me...more control, better soil conditions, no bending. i have never been successful with strawberries until this year with this method. i don't have a lot of space with, however, it's fulllll of plants, fruit, edibles.

send the pics

Sharksbaja - 3-30-2009 at 12:10 PM

Very nice! Nice healthy beautiful succulents. What's yer secret?

dianaji - 3-30-2009 at 12:17 PM

mostly hovering over them...the best fertilizer. also, since i raise worms also, i mix that soil after sifting with potting soil and dry stall. since then, the plants LOVE it. it's like people...if u love them and feed them, they love u back. :yes:

wilderone - 3-30-2009 at 12:40 PM

I bring back a bucket of Baja arroyo sand for containers. It works really great for succulents and bulbs. I'm going to try a Topsy Turvy tomato planter this year. Using air space will give me a whole new option. The nastursiums are taking over the spot where I had tomatoes last year. I like them too - can't pull them out. I'll try zucchini in a pot this year.

Bob H - 3-30-2009 at 12:43 PM

Very nice Diana... I love the colors and they way you mix them together!

I have a variety of succulents all around my home, some in the ground and some in pots.

All of these varieties will grow in Baja, I'm sure.

Bob H

Skipjack Joe - 3-30-2009 at 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dianaji

i made this garden and want to make one in baja*sigh*

Very nice design, Diana.

The frog peeking out from under the foliage is a great addition.

Wetting the ground prior to taking the picture was a good idea.

dianaji - 3-30-2009 at 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wilderone
I bring back a bucket of Baja arroyo sand for containers. It works really great for succulents and bulbs. I'm going to try a Topsy Turvy tomato planter this year. Using air space will give me a whole new option. The nastursiums are taking over the spot where I had tomatoes last year. I like them too - can't pull them out. I'll try zucchini in a pot this year.

i love nasturtiums...they are great in salads...i bought some plants and will plant them soon. also bought a topsy turvy planter...want to try growing beans in it. what is arroyo sand? not too salty? do u use it straight, unwashed? or mixed.?

wilderone - 3-30-2009 at 02:25 PM

The arroyo sand I bring back would always come from an inland canyon bottom - so washed by rain - not near the ocean at all. I use it straight and unwashed - it's very clean. I may put some Miracle Gro potting soil that has the fertilizer in it - but not too much, because the benefit of this sand is that it drains well. The arroyo at El Volcan, has all sorts of sizes of pebbles as well. I'll scoop up a bagful of the size I want - since it sorts itself - and I can even pick out all black pebbles to use for a particular decorative look.
Hmmm - yeah, string beans out of the Topsy Turvy. You think they'll follow a stringer down and not up? Maybe I'll try to make my own Topsy Turvey in principle once I see how it's made. Thanks for the idea!

dianaji - 3-30-2009 at 02:33 PM

if u google it, u can make your own topsy turvy. sure would love to know where one of those inland canyons are...and love the pebbles!

David K - 3-30-2009 at 06:11 PM

All those look like they could be found in Baja... take a drive away from the cities... down around El Rosario the land is covered by all kinds of succulents! I know you don't have a Baja map yet, so that would be about 190 miles from La Mision (3.5-4 hrs.). Stay at Baja Cactus (cheap luxury motel) eat at Tacos Mision and see Hugo Lopez' wonderful paintings there.

Mexitron - 3-30-2009 at 06:24 PM

Actually David one of the more amazing congregations of succulents in Baja is in the La Mision canyon area--Dudleya britonii, D. viridis, D. edulis, D. lanceolata, D. pulverulenta...and I think another one or two Dudleyas all grow and often hybridize there. If I was you dianaji I'd start collecting seed and growing these wonderful Baja natives. The seed is usually ready in early summer and is very easy to grow--just hard to find as it is about the size of a large dust grain. And, as David pointed out, the entire peninsula is teeming with these plants. I used to collect the seed and grow them and I think I had upwards of 20 or so species from Baja.

dianaji - 3-30-2009 at 06:28 PM

there was a link for a baja map on another thread. i will check it out.

i love art.

diana

dianaji - 3-30-2009 at 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mexitron
Actually David one of the more amazing congregations of succulents in Baja is in the La Mision canyon area--Dudleya britonii, D. viridis, D. edulis, D. lanceolata, D. pulverulenta...and I think another one or two Dudleyas all grow and often hybridize there. If I was you dianaji I'd start collecting seed and growing these wonderful Baja natives. The seed is usually ready in early summer and is very easy to grow--just hard to find as it is about the size of a large dust grain. And, as David pointed out, the entire peninsula is teeming with these plants. I used to collect the seed and grow them and I think I had upwards of 20 or so species from Baja.

ok, i'm on my way. where is the la mision canyon? i can see i have a lot of places to explore. do u still have those plants? i am also interested in rocks and beautiful shells.

bajabound2005 - 3-30-2009 at 06:41 PM

Wilderone - are you talking about the "upside down" tomato planter? I did one 1 1/2 years ago and was not terribly happy with the results. They dry out fast (the plants)! Planting the tomato plants was quite a challenge to get one end or the other through the little hole!

We are now using that device for nothing more than herbs, arugula and lettuce growing right side up.

Mexitron - 3-30-2009 at 06:45 PM

La Mision is about 30 miles south of Rosarito--and please only collect seed as many of these plants are fairly rare...

Mexitron - 3-30-2009 at 06:49 PM

Here's a link to a pic of Dudleya brittonii:

http://www.calfloranursery.com/pages_plants/pages_d/dudbri.h...

I donated my collection of Dudleyas when I left California...wahhhh....can't wait to start it all over again!

dianaji - 3-30-2009 at 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mexitron
La Mision is about 30 miles south of Rosarito--and please only collect seed as many of these plants are fairly rare...

la mision is where i have a lot and mobile home, however, not there full time. so, it will be a place for me to visit...maybe this week.

dianaji - 3-30-2009 at 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajabound2005
Wilderone - are you talking about the "upside down" tomato planter? I did one 1 1/2 years ago and was not terribly happy with the results. They dry out fast (the plants)! Planting the tomato plants was quite a challenge to get one end or the other through the little hole!

We are now using that device for nothing more than herbs, arugula and lettuce growing right side up.

yes, i imagine tomatoes would not do well in the upside down planter, as they need lots of room, fertilizer and water...that is unless u make your own from a bucket. how does the lettuce and herbs do in the planter?

Suc Pix

bajajudy - 3-31-2009 at 01:29 PM

These are from plants in my yard

sucflownom.jpg - 43kB

bajajudy - 3-31-2009 at 01:31 PM

Here is a close up of the flowers

sucflow2.jpg - 32kB

bajajudy - 3-31-2009 at 01:33 PM

One of my favs

suc2.jpg - 23kB

bajajudy - 3-31-2009 at 01:35 PM

One more. I am having too much fun looking for these :spingrin:

dianaji - 3-31-2009 at 01:37 PM

how about the plant...any photos other than blooms?

bajajudy - 3-31-2009 at 01:44 PM

the last one...I swear

sucnom.jpg - 38kB

bajajudy - 3-31-2009 at 01:49 PM

This is the plant for the 4th bloom. It is supposed to be a good luck plant. The scallop in each leaf can become another plant if you plant the leaf with just a small amount of dirt on it.

theplant.jpg - 42kB

bajajudy - 3-31-2009 at 01:51 PM

This is the plant for the first two. Taken a year before it bloomed

plant.jpg - 37kB

dianaji - 3-31-2009 at 02:00 PM

thank u judy!

dianaji - 3-31-2009 at 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mexitron
Here's a link to a pic of Dudleya brittonii:

http://www.calfloranursery.com/pages_plants/pages_d/dudbri.h...

I donated my collection of Dudleyas when I left California...wahhhh....can't wait to start it all over again!

i finally logged onto that link and surprise! i had that plant 5 years ago and did not know what it was! yes, it is beautiful...in fact i saw it in a neighbor's yard and she said to take all i wanted. since moved, but may go back to see if she still has it. thanks!

dianaji - 3-31-2009 at 02:04 PM

and if i get some, i'll save one for u.