Fuzzy succulents are a special part of the succulent family, and super lovable. In this blog post, I'll tell you a little about why these plants have their furry leaves. Then, we'll get to look at some different kinds of fuzzy succulents and marvel at their amazingness (and fun names too)!

Like other succulents, fuzzy succulents live in climates that are very dry, hot, and sunny. And, also like other succulents, they have adapted in order to thrive in this harsh climate. Their tiny hairs are one way of doing this. This "fur" helps shade the plant's leaves, each hair casting a tiny shadow that blocks out a little of the intense sun. They also help combat the dry environment by preventing loss of water through evaporation on the surface of the succulent's leaves. And, equally important, they protect the plant by discouraging critters from munching on the plant's leaves. 
​
So now that we know a little more about them, let's take a look at a few kinds of these amazing succulents!

Panda Plant
Kalanchoe tormentosa
​Panda Plant is one of the most famous fuzzy succulents. Unsurprisingly, the word "tormentosa" in its scientific name means "covered in hairs."

Copper Spoons
Kalanchoe orygalis
Copper Spoons is an odd (and beautiful) succulent. It's leaves are gold-bronze on inside and silver on the outside, making the plant look metallic.

Millot Kalanchoe
I love this succulent for it's interesting notched leaves. I also think that is has a really relaxed, calm color. I actually have an arrangement with the succulent right now. Check out the second picture.

Bear Paw
​Cotyledon Tormentosa
Another very well named succulent. The brown edges on this plant's leaves totally look like claws!

Echeveria Setosa
Here's a common fuzzy echeveria. It's sweet and simple, and if you look closely you can see dark tips on ends of it's leaves, similar to Bear Paw. 

Frosty
​Echeveria Pulvinata
This echeveria looks pretty similar to echeveria setosa, but we can easily see where it gets its name. The bright white hairs against the blue of the leaves give the impression that the plant has been crystalized with ice. 

Plush Plant
Echeveria harmsii
A very luxerious echeveria, harmsii looks like it's part plant, part velvet. 

Hairy Sedum
​Sedum mocinianum
This succulent's name is actually rather disappointing. But, it's accurate. Sedum mocinianum is the only fuzzy sedum that I was able to find, which makes it unique!

Cocoon Plant
Senecio haworthii
A great plant to end on! Cocoon plant lives up to it's name for sure. I still can't decide if it's weird, or beautiful.

Of course, there are many other great fuzzies that I wasn't able to showcase today. If I'm missing you favorite, or you have a fuzzy that I didn't talk about here, I'd love to see it! Share a picture on my Facebook page, or send me an email and I'll add it on!

A healthy succulent is a happy succulent, and happy succulent is a beautiful succulent. These houseplants really aren't picky, and will tell you when you're doing a good job. Here are 5 ways you can know that you're getting it right!

(Throughout this post I will be using the names of some different varieties of succulents. If you're unfamiliar with these names, check out these blog posts from last winter)

1. Color

Succulents are known for being colorful plants. In fact, that's one of the things that makes them so beautiful! Looking for bright colors in succulents is one way to tell that they're being well cared for. These bold hues show that the succulent is getting plenty of light. Because it has access to lots of sunshine, the plant doesn't need to produce as much chlorophyll, the part of the plant that turns light energy into nutrients and makes the plant look green. With less chlorophyll, you are able to see more of the other colors in the succulent. Being in sunshine also causes a succulent to make other pigments which protect it from getting harmed by UV rays. Both of these things combine to bring out the reds, oranges, yellows, and purples in succulents! 

2. Shape

Happy succulents also have tight, full shapes. This is especially noticeable in echeverias, like the ones in the picture above. These rosette-shaped succulents have layered leaves that make beautiful patterns. But, if they're not getting the light they need, your plants will start to stretch out, growing tall and losing their tight shape. When this happens, a little pruning and a sunnier spot will get you back on track. 
A tight, full shape also means that you're watering your succulent correctly. These drought-tolerate plants store water in their leaves so full, plump leaves means that they're hydrated. Succulent with unusually thin or wrinkled leaves are saying, "I'm thirsty, please water me!"

3. Growth

Succulents are naturally slow-growing plants, so this one is a little harder to spot. But, if you keep checking on your succulent, you should see signs of growth. Many succulents, like echeverias and haworthias, grow from their center. Other succulents, like crassulas, look more like trees or bushes, and grow new leaves at the end of their "branches." Where ever the new growth is, happy plants will have small, closely grouped together leaves. If the leaves near the center of your plant are brown/black, or appear to have bites taken out of them, your plant isn't doing so well. Head over to the Q&A page, and I'll help you out. 

4. Pups

Finding a pup near the base of your succulent is very exciting, and a definite sign that your plant is happy! Pups are baby plants which can be separated from their mother as they grow bigger. Not all succulents grow pups, but the ones that do (haworthias, aloes, kalanchoe...) will only do so when they are happy and healthy. Growing a pup is hard work! Along with light and water, a succulent needs space to grow a pup. Plants that are in crowded containers just don't have enough room. So finding a pup is a good sign that your succulent is enjoying the space you're giving it. 

5. Flowers

Even more exciting than pups are flowers! When a succulent will flower depends on it's variety. Some succulents take years to reach the size and age at which they are able to flower, so a lack of blooms doesn't necessarily mean that your plant isn't doing well. Most succulents only flower during certain times of the year (spring and summer being the most common) so that plays a part as well. But, when your plant does bloom, it's a celebration! Like pups, growing flowers takes work, so only healthy plants can do it. For some succulents, flowers are their last hurrah before the plant produces offspring and then dies. Either way, flowers are a sign of a happy plant. 

I hope that you were able to find some of these characteristics in your succulents! I know that I am always excited when my succulents flower, have pups, or turn bright colors. If your plant is having some trouble, I'd love to help you out. You can send me an email at meganjkamper@gmail.com, or head over to the Q&A page. If you have a succulent that's doing especially well, I'd love to hear about that too! 

What's cuter than a succulent? A baby succulent. And how do you get a baby succulent? You grow one of course! Luckily for you, growing a baby succulent is pretty easy. You don't even need seeds! Succulents have an amazing super power called propagation, which means that a new succulent is able to grow from a part of an old one, like the leaf or stem. This is a fascinating process to watch, and doesn't require much to start. Plus, you end up with more plants, and who wouldn't want that?

If you read my last blog post on pruning, and decided to give it a go, you may already have extra succulent leaves lying around. If not, you can take a few from your arrangement or collection. To do this, gently pull of a few of the bottom leaves by twisting them or wiggling them from side to side, like this. Some succulent's leaves are easier to remove than others. For example, sedums like burro's tail or golden glow usually have leaves that are easier to remove. Echeverias, which are flower-shaped succulents like Perle von Nurnberg or the plant in my example video, also have easily removable leaves. It is important that when you remove the leaf, you get the entire thing. The end of the leaf should look smooth, like the top leaf in this picture.
If you can, try to choose large leaves because the larger the leaf, the faster the baby plant will grow. 

Once you have the leaves you want to propagate, it's time to find a place to put them. You can use anything from a small pot to a plastic tub to an ice cube tray. Basically, you're looking for a wide, shallow container that can get wet. 

When you have your container(s), fill them with soil. For succulents, I normally use a mixture of cactus potting soil and perlite, which makes the soil very well-draining. But, because these dishes are so shallow and  baby succulents need more water than adult ones, I'm using just the cactus soil. Normal potting soil would probably be fine as well. 

Now you can place you leaves. I suggest spacing them out at little, and alternating which direction they are facing. Don't place the leaves with all of their ends grouped together because that is the area that the plant will grow from. If you do this, you'll end up with all of your babies crowded together and a bunch of open space where the original leaves used to be. That said, you can lay them pretty much any way you want. You can even make your propagation a piece of art!

After you've laid out all of your leaves, let them sit for a couple of days. If you just removed them, the ends need time to heal before they come in to contact with water. If they get wet before they have had time to heal, the may not propagate. So, DO NOT WATER THEM. If your leaves have already been sitting out for a while, then go ahead and get the soil wet. 

 And now, you wait! Remember to water your leaves about twice a week. You can also mist them with a spray bottle if you like. You should start to see signs of growth in a few weeks.  Once the baby plant starts to grow, the leave will begin to shrivel. When this happens, you can removed the leaf. Remember, all succulents grow at a different pace. Some baby plants may start to form right away, while others put down roots first and grow more slowly. In addition, some of your leaves may be duds. But, with patience and care, you will have your very own collection of baby succulents. I wish you luck!