Having succulents, it seems like I baby my tropicals but I don't, they just need a little less neglect.

I hum and sing. That must do it.

Harry

i tell my faves how good looking they are-but they change all the time so no one gets jealous.

I was just thinking about this the other day! This doesn't apply TOO much to my succulents - I don't have many but they're all lovely so I treat them the same. With my plants in general, I tend to "baby" and photograph the plants I like more haha.

all my favorites come as gifts or trades with friends.

they get top shelf.

Richard

That's for sure Richard. Plants that have been passed from one person to another are much more valuable than what you buy in the stores.

I was going to say no babying, tough love all the way, but I do try to give them the varying conditions that different plants want. Maybe that's babying? I tend to be attracted to plants that don't require constant attention, watering, fussing. Guess I like the rugged individualists of the plant world, in other words cactus and succulents (also sansevieria, clivia, various others).

Less is More

less work growing hard

watering less is best

more of less is blessed

Like you, Noto, I seem to give my favorites preferential PLACEMENT, but can't really say I baby them. The ones that aren't doing as well are usually the ones to get babied...if not downright bothered by me LOL.

And I totally agree re: valuing the ones that others sent you. I am hovering over the Haworthias that Danielle (Dani317) from this forum sent me a little while back. They seem fragile to me solely because someone entrusted me with them (their lives, literally!) and I must not kill them! I am tickled with how the Haws are growing nicely, and currently hovering over the Aloes---which are so cute and nicely rooted but not liking California (or me, I guess) as much as I'd hoped. Here they are heading inside for the winter:

These, a couple of variegated jades and an E. Lola that my friend was apparently trying to disintegrate and brought over are the only ones going into the house for the winter...especially because I feel like it's going to be a relatively wet one.

See? Preferential placement!

Grace, that Haworthia is a spectacular specimen, so plump and robust without being stretched!

Also, regarding your aloe, I've found they like less overall moisture than the growing Haworthias do. Not sure why!

As Brad poetically states, succulents prefer not to be babied, but the ones I like best, never got outside to be eaten by a pest. Although most of the ones that went outside invariably thrived by summer's end.

Christopher

Yea, I gotta figure out what works best for the Aloe alone. It's very cute and pink, with a nice texture. And thanks, Dani sent me a nice specimen to begin with so it was easy to work with, and has grown nicely. I haven't grown Haws in awhile. :-)

Christopher, you're lucky to be able to get the required sun by keeping your favorites indoors! Come the summer, once that sun gets higher, the overhangs on my porch and patios kill me. It's guaranteed etiolation or a chance of pests around here. I usually don't bring mine back in, but this forum had made me nervous, so I'm imitating for no clear reason.

Grace, if I were you, I would just get a local weather app and check the hourly forecast every night and assume that it can be ten degrees lower than the forecast.

if it's going to be too cold, you can put a large pot over them or even just a towel. Or if you have a covered porch (or south/west wall) that gets evening sun you can use that as a heat sink.

Also keep in mind that it can frost without being freezing temperatures outside!

And I'm with you on the sun moving upwards in the sky. My overhangs cause my south window to get little better than a northern exposure.

I certainly baby mine, but it seems to be all of them that get babied. I have favorites but it's always changing, with the exception of my Stapelia and Huernia. They are always near the top of the list because I'm anxious for some blooms, yet they seem to be doing the worst.. damn you mealy bugs!! I also have to agree that the one that were not purchased are certainly the most valuable.

Can you get the Huernia and stapelia more sun? Sometimes that helps with infestations.

I can certainly try, I kind of sunburned the Stapelia already, though that one evening being the same pot, is without infestation. I really need to get them repotted.

For the most part, I water and treat all my plants, succulents(cacti) and orchids with equal food, water and sun. However, since mine are outside during the cold winter rains, the orchids with particularly attractive blooms are brought under the patio roof. Recovering cactus and my miniature cacti such as Mammilaria theresae get brought in as I don't want to risk rot if left with wet feet too many days. I suppose, you could say they are the spoiled ones because they are a little more picky of conditions.. I guess, I am a slave to these fat l stemmed/leafed plants and ball'o'spines.