Thanks David! You're really right about the aerial roots. Here's an update on just a few of the succulents on my tree... Last year I sowed a gazillion seeds from my largest Echeveria directly on the tree. To my surprise...perhaps only a few days later I started to notice a gazillion tiny seedlings sprouting up wherever there was a bit of moss. I had no idea that Echeverias were so easy to grow from seed. Here are a few pictures of the larger seedlings... There are two or three large seedlings growing in the root basket of Dendrobium speciosum... Other succulents in that photo are Graptopetalums, Crassulas, Othonna capensis, Crassula streyi, etc. Here's a large Echeveria seedling growing in the root basket of an Ansellia africana... This one is growing beneath a Begonia boliviensis... Another Echeveria on the tree is Echeveria nebularum... It's an epiphytic succulent from Mexico. Other succulents in the photo include... Crassula spathulata, Cissus tuberosa, Peperomia urocarpa, etc. Here's a photo of the shady side of the same branch... Succulents in this photo include...Aeonium Kiwi, Graptopetalum, Peperomia graveolens, Kalanchoe NOID (purchased as K. manginii), a small Echeveria, Kalanchoe marnieriana, etc. Here's a closer shot of the Peperomia... Peperomia graveolens and Crassula streyi both have nice reddish coloring on the underside of their leaves so in this regard they are well suited to growing epiphytically. Here are a couple different Echeveria roseas that I added last year... Echeveria rosea grows epiphytically in Mexico. It's one of the most cold hardy Echeverias and is grown outside year around in parts of England. Not sure why it's not more commonly grown here in Southern California as it can color up nicely when in bloom. During summer I water the tree every other night via drip system. During winter I water the tree first thing in the morning around 3-4 times per month. Many of the succulents seem to be able to survive indefinitely on just the plain bark of the tree...but they go into bonsai mode. In order to thrive they need some moss and/or detritus. I've also tried using coco fiber but it just doesn't retain enough moisture. What works pretty great is coco fiber with a layer of New Zealand Sphagnum on top. Here are some other photos of succulents growing epiphytically... Agave Cactus Cactus Cactus Cactus Crassula multicava Cyphostemma currorii Dudleya Echeveria alata Echeveria dactylifera Echeveria nebularum Echeveria nodulosa, Aloes, Mamillaria Echeveria nodulosa Echeveria nuda Echeveria rosea Echeveria rosea Echeveria rosea Echeveria secunda Kalanchoe uniflora Mamillaria Mamillaria Mamillaria Opuntia Opuntia Opuntia Yucca lacandonica and Agave

Nice plants. Good for you for knowing their names. I'm new to succulents myself but will share what I have learned here. Reading other postings is very helpful in learning. I assume that larger front pot has a hole in the bottom. I like the aeonium pot best because it isn't too tall. If pots are too tall, there is too much soil in the bottom where roots do not reach. Most established growers here are not fond of commercial cactus and succulent mix unless it is heavily amended with perlite or pumice (often available from places which sell the potting mix). For your plants to survive, you will have to be very cautious and use that meter judiciously because the commercial mix you are using holds more water than the preferred fast draining mix. Even though it looks very nice, personally I am not fond of top dressing as you have done with the sand because I believe it keeps the potting mix damp longer. As for the plant on the far right, aeonium kiwi (a favorite of many here), it will be dormant in the summer heat. Not sure how that will affect it for your conditions since it is inside, but keep in mind that they are looking to rest in the summer. Have fun with your new plants!

I've been watching this show again on DABL, but it is now called "Selling Houses with Amanda Lamb." I also sometimes watch it on YouTube. They are still doing feature walls with bad wallpaper, and often the clients/sellers will refuse to use the paper that Amanda picks out (she has particularly bad taste) and pick a better wallpaper themselves or just paint. I do not like Amanda at all because she can be overbearing and arrogant, but I do like the sellers and buyers. The buyers still often pick none of the three options they are given - much like "Escape to the Country" (which has much better realtors), but there is a prize (I think) for the seller that the buyer likes best, even if they do not buy. Amanda Lamb is 5'-11½" (1.81 meters) tall and often towers over others in the show, especially if she wears heels, but she often wears flats. A show I like better is The Unsellables, with Sofie Allsopp, who is much better put together than Amanda Lamb. I believe it started in Toronto and then moved to England. Sofie is 5'-8", and so she is rather tall also, and she almost always wears extremely high heel - which I like. I always notice her shoes in the shoes, and they are always very nice. Sofie gets a lot of criticism on YouTube, but I mostly disagree with it.

Purple coneflowers are a favorite. The moth is gorgeous! Thanks to everyone sharing photos for us to enjoy. I've been to see DD2 and family twice recently. Once to help her pack for a move, and back to help unpack. DGS came back home with me to enjoy our weather inbetween. When we were leaving her house the first time, SIL found this on the ground. He mentioned to DGS who loves to collect things. We weren't exactly sure what it was (I thoungt hummingbird moth nest, as she had a pair visiting daily) but I just Googled and it is a Luna Moth or a Silk Moth cocoon. How cool is that!? Lunas are favorite moth (and happens to be my profile photo on Houzz). I brought it home with me since DGS did not want to keep. It is about 1.5" long. Mornings at the beach are spectacular. We've had showers and rainbows almost daily. Same location, two days apart. The water in the foreground is outfall from one of our dune lakes. An acquaintance offered to paint this one. I think I will, then give DH for his birthday. Both were taken with his iPhone Pro 11.