OPEN GATES – August, 2022
GATES CACTUS AND SUCCULENT SOCIETY of the INLAND EMPIRE – Since 1959
| MEETING WEDNESDAY, August 3 , 2022 -DOOR OPENS AT 6:15 ! |
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE – PHUC HUYNH
How is everyone holding up in the midst of this summer heat? Not only do we have the heat to deal with but when the humidity goes up, it makes being outdoors that much more sticky and intolerable. Sometimes having a cold drink just isn’t enough to temper the hot air. Sometimes you just want to do nothing but to sit still and go to sleep. Imagine how our succulent plants deal with the extreme heat. Some you don’t want to over-water or water at all. Some will want to sleep as well.
One quick answer to how succulents deal with the heat is to go dormant. The word dormant is derived from the Latin word dormire, meaning “to sleep.” When growing conditions are not optimal for plants, such as high temperature, their cellular and biological functions will greatly decline. Without going into a detailed chemistry explanation, basically the plant shows slow growth or no growth at all. Many plants go dormant either in the winter or in the summer season. Dormancy allows the plant to protect itself during inclement weather so as to wait for more optimal growing conditions to return.
Deciduous plants and trees in the cold climates exhibit this dormancy very noticeably. Their leaves lose the chlorophyll function; reduce photosynthesis activity; and therefore, go through a myriad of spectacular color changes. Succulents usually have less remarkable dormancy changes but it is important that you recognize these changes as well. Most noticeably, some succulents will also lose their leaves, like Tylecodon, Cyphostemma, and Pachypodiums. In general, dormant succulents will halt growth, may shrink a little, fade in color, or look desiccated.
It is important that you do not ignore your succulents during its dormancy state. Some will require drastically less water while still needing adequate sunlight. Remember not to use any fertilizer if you are to water any dormant succulents. Avoid repotting or transplanting! Take care of your dormant plants well and they will grow out of dormancy well.
Here’s a list of some types of succulent plant dormancy:
Here’s a list of some types of succulent plant dormancy:
| Winter Dormant | Summer Dormant |
| Agave | Aeonium |
| Alluaudia | Adromischus |
| Adenium | Aloe |
| Bursera | Cotyledon |
| Didieria | Dudleya |
| Calibanus | Crassula |
| Echeveria | Fouquieria |
| Euphorbia | Gasteria |
| Jatropha | Haworthia |
| Lithops | Kalanchoe |
| Operculicaria | Pachyphytum |
| Pachypodium | Pachycormu |
| Plumeria | Pelargonium |
| Serpervivum | Senecio |
Phuc
Kelly Griffin is a succulent plant hybridizer, propagator, and avid plant explorer. Like many of us, his interest in plants and particular succulent plants started at a fairly young age.
Since his early exposure, Kelly has traveled to 20+ countries searching for plants, visiting Madagascar 5 times, South Africa 5 times, and Mexico 25 plus times to name a few. He worked as the Curator of Succulents at Rancho Soledad Nursery for 11 years and for the past 10 years he has been working for Altman’s Plants as Succulent Plant Development Manager.
He has become well known for his hybridizing and is responsible for over 100 succulent hybrids now in the trade, including Aloes, Agaves, and Echeverias. His specialty that he is well known for is his Aloe hybrids that are 30 years in the making (Pink Blush, Delta lights, Christmas Sleigh and Coral Fire, etc) and some Agave hybrids and selections too (Blue Glow, Snow Glow, Cubic, Black and Blue, Dragon toes, Spawn, and Crème Brûlée to name just a few). He is also responsible for obtaining seeds from many interesting species and propagating the seed for all to enjoy in cultivation.
Kelly has been a member of the San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society since 1992. He has been on the board of Directors for the SDCSS for a long time; He served 4 years as their club President and 2 years as Vice-President.
Kelly was honored to be named a Fellow of the San Diego Society and currently serves as a director on the board of the Cactus and Succulent Society of America (CSSA).
He will be bringing his hybrids and some seed-grown plants for sale.
KELLY GRIFFIN’S TALK – “PLANT EXPLORER”
AUGUST MINI-SHOW – NORTH AMERICAN COLUMNAR CACTUS AND LITHOPS
Bring your best plants to enter in the Mini-Show! There are 3 categories of entries: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. Points are calculated during the year with the winners announced in December. The entire year Mini-Show plant list is available Here.
Mini Show August – – Some pictures:
UPCOMING EVENTS 2022
| August 5 – 7 | 36TH ANNUAL INTERCITY SHOW & SALE *** RESERVATIONS REQUIRED LA County Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA Plant Sales 9 to 5 Daily, Show on Aug. 6 & 7 from 9 to 5 Info call: 626 821 3222. Click to see more information |
| September 3 | THE HUNTINGTON – SUCCULENT PLANT SYMPOSIUM 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108, Rothenberg Hall, 9am to 5pm, Cost: $100.00. Registration details at www.huntington.org, questions call 626 405 3504. |
| October 22 & 23 | PALOMAR CSS FALL SHOW AND SALE Tentatively Saturday 9 to 5P & Sunday 10A to 3: San Diego Botanic Garden, 230 Quail Gardens Dr, Encinitas, CA Email: EventCoordinatior@palomarcactus.org |
GATES CSS CONTACT LIST
We welcome your comments, suggestions or questions. Please email Gatescactusandsucculent@gmail.com or call one of us at:
President
Vice President Secretary
Treasurer
Board Member Board Member Board Member
| Phuc Huynh 909 910 9145 |
| John Reynolds 909 767 5606 |
| Barbara Croonquist 909 731 1587 |
| Jo Ann Crabtree 909 633 6934 |
| Jeff Loew 330 986 6313 |
| Rene Hernandez 909 875 3607 |
| Karen Roholt 951 897 2220 |
Board Member Ann Reynolds 909 987 5706. © Gates Cactus and Succulent Society 2022 Gates CSS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Gates Cactus and Succulent Society 