Carl Dykema is the owner of Exotic Gardens in

University Heights.

^{Photo by Tara Sharp}

On an overcast afternoon, Carl Dykema is an unassuming owner, meandering down the aisles of his succulent nursery, answering inquires from customers about everything from how to trim leaves to whether a plant will adapt to new surroundings.

The visitors at Exotic Gardens range in age and expertise, many on a first-name basis with Dykema, who opened the nursery 10 years ago in Hillcrest. Three years ago, Dykema moved to his current, more expansive location in University Heights.

His experience with these spiny, fleshy plants began 25 years ago as a hobby. He grew succulents behind his house in a canyon, selling some at yard sales as his collection grew, until the opportunity arose to start a business.

Echeveria: Also known as "hens and chicks."

^{Photo by Tara Sharp}

“I just enjoyed working with succulents, and the ideal thing for me would be to make a living out of it," he says. "That way, I wouldn’t have to take a vacation; I wouldn’t want to."

At the nursery, Dykema grows many of his succulents from seeds, but he also grows some from cuttings, accepts trades from patrons and has two acres out in East County where he grows replacements for everything. He’s even perfected a ratio for potting soil mix that he sells at the nursery and hopes to eventually expand into landscaping.

Succulents are having a moment right now, popping up everywhere from wedding centerpieces to Christmas wreaths. While there are many factors that contribute to this renewed popularity – affordability, sustainability, neglect-ability and year-round color – in Dykema’s experience, it’s mostly about water.

When water conservation became an issue in San Diego, he saw an increase in business, with many of his visitors making the decision to rip out their lawns and replace them with succulents, which require less water and upkeep than traditional landscaping.

“People started realizing that succulents are a lot more interesting than a lawn, don’t require mowing and some can even increase in value,” says Dykema.

He has this advice for those looking to grow succulents at home:

1. Make sure the soil is well drained. You might need to add sand if you have a lot of clay in your soil.

2. Compost is always good. The Miramar Landfill is great place to find cheap, quality compost.

3. The bigger the plant, the longer it can go without water. The more established the roots are, the more stored-up water it has.

4. You can find succulents that fit just about any space; just be sure to research beforehand to find out their full-grown size.

5. The San Diego Cactus & Succulent Society is a good place to learn more about succulents. Meetings are held on the second Saturday of each month in Balboa Park.