July's Program - A good soil mix is the foundation of success in growing succulents well by Peter Walkowiak
Mr. Walkowiak graduated from U.C. Cal Poly, Pomona in 1985 with a degree in Ornamental Horticulture. He worked for some large nursery operations for the next 15 years as nursery, production and section manager. He started a landscape business that he operated for 12 years, with the last 6 years focused on succulent landscapes. At this time, he joined the San Diego CSS and then the Palomar CSS and the CSSA. He also started propagating succulent plants from his collection. Ten years ago, he switched from landscaping to my nursery, PW Plants, that specializes in South African Euphorbias and caudiciforms plants.
Mr. Walkowiak has been fascinated by plants his whole life, and his interest in succulent plants really began in college. By the time he graduated, he had well over 100 plants in his collection. The succulent bug started up again when his two sons reached mid-teenage. This is when he discovered that there are cactus and succulent clubs. When he heard there was a succulent plant show in Balboa Park, he joined the San Diego CSS on the spot. He joined the Palomar CSS and the CSSA in the following year. He is now a member of all the Southern Ca. CSS’s. He is Past President of the Palomar CSS, the San Diego North County club. He has served on the board of directors of the San Diego CSS and the CSSA. He was the Show Chair for San Diego’s two shows and Palomar’s one show and co-chair for the Intercity Show, the largest succulent show in the world.
Mr. Walkowiak's collection now numbers well over two thousand plants. About half are cacti with the remaining consisting of Euphorbias and caudiciforms. Some of the plants he has now owned for over 40 years.
