Ha, I actually see the reverse here. The focus of the main BB stores that carry succulents around here tends to shift to bedding plants/ perennials in spring/ early summer, and then back to houseplants and succulents. There is also a bit of a peak in winter after the seasonal holiday plant rush. I generally don't expect to find good succulents in mid=summer. This late summer/ fall, I bought at least 15 new succulents..

And I visit my favourite greenhouse pretty near every 10 days or so, in case they got anything new in... They are getting Altman's plants now, as well as another supplier...

Which BB stores do you go to? The ones here are stocked largely by Colasanti's. Never saw an Altman tag before.

I found mid summer to be the best here actually, lots of new stock moving in and out then. Late summer was only good for getting the weirder looking succulents.

One local greenhouse had a 30-50% off sale in the fall which was awesome for supplies and two plants I wanted for a while.

My best selection is at a local BBS called Kent, some of their larger stores have greenhouses. Unfortunately, they are confined to Atlantic Canada, I believe. I've never seen a Colasanti's tag!

whoaa......if I found a greenhouse store like that I would..literally jump up and down on the spot...where is it/what's it called? (only if you don't mind sharing!)

I stopped checking about a month ago..the lowes nearby didn't have any...but if it's true it gets better after all the pumpkin/fir/poinsetta madness is gone then maybe I should continue checking. I don't even check HD because it seems to have a smaller plant section. IKEA's was dismal..rot..etc, I checked their online stock inventory and it said 500 something succulents but the only good stuff they had were the usual jades.. the other 498 plants were dead and dying...lol or stuffed in the back.

Kevin, most people won't know the name Colasanti because it's located close to me in Ontario. I used to go there 30 or more years ago! Altman's is a very large commercial grower in California suppling Home Depot and Lowes. There is another large commercial grower in Florida, Costa Nurseries. For me, in Michigan, most of the BBS just stop getting anything because they have to keep them indoors and that takes away from much needed floor space for more seasonal material.

Succulent season has been over for awhile at the BBS around here, Home Depot being the only exception. If you don't snatch them up in late spring and early summer you're pretty much out of luck, it seems like they don't restock them beyond June/July. You'll still find leftover succulents after that point, but the selection is sparse and the quality isn't the greatest.

hd here in reno got in some nice things-pleiospilus, haworthias, lithops, etc. but left them outside in 21 degree weather. apparently a new nursery manager, so their good selection is probably done for now.

Kevin

I can't recall exactly what BBS (it could have been HD), but I bought few succs from Altman's. So they definitely are available in Ont, maybe you just didn't notice or perhaps they didn't have any when you were there.

Minty

That is great succulent nursery, looks like a jungle in there (photo #2). I wish there was one - at least similar to it around Toronto, Ont. area! I am sure I would be bumping into Kevin all the time, lol.

I hope you'll go to see their winter set-up, I would be very interested to see what they do. Pls. post photo if you go.

I noticed that tray with 'living stones' is more empty than others...I wonder if they just don't grow that many, or they sell them faster. I think many ppl are fascinated with them.

Rina

To Davez: Probably a new nursery manager from California that is not aware of our cold nights :-) Do you go to the HD on S. Virginia? That's the one I usually go to when I'm in Reno.

Minty: I love that nursery as well--we don't have anything close to that here.

Costa and exotic angel appear to supply both HD and Lowes (and many smaller florist/nurserys) a large amount of the houseplants widely avail in NYC. Often I can find the exact same plants at 3 different prices at 3 different places, and I don't have many more than 3 places to shop. I do find the sooner you get stuff after it arrives the better off you are.

I would be very broke if there were places like pictured above anywhere near here.

At least here, during the winter, especially around holidays, the BBS dedicate decent floor space to indoor plants. Lowes in particular has been increasing variety, with all kinds of things they have no place selling, like orchids, "bonsai" (ahem glued rocks, but actually pretty cheap), bromeliads, carnivorous plants, and all the tropicals you'd expect. Not many succulents or cacti, but sometimes they'll have a tray or two.

I've always assumed costa and exotic angel's greenhouses are like the mcdonalds of plants, as much automated mass production techniques used as possible (I have visions of robotic plant overlords) and would love to tour either one's facilities some day.

edit: to answer OP, I shop all year round everywhere that has plants and is near by :) can't help it, and there is new stuff all the time. but often pedestrian, and the same stuff. but still, i look

The BB stores in my area get stock all year. I was at Lowes today and they have a new shipment in this week. It is smaller than what they carry in the Summer. There is usually 8 shelves there was only 4 shelves of succulents and the rest houseplants and a new shipment of Bromelaids.

Home Depot last year got a big shipment in January last year. After that the weather was so bad I did not get out so I do not know what they did the rest of the winter.

Any plant that is in a store for too long will get etiolated, so I think the time of year has little to do with it, really. With the BBS, it is all a matter of timing. Get there shortly after they arrive, and they will be in good health. My local greenhouse stocks some succulents year round, and there is no change in their health from season to season. The only issue around here is that around Christmas, there seem to be less plants because of all the Christmas merchandise.

Christopher

Minty - That is a crazy nursery, I could probably spend an afternoon there just looking at everything (and then proceed to spend all my money).

Breton - I've never been inside a Kent's store so I guess that makes us even, ha.

Ealdwood - I'm not even sure how Ikea keeps their succulents looking like they do. Here in Ontario they keep them on a rolling metal shelf that receives minimal light.

Howard - Can't believed you used to go to Colasanti's. Leamington is so far out of the way... unless you like birds (Point Pelee National Park). By mid August, all the local BBS like HD and Walmart stopped stocking new succulents.

Dave - That's a shame.

Rina - How did you recognize the succulents from Altmans? It's very possible I didn't realize it when I saw them. I would practically living at Minty's local greenhouse if we had one. =)

Daniel - I'd be interested to see Costa's production facilities. They seem very in tune with trying to grow everything sustainably.

Earlier this fall, I had the opportunity to see my city's greenhouses production area, but they are mostly growing annuals/perennials and just starting to get into cold-hardy succulents.

Christopher - So it's more a game of chance in trying to be there at the right time? New arrivals are always the best quality, I find that too. The only exception is really greenhouses that grow their own succulents.

Seems like all the stores here are stocking up for Christmas... maybe that means close to the end of December/January is possibly a better time.

Kevin

Last plants I bought from Bradford GH were from Altman Plants - their name is on side of the label and there is a logo printed right on the pot:

Rina - Thanks! For sure I haven't purchased anything by Altman Plants yet. Will keep an eye out from now on.

Ealdwood I was shocked the first time I went there, its a good thing its over an hour away or else I'd be in serious trouble!

Rina, Mayo, Notolover, Rooftop if any of you are ever in the Chicagoland area this greenhouse is about an hour+ south of the city, it would be great to meet up and yes haul plants!

hey noto, how are things in beautiful douglas co?

i look everywhere i go but usually buy at the hd on northtowne dr.-good usual plants and occasionally some interesting things mixed in,

minty's greenhouse would be hard to resist.

went to walmart to buy a new fone and looked in their greenhouse-nothing much except enough mealybugs to infest the world.

getting back to the original question, because we are so close altman ships all year, as soon as the xmas junk is gone some nice things may show up.

Stopped by the Bradford GH Gallery in Barrie today...some cacti for sale, many - what I think are - rhipsalis (sp), and some other succulents. They were mostly in trays full of water - I don't think they will live for too long. Many blooming holiday cacti all being sold as Christmas cactus...And tables and tables full of poinsettias in colors from light pink to almost maroon, incl. bi-color and the yellow. Surprisingly, didn't see any color/glitter sprayed.

I took few snapshots but my phone doesn't take very good pics.

see the standing (yellowish) water?

Are these all rhipsalis? I considered getting one, but not sure which one...

Rina

Rina, lovely pictures! Did you decide to save any?

Yes, Kevin I did venture that far. Usually would make a day of it and go to Point Pelee. I used to hide the plants under the car seat...LOL Back then, crossing back and forth between Canada and USA was not much more than stopping to pay the toll, but I was paranoid that it would just be my luck that customs would want to inspect my car.

Minty

Adding to say that even if this GH is huge (about 2ac), the cacti-succulent section doesn't even come close to one you posted.

I picked up couple of tiny pots; while too wet, at least trays were not full of water. Obviously, no names. Help?

First one is Cheiridopsis denticulata and the second Gasteria glomerata. Nice picks! Sorry my phone messed up my first post.

Kevin

Thank you...I knew you would know :)

Both in 2.5" pots. You have both of them, right?

Rina

Yup, my Cheiridopsis is getting bigger (yours was much much bigger than mine when I got it). You can tell when to water when the lower leaves wrinkle/get soft.

My Gasteria is maybe a bit bigger than yours? It can take a surprising amount of light.

Let me know if you want to see photos. =)

Aha, I have that same Cheiridopsis and was wondering if it was really denticulata, since it is completely toothless. It came labeled as C. purpurea.

And that is a nice little Gasteria!

Thank both, they have quite a few of these gasterias, all have some pups.

Kevin

photos anytime, and anything else you fell like posting...Rina

Breton - I think C. purpurea looks a bit different, the leaves aren't as tall and skinny. Can you share a photo of yours?

Mine hasn't flowered yet so I have no idea what colour the flowers are. Some leaves grow without teeth and others have small ones.

Rina - Always happy to share. =)

I cut down watering my Cheiridopsis because it was starting to have a bit too many pairs of leaves. The Gasteria is a bit of a slow grower for me and mostly has gotten a lot 'thicker'.