Style Observer Gardening returns to Potscapes to discuss expansion and the care of succulents with The Potscapes Shoppe principal Pamela McLaughlin

Style Observer Gardening (SOG): Do you have any plans for expansion?

Pamela McLaughlin (PM): I’m always thinking about thoughtful growth, but for me, expansion isn’t just about size — it’s about deepening what we offer and how we connect with people. I hope to continue creating experiences that inspire and educate, whether through new plant offerings, workshops, or collaborations. The focus will always be on keeping Potscapes personal and approachable, while sharing more succulents and cacti with homes across Jamaica.

More than anything, Potscapes is about encouraging people to live with plants, not just purchase them. I especially love introducing children to succulents — it’s a gentle way to spark curiosity, teach responsibility, and nurture a connection with nature. Succulents are low-maintenance yet endlessly fascinating, making them perfect for young plant lovers.

I also enjoy seeing how arranging and caring for succulents can be calming and rewarding for adults, offering a small daily ritual of mindfulness. Ultimately, Potscapes is about sharing the joy of the gardening experience, inspiring creativity, and helping people bring a bit of life and beauty into their homes — whether they’re discovering plants for the first time or have been plant lovers for years.

SOG: How can people best live with succulents, and how should they nurture and care for them?

PM: Living with succulents is all about observing and meeting their needs — and it’s surprisingly simple once you get to know them. Light is key: Some succulents, like haworthias and gasterias, prefer low to indirect light, making them ideal for indoor spaces such as desks, shelves, or corners with filtered sunlight. Others, like echeverias, cacti, and sedum, thrive in bright light and do well outdoors in an area protected from heavy rain, where they can enjoy plenty of sun without risk of waterlogging.

When placing succulents, their light needs should always come first, and good airflow is essential. For watering, most succulents do best with the “soak and dry” method — water thoroughly, then let the soil dry out completely before watering again. This helps prevent overwatering, which is the most common challenge, and keeps plants strong and healthy. Maintenance is minimal but rewarding: Remove dried leaves and rotate plants occasionally so they receive light evenly.

Grouping succulents with similar needs together makes care easier and more intuitive. Styling them thoughtfully adds another layer of enjoyment — pots become part of the composition, not just containers. Mixing finishes such as ceramic, concrete, or stone, and balancing matte and glazed surfaces, allows the plants’ forms and colours to stand out. Playing with height, scale, and negative space helps create arrangements that feel considered rather than crowded, while repeating shapes or tones can tie a display together.

Whether displayed as a single statement piece or as a carefully planned grouping, succulents read as living objects within a space. They definitely bring structure, softness, and a sense of elegance to indoor and outdoor environments.

Air plant Garfield Robinson

ESTABLISHING SHOTGarfield Robinson

Potscapes Shoppe principal Pamela McLaughlin with a haworthia cymbiformis. Garfield Robinson

Money trees (foreground) wrapped in kokedamas and Lucky bamboos Garfield Robinson

Lucky bamboo Garfield Robinson

Parodia leninghausii Garfield Robinson

Echeveria zixia fairy Garfield Robinson

Haworthia limifolia Garfield Robinson

Kalanchoe tomentosa teddy bear Garfield Robinson

Echeveria agavoides ebony Garfield Robinson