Succulents - easy & fun plants

 

You have to love Succulents with their ability to be grown almost anywhere. They will thrive with little fuss, in small amounts of soil & in the most sunshine. They need little watering, so are excellent for Australias climate & droughts. They come in all colours, textures, shapes & sizes. They can be put in corners of the garden, in pots on the patio, on windowsills or indoors.

Succulents are really good fun & a great plant for newbie gardeners. You can start your collection by visiting the nursery, or steal cuttings off friends & family (as I do). Think about where you want to plant a succulent, think about what size or colour you want. Ask how they grow ie: are they ground spreaders or tall? Cacti are awesome but not much fun to handle, so avoid the more prickly ones. Smooth leafed succulents include Echeveria, Aeonium, Crassula, Sempervivum, Sedum, Agave & Cotyledons. Arrange them artistically, try to avoid clashing colours or textures.

In the garden

 The best planting time is now, Autumn or Spring, avoid Winter as it is usually too cold & wet. Plant into well drained soils, in plenty of sun. Many succulents will tolerate shade as well. My garden is testament to that. If you want to grow a succulent border, try buying a few plants to get you going, then propagate the rest. Some great border succulents are Echeveria & Sedums, as they clump & spread really well.

Larger plants, such as Yucca, Aloe or Agave need more space & you need to think where you want these plants situated for the best affect. Plant flexible foliage plants nearby, ie: flax, daisies or lavender to soften the look.

Pots and containers

Succulents love growing in pots. They are the renters friend as you can drag the plant from rental to rental. 

Always use terracotta pots for succulents, if you can. Because they don't have a glaze, making them porous, it helps improve drainage and aeration which reduces the chance of rot. But succulents will grow in any container - pots, urns, troughs, window boxes, or even an old boot. The only limit is your imagination. Mulch the top of your container with pebbles to finish them off.

 Potted succulents will need protection from extreme cold or heat. You need to use a potting mix specially for cacti or succulents, or make your own by mixing coarse sand to your potting mix. 

Propagating Succulents

1. Remove leaf or flower & dry

To propagate your own, simply remove a leaf or flower then leave to dry outside for a few days to heal the wound and prevent it from rotting when planted.

2. Dip into root hormone gel & place in tray

Dip into root hormone gel and place in a pot or tray filled with potting mix. To prevent the roots from rotting, use a specialised potting mix, or make your own, with equal parts good-quality potting mix and coarse sand, or gravel mix.

3. Cover tray

For best results, cover your tray or pot with a plastic bag for a week, using a couple of skewers to ensure the plastic stays off the cutting. This will act as a mini greenhouse, offering protection and humidity while new roots form.

Problems

Very few pests & diseases bother succulents. They do not like being mulched with moist mulch, they prefer pebbles & stones. They do not like prolonged cold or wet conditions, but will tolerate a little frost if the plant is kept dry. Wet Winters may cause black spot on leaves. Remove the infected leaves promptly.

Feeding and watering

During Spring & Summer, when the plant is actively growing, you will need to give them a feed. use a slow release fertiliser in granule form. Succulents are like sponges, or a water storing vessel. They take what they need from rain, then let the rest drain quickly away. Constantly wet soil will eventually be the death of most succulents, as the stems will rot at the base. Thats why it is important to have excellent drainage, & do not water at all in Winter. I try to keep most pots under cover of the verandah, so I can control the water, not mother nature.

To start your collection, make sure you visit friends & relatives with your scissors ready. Most gardens stock at least one succulent. They are excellent to hone your propagating skills. Ive pinched plants from one end of the state to the other. Most will grow here, even in our worst Winters. I have lost a few to too much moisture , so it is trial & error to what will grow in your garden. If you do have a plant that tends to rot, try placing in a pot in a sheltered area, & watch it take off again. I find that a few varieties need to be shaped, as branches get too heavy, so snap off a few branches here & there to keep it well balanced. Then I plant these branches or leaves somewhere else. They never go to waste.

Happy Grubbing

Gardenia Trellis.