Growing succulent plants effortlessly
6/20/2017
Nearly anyone wondering how to grow succulents indoors can look no farther than their own grandmother’s windowsill, which probably boasted at least one.
Because of their incredible shapes and forms, and tolerance of moderate light, low humidity, and weeks of neglect, succulent house plants such as a mother-in-law tongue or snake plant (Sansevieria) or florist’s Kalanchoe have graced many a living room corner or kitchen window, or a gifted Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) that simply won’t die. And most are very easy to propagate from stem cuttings, dividing small plants, and rooting leaves.
Old-hand gardeners know that indoor succulent plants require a certain amount of neglect.
In their arid or seasonally-dry native lands, they developed the ability to store their own water supplies within fleshy leaves, stems, or roots.
Dig into dozens of stunning succulent creations!Go beyond the garden to create succulent projects that take center stage in any space. DIY Succulents shows you how to use beautiful and resilient plants like echeveria, sedum, and graptopetalum to craft nature-inspired home decor like rustic tabletop centerpieces and breathtaking wall art. Each page offers details on selecting the right plants and containers for the project, assembling a gorgeous arrangement, and maintaining the garden as it grows. With step-by-step instructions, gardening tips, and dozens of ideas to choose from, anyone can create imaginative succulent crafts like:
- Living Wreath
- Birch Log Planter
- Terrarium Necklace
- Topiary Ball
What is a Succulent Plant
Succulent plants, from tropical to cold hardy, come in astounding variety of sometimes bizarre shapes, colors, and unique features; they have fleshy leaves or stems which help them store water for weeks or months.
What are succulent plants? The meaning of succulent as it relates to food is juicy or tender. The definition of succulent plants is similar: plants that store water in leaves, stems, or both. There are many different types, species, and cultivars of them all, in a fascinating assortment of shapes, sizes, colors, and unique features ranging from frills to spines and beautiful flowers.
To define succulents further, cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. They can be native to arid deserts, seaside cliffs, cold mountains, or even steamy jungles. Many will simply melt into mush if exposed to freezing temperatures, but there are quite a few which will grow outside during harsh freezing weather, as far north as Canada.
Succulent means that the plants can tolerate prolonged drought, sometimes for months; most grow best in bright light, but not always full hot sun.
Succulents are plants that hold water in their leaves, such as cacti, aloe, and echeveria. They have captured the hearts of crafters, decorators, and plant lovers all over the world. Always popular as an outdoor plant in warm climates, succulents have found a new popularity as a try indoor plant that's easy to care for and fun to look at. Idiot's Guides: Succulents includes:
• Everything needed to select, pair, pot, and care for succulent plants. • Snapshots of 100 of the most popular varieties of succulent plants, including care, color, hardiness, pairing, and a full-color photo for each.
• 16 beautiful craft projects with how-to steps and color photos, including picture frames, wreaths, terrariums, centerpieces, and bouquets.
• Tips on successfully propagating new succulents from existing plants.
• Extensive advice on choosing pots and unique planters, repotting succulents, and pairing varieties for maximum impact.
• An index of succulents by color and height that gives readers another tool for selecting the succulents that will look.
How to Plant Succulents Indoors
Planting succulents indoors is not done much different from other plants in pots. Make sure pots have drainage holes, or plan to lay them on their sides after watering to allow excess water to drain out.
When first planting succulents in pots, choose a well-drained potting soil such as a ready-made cactus mix, but for a really good succulent potting mix that won’t stay too wet, add extra pumice, sharp sand, grit, or perlite (available at garden centers) to help drainage without breaking down with time.
When first learning how to pot succulents, you will notice how shallow and brittle their roots are. Gently loosen other soil, and sift new soil around the roots, using your fingers or blunt end of a pencil to tamp it lightly as you go. Cover the surface with sand or gravel or grit, and allow the plants to dry a few days before watering.
Inspiring, practical and richly photographed, this comprehensive guide offers creative ideas and DIY projects using beautiful low-maintenance, water-wise plants
Succulents are the ultimate easy-care plant: versatile, effortless to grow both indoors and outdoors, and drought tolerant. From Aloe and Agaves, to Senecio and Taciveria, this handbook by leading garden expert Robin Stockwell highlights 200 of the easiest, most useful, and gorgeous plants, and shares advice on care and cultivation. Readers will find inspiration for imaginative and exciting new ways to use succulents in striking garden designs, containers, vertical walls, and indoor arrangements, as well as step-by-step projects, such as living bouquets and terrarium ornaments.This is the essential reference for landscapers, home gardeners, and anyone looking for a thorough introduction to the perfect plant for modern times.
Growing Succulents Indoors
Caring for succulents indoors means not coddling them as you would, say. African violets or ferns.
Indoor succulents grow best in bright light. Though many including Sempervivum and
Pedilanthus develop their best foliage colors with at least a few hours of direct sun, and get Portulacaria, Sedums, and others get very leggy and weak if not given bright light, exceptions such as Sansevieria and Hoya tolerate fairly low light levels.
Still, a very successful indoor succulent garden will be in or near an east, south, or west window that gets a few hours of direct sun. For those whose leaves scorch in direct sun, provide shade with a sheer curtain if grown in a south- or west-facing window.
Water often enough to keep plants from shriveling, and avoid a buildup of harmful dissolved minerals and fertilizer residue by using distilled or rain water, and at least once a year flush out the soil with a good soaking.
Because many grow slowly indoors, especially in the cooler, darker winter months, they don’t need much if any fertilizer other than a light feeding in the spring or summer.
Favorites by Common and Latin Names
What are succulents you may already be familiar with? Favorite heirloom succulents with odd but familiar common names and somewhat recognizable Latin names include wax plant (Hoya), mother-in-law tongue (Sansevieria), jade (Crassula), crown of thorns (Euphorbia), hens and chicks (Sempervivum), century plant (Agave), prickly pear (Opuntia), burn plant (Aloe), stonecrop (Sedum), zebra plant (Haworthia), and many more.
Other very popular succulent genera include Kalanchoe, Senecio, Echeveria, and Aeonium; word-search any of these and you will find many plants you have probably seen in garden centers or on other gardeners’ porches.
Most succulents can live for decades with just bright light and occasional watering, plus a rare feeding with all-purpose plant food. They are not fussy, but sometimes have problems with mealybugs, scale, or other sap-sucking insects.
Though some develop their best foliage color when exposed to a lot of light, many can burn in hot summer sun, particularly in humid climates. A sheer curtain may be needed for plants grown in a window with direct sun. Not enough light often leads to leggy, weak growth.
Their worst enemy, other than freezing, is overwatering which can cause leaves to shed prematurely and rots their roots and stems. Avoid this by planting in a super well-drained soil containing organic matter plus coarse sand and either perlite or grit, and water only when soil is dry.
There are several easy ways to propagate succulents. A lot have small plants called “pups” growing from short stems at their base, which can be twisted or cut off and replanted. Those with long stems usually root quite easily, but let cuttings dry for a day or more to heal over to reduce rotting.
A surprising number of succulents can be grown from leaf cuttings or entire leaves. Some actually grow new plants on the tips of leaves or along flower stems. Simply stick them in potting soil and with minimal care they will quickly grow into mature plants.
Use succulents as specimen or collections, indoors or out, in containers, rock gardens, hanging baskets, and wreaths and other wall plantings.
0 comments