Succulents - Easy Plants for Busy People

Have you ever thought of having a potted plant or two around your home, but then dismissed the idea as being too much work and too time consuming?  You have?

 You shouldn’t let a hectic pace of life prevent you from enjoying nature in your personal surroundings.  Try growing succulents.  They are the ideal plants for busy people like you.  They make wonderful houseplants and are easy to grow.

 Succulents, including cacti, are hardy, attractive plants that require a lot less care than do other plants.

 They are a fascinating group of plants from different genera with one thing in common:  they store water in their stems, leaves, trunks and roots.

 You would be surprised to see the wide array of beautiful succulents now being grown as potted plants.  They vary greatly in forms, shapes, sizes and colours, and their showy flowers are very striking.

They thrive in arid environments , but  some do well in gardens exposed to the elements;  Agaves, Aloes, crown of thorns  (Euphorbia splendens), Sansevierias (Mother in law tongue) and the giant  night blooming Cereus cactus, with its clusters of large, aromatic flowers and edible fruit are a common sight in local gardens. 

SUCCULENTS IN POTS

Succulents are usually grown as potted plants, but the potting mix must have good drainage, and when kept outdoors, must be sheltered from the rain. 

 Rosette shaped Echeverrias, Haworthias, Sedums (Burro’s tails) Crassulas (Jade plants), Adeniums (Desert roses)  and cacti are some of the more popular succulents used in pot culture today.

 A recommended potting mix is one third sharp sand. One third compost or manure and one third garden soil.   

INDOOR CARE

Succulents are just about the easiest houseplants to take care of.  They are relatively pest free with the main problem being root rot due to over watering.

 Healthy, well established plants can last indefinitely indoors so long as they get enough light and are not overwatered. 

 Feed your succulents with a liquid fertilizer with a high phosphate content or with a granular slow-release fertilizer, which lasts for many months.

 Keep them near to a light source such as on a window sill, on a tabletop near to a window or in the porch.  Watering is easy; water only when the soil feels dry.  If you can’t wet them for extended periods of time, don’t worry; these plants have their own built-in water supply. 

PROPAGATION

There are three ways to propagate succulents.  You can make new plants easily by rooting either cuttings or side shoots, or you can propagate them from seed, which produces a lot of plants, often with variations in colour or form.

 With the diverse range of succulents from which to choose, you can easily increase your collection by propagating and exchanging plants with other succulent growers.

 In my next column, two weeks from now, I will tell you about cacti, the largest and best known group of succulents.

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If you have any gardening news or tips you would like to share, or if you are having a problem in your garden, e-mail me at thehappygardner@tstt.net.tt

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