Succulents, succulents everywhere! They have been popular for the last few years but even more so this spring. Everyone knows the Hens and Chickens succulents that our grandmothers grew in their gardens. They have been stepped up a notch to include Echeverias, Aeoniums, Agaves, Dudleyas and Crassulas to name a few. These are all popular and can be found at local nurseries.
Easy to grow, succulents may be planted in the garden but do exceptionally well in containers. Use a potting mix such as Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palms and Citrus which provides good drainage for your plants. Regular potting soil holds too much water which will rot your succulents. Overwatering is the main culprit in death of a succulent.
One of my favorite is Kalanchoe ‘Flapjack’. It grows large paddle shaped leaves and as fall arrives, the green leaves become edged in burgundy.
Another interesting succulent is Sedum ‘Burro’s Tail’. This one will trail over and down the container. Finally, Sempervivum arachnoideum, Cobweb Hen and Chick, is another favorite because of it’s sweet flowers.
Remember to water only when soil is dry. During winter, water even more sparingly. Perhaps this would be once a month. Enter “succulent” onto your Pinterest App or your smartphone browser. You will find interesting combinations and further information on propagation on your succulents. ♦
