Spring Where Are You? Succulents 101
The last few days we have had some really crazy weather..well not really in these parts. We are talking about the Ohio River Valley here..where the weather can change on a dime. Yesterday morning we experienced what appeared to be a blizzard..complete with high winds and blasts of snow that covered the landscape completely. Two hours later the sun was shining and all the snow had melted...hmm. It was still very cold..just as it is today. As I'm writing this the temperature outside is but 40 degrees..brr. To cold for the end of March.. The news says the cold weather may continue on till even May..OMG What is going on?? I'm really beginning to think I may not even have a spring vegetable bed..and that global warming is definitely real...LOL I've been to several garden centers..trying to keep my hope for Spring going..and what do I find? Mostly bare shelves and the promise that the plants will be arriving soon. This cold weather has effected everyone..even the growers..Plants that do arrive die outside as they sit waiting for someone to buy them.. The other day I saw a lady who worked at Kroger throwing out all kinds of rose bushes that apparently got frost bit because they were set outside to soon. Usually by March the Spring flowering trees are in full bloom..the streets in my town are lined with Cherry Blossoms, and the white blooms of the Bradford Pears..lovely..Not this Year?? When will Spring officially start? Not Sure?? We just keep hoping. I have started some yard cleanup..that's about all I can do right now. I have got into thinking about houseplants lately because well..really that's all there is right now for the avid garden lover. Succulents..everyone says there so easy to grow. Well I guess they are if you are armed with a few simple growing instructions prior to bringing your new little plants home. Usually I plant my succulents in regular potting soil and 6 months later..alas..there dead.. What?? I'm told succulents must be in special cactus soil..that drains very well, and only water your succulents about one a week. Basically neglect them and they'll love you for it.. I can handle that!!
Succulents are booming in popularity for two simple reasons: they are beautiful and nearly indestructible.
Technically, a succulent is any plant with thick, fleshy (succulent) water storage organs. Succulents store water in their leaves, their stems or their roots. These plants have adapted to survive arid conditions throughout the world, from Africa to the deserts of North America. Fortunately for us, this adaptive mechanism has resulted in an incredible variety of interesting leaf forms and plant shapes, including paddle leaves, tight rosettes, and bushy or trailing columns of teardrop leaves.
As a group, succulents include some of the most well-known plants, such as the aloe and agave, and many almost unknown plants. Cacti are a unique subset of the succulent group. Succulents make excellent display plants in dish gardens.
No matter what kind of succulent you're growing, the rules are pretty similar between the different species. Here are the general rules for growing top-quality succulents:
Light:
Succulents prefer bright light, such as found on a south-facing window. Watch the leaves for indications that the light level is correct. Some species will scorch if suddenly exposed to direct sunlight. The leaves will turn brown or white as the plant bleaches out and the soft tissues are destroyed. Alternatively, an underlit succulent will begin to stretch, with an elongated stem and widely spaced leaves. This condition is known as etoliation. The solution is to provide better light and prune the plant back to its original shape. Many kinds of succulents will thrive outdoors in the summer.Temperature:
Succulents are much more cold-tolerant than many people assume. As in the desert, where there is often a marked contrast between night and day, succulents thrive in colder nights, down to even 40ºF. Ideally, succulents prefer daytime temperatures between 70ºF and about 85ºF and nighttime temperatures between 50ºF and 55ºF.Water:
Succulents should be watered generously in the summer. The potting mix should be allowed to dry between waterings, but do not underwater. During the winter, when the plants go dormant, cut watering back to once every other month. Overwatering and ensuing plant rot is the single most common cause of plant failure. Be aware, though, that an overwatered succulent might at first plump up and look very healthy. However, the cause of death may have already set in underground, with rot spreading upward from the root system. A succulent should never be allowed to sit in water. The following are signs of under- or overwatering:- Overwatering. Overwatered plants are soft and discolored. The leaves may be yellow or white and lose their color. A plant in this condition may be beyond repair, but you can still remove it from its pot and inspect the roots. If they are brown and rotted, cut away dead roots and repot into drier potting media, or take a cutting and propagate the parent plant.
- Underwatering: Succulents prefer generous water during the growing season (spring and summer). An underwatered plant will first stop growing, then begin to shed leaves. Alternatively, the plant may develop brown spots on the leaves.
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