There are few reasons why it’s impossible not to love succulents – they come in different sizes, in many shapes, and in almost all the colors of the rainbow, said – they’re gorgeous! This gives you plenty of options because it all depends on how big your succulent you want it to be and which color.
There are many varieties to choose from, so no matter which one you choose and where you plant it – indoors or in your garden – the succulents are a sure way of making any space prettier. If you don’t have any at home, it’s time to get one – scroll along to read more info!
1. Choose a Cheaper Variety
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Most of the succulents are cheap and easy to find, but few varieties, such as Jovibarba heuffelii, are rare and therefore expensive. That’s because, unlike the rest of the succulents, this crown of the Jovibarba heuffelii splits into more crowns which later have to be surgically removed for further propagation. The point is – before you decide that you want to invest in more expensive succulents, it’s better to start with cheaper ones and learn well how to grow and take care of them.
2. Inform Yourself
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Once that you choose which variety you would like to plant, it’s important to inform yourself on how to take care of that certain variety. For example, the Aeonium variety has an upright growth habit and is a good choice for garden beds, while the Agave variety will be a better choice for hedges and to be placed against walls. This all depends on what you need; the other requirements are more or less almost the same.
3. Pick a Planter
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Now, this is a very fun part of the whole succulents process. The succulents look very adorable in all kinds of planters, especially if we’re talking about DIY planters, such as mason jars and mugs, coming in different sizes and shapes. If you’re the kind of person who likes doing stuff on your own, then you will find plenty of online tutorials for such planters, or you can simply go and buy – whatever suits you the best!
4. Find the Right Soil
Before you start the planting process, you need to get the right soil for the succulents. No matter what variety you chose or whether you plant it in a garden bed or smaller container, it’s important to have a growing medium chosen according to their capacity to retain water. They need a well-drained, slightly acidic soil – adding horticultural lime is something your succulents will like!
5. Plant them Step by Step
When you’ve chosen the right soil for the plant, fill the container with it and cover it with gravel – this helps the soil is draining. Blend these two thoroughly and water them so that you will settle the soil. The next step is adding the succulents. Find a focus spot where you would like to plant the biggest succulent and surround it with smaller ones or group them according to their shape.
6. Find a Nice Spot
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This applies to a place where the succulents would get their daily dose of sunlight and still serve you as a beautiful decor whether it’s indoors or in your garden. As you might already know, succulents rarely thrive in shades, so they need plenty of suns! If you notice that your plants are growing tall and are stretching, then take this as a sign that they need more sunlight.
7. Water the Succulents
When it comes to succulents and watering, there are two important things to be remembered – don’t water them daily and don’t spray them with water, because these two will make your succulents die soon. This means that you should be very careful not to over-water the plants. Instead, water them enough that the soil is completely wet (they like their roots to be wet) and let it dry completely. During the dormant season, mostly in winter, they grow, and they don’t need that much water.
8. Be Careful with the Mulch
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Succulents don’t need mulch, especially organic ones that can keep the soil moist longer than it should be. However, you can add pebbles or gravel on top of the soil, making them look even more attractive!
9. They Too Need a Fertilizer
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Succulents need periodic feeding to be healthy. You can use balanced soluble fertilizers or use steer manure or compost mixed into the soil. Avoid using fish fertilizers and fertilizers rich in salt. During the dormant season, succulents don’t need any feeding at all.
10. Be Aware of Pests and Diseases
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Generally, they are pest-resistant, but just like any other plant, succulents can still be attacked by various pests and diseases. The worst of all these is the mealybug, which not only can damage it, but it has the ability to kill large specimens because it breeds very fast! To remove the mealybug, use insecticide based on , but it won’t be easy – you might need to try various insecticides even more than once.
Thank you for your excellent tips. I have a small collection of succulents. I am inspired to add more.
#7
Succulents do NOT like their roots to be wet.