The popularity of container gardening and the wide variety of succulents available from Internet sites elevate the likes of hens and chicks to collectible chic.
It wasn’t long ago that the eye-catching perennials grew primarily in sun-seared settings. Now they’re popping up all over the country.
“There are so many succulents available now (that) we weren’t even aware of 10 or 20 years ago. The Internet makes it possible to purchase these plants,” said Debra Lee Baldwin, author of “Succulent Container Gardens.”
Many of the most attractive succulents are native to Madagascar, South Africa and the Caribbean, meaning they’re frost tender and do well outdoors only in warmer regions, Baldwin said.
“Container culture offers an ideal solution; anyone, anywhere can grow succulents in pots, which can be sheltered indoors,” she said.
More than 10,000 plant species are classified as succulents, including those of the sizable cacti family. Some are tall and irregularly shaped, resembling living sculptures.
Others are small and develop laterally, making an effective ground cover. Many bloom. Most are survivors, durable once established.
“They’ll store water in their fleshy leaves in times of drought, which can be interpreted as owners forgetting to water them,” Baldwin said. “They can so easily be loved to death, by that I mean by overwatering, making the roots rot. Succulents really prefer neglect.”
Planting succulents in containers not only makes overwintering them easier but also makes growing them more rewarding.
“It’s gardening in miniature, ideal for space-constrained, time-challenged gardeners who like mating plants with pots,” Baldwin said.
Succulents need good drainage, particularly when planted in containers.
“Succulents appreciate fast-draining soil,” said David Salman, founder and chief horticulturist at High Country Gardens, in Santa Fe, N.M. “A rich loam won’t work. It gets too wet and stays too fertile. It’s better to blend coarse sand and gravel with a soilless potting mix.”
Here are container tips for succulents:
Terra cotta or ceramic rather than plastic: “Succulents can live for a great many years, often outlasting containers. Repotting is difficult for plants, particularly for some of the larger succulents,” Salman said.
Top dress them: Layer attractive stones or gravel around containerized succulents. Coarse aquarium gravel is good. “It keeps the plants looking cleaner so they don’t get any dirt splashed up into the foliage,” he said. “If you like to hike, gather some rocks or gnarled wood. They will provide a little interior decoration with your potted plants, making them rock gardens in miniature.”
Windowsill plants: “They’ll bloom (indoors) in winter and early spring, giving you some great offseason color,” Salman said.
Plan your pots: Bring along your plant when choosing a pot, or your pot when choosing a plant. “That makes a better design statement,” Baldwin said.
Good groupings: Arrange succulent-filled containers into groups. Elevate several. Choose themes or colors to add cohesiveness to your garden. “A pot never detracts from the plant; it showcases the plant,” Baldwin said.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
