T H E D I S H O N D I R T | L E S L I E C R AW F O R D
I
have been growing succulents for about 30 years, everything from aeoniums, aloes and echeverias to sedums, crassulas, gasterias and epiphyllum. Don’t let the fancy names scare you, these are common varieties growing in gardens all over Coronado. Succulents are easy to grow and can handle a lot of different environments. Some prefer a little shade to look their best while others develop rich colors when exposed to heavy sun. I grow most of my succulents where they get full sun in the morning on a north facing wall with good, indirect light the rest of the day or anywhere they can get a half a day of full sun. My crassulas, also known as jade plants, are placed in full sun to develop colors that make them interesting. All succulents need some sunlight or they’ll just stay green and grow lanky. Did you know that all cactuses are succulents but not all succulents are cactuses? Cactuses are typically heartier than other succulents. I’m not into cactus, mostly because I don’t like getting skewered when I’m enjoying time in the garden. And picking spines out of the dog is not fun for either of us, speaking from experience. One of the great things about succulents is that they are easy to propagate. Over the years, I have grown a lot of succulents with starts from my original plants. Different succulents require different techniques for propagation. There are three basic ways: pups, leaf propagation and stem cuttings. Pups are new plants growing off the side of an existing plant. Aloes and haworthias multiply by producing pups that can be pulled from the mother plant and replanted. Stem cuttings are the most common method of propagation. Cuttings are either taken from the mother plant or, if a plant is old or root bound, can be taken by cutting the head off the main stem and starting over. A bonus is that it will encourage a healthy mother plant to grow more, so it’s the gift that keeps on giving. Cuttings can be left unplanted for a couple of weeks to let the wound callous over or planted right away. If planting the same day, don’t water the cuttings, just place them in a pot and leave them alone for a couple of weeks. Leaf propagation occurs when a leaf gets broken off a stem and a new plant emerges from the base of the leaf. It’s not my preferred method, but with my dog, two cats and possums crashing around in my small yard, they create many opportunities. Leaf propagation takes a while to form a viable plant, so patience is a virtue. Keep your propagation babies out of the sun, especially when starting from leaves; otherwise they’ll get cooked. My gardening method can sometimes be called “survival of the fittest.” I’ve had my share of failures in the garden, but my yard is crammed full of succulents I’ve propagated so I call that a win!
stunning
