Plant Something Wonderful Your guide to growing succulents

Whether you are a beginning gardener looking for an easy way to get started or an experienced horticulturalist in search of a new challenge, there are plenty of reasons to put succulents on your list of plants. Succulents are among the most forgiving of all cultivated plants, making them the perfect choice for new and inexperienced gardeners. Beginner errors that would kill most plants are unlikely to harm these hardy succulents, making these plants a great choice for those who wrongly think they cannot grow anything green.

At the same time, succulents are among the most versatile and fascinating plants on the planet. Even if you have been blessed with a green thumb and can grow virtually anything, there are plenty of reasons to experiment with succulents and see what they can do. Succulents come in all shapes and sizes, and in a wide variety of colors as well. No matter what kinds of plants you prefer, you can find them in succulent form.

The bottom line is that succulents are generally easy to grow, but they are still plants, and they still require the right care to grow and thrive. Whether this is your first time growing succulents or not, it is important to understand the specific care needs of these very special plants. Here are some of the key things you need to know about caring for your succulents and helping them grow their best.

LIGHT AND SUN EXPOSURE Exposure to light is a key consideration for any gardener, and it is also a major concern for gardeners moving into succulents. These unique plants are generally thought of as desert dwellers, but succulents actually come from a wide variety of climates. If you want your chosen succulents to grow and thrive, you need to give them a climate that is as close to home as possible.

There is a widespread belief among many new gardeners that succulents thrive best in full sunlight, and to some extent that may be true. It is certainly true that many succulents love full sunlight, and that they can grow and even thrive under temperature extremes that would kill a lesser plant.. >>>

Even the most light-loving succulent will appreciate access to shade, and it is important for growers to provide proper sun protection. Providing adequate shade is always important, but it is absolutely critical when temperatures spike into the 30s. Once the temperatures hit the 35-degree mark, gardeners should move their succulents out of the full sunlight - moving them from the front porch to a shaded windowsill, for instance, or bringing them indoors during the hottest part of the day.

It is also important for gardeners to know that succulents are susceptible to sunburn, and they can quickly suffer damage if exposed to too much unfiltered sunlight. Some varieties of succulents are in more danger than others, and growers can tell a lot about specific susceptibility by the plant's colour. Succulents that are pale green, solid green or variegated in colour are in greatest danger of sun damage, and those plants should be given access to shade during the hottest part of the day.

Succulents that are blue, red and grey are at far less danger of sun damage, and they are all excellent choices for outdoor gardens and other spots that are blasted by the hot sunlight all day. These colourful succulent varieties will provide a garden of colour combinations that can be quite striking.

Succulents that are covered with spines are also good choices for outdoor areas where sun exposure is at its highest. The spines help protect the plants from the damaging rays of the sun and give the succulents their own form of shade. On the other hand, young plants should be carefully protected from harsh sunlight and given access to shade during the hottest part of the day. This sun protection is very important when propagating young plants, as the shade will give them the best chance to grow and thrive.

GETTING THE TEMPERATURE RIGHT Setting the right temperature is another major consideration when growing any plant, and temperature is more important than many beginning succulent growers realize. Since succulents are most closely associated with harsh desert climates, it is easy to assume that hotter is always better, but that is not necessarily the case.

It is certainly true that most varieties of succulents appreciate hot weather, and that they are generally sun-loving plants. At the same time, simply blasting your succulents with hot sunlight is not a recipe for success, and it is not something new growers should strive for. Growers should strive to create a comfortable environment for their plants. Even though they are largely from hot dry environments, the succulents in your garden or on your windowsill will appreciate having some shade when temperatures go above 35 degrees. Even for temperatures in the 30s, some shade is advisable, and setting up areas of filtered sunshine can help your succulents grow, thrive and propagate naturally.

PROPER WATERING Watering is one area in which many beginning succulent growers get things wrong. Interestingly, those beginners often fall into two separate camps - one that waters too

often and one that does not provide water often enough.

Both of these mistakes can be equally serious, although watering too much is far more common. Gardeners who are used to watering other types of plants may feel uncomfortable allowing their succulent gardens to dry out before offering a drink, and they tend to overwater as a result.

As with any kind of plant, the secret to growing succulents successfully lies in providing the most natural environment possible. In the case of succulents, that means mimicking the hot, dry desert climate these plants have adapted to over the years.

Unlike other types of houseplants and flowers, succulents should be allowed to dehydrate thoroughly before being watered. The right time to water is when the soil is just starting to dry out. For succulents in small pots, that means a weekly watering schedule. Largepotted succulents can wait longer between watering - generally about two weeks.

As with any type of gardening, it is important to keep a watchful eye on your succulents and make sure the moisture in the soil remains at the optimal levels. Gardeners should not water their succulents just because the ground is a little dry, but they should provide a much-needed drink if the soil has dried out completely.

Keeping the moisture levels right also means providing the proper drainage. Excess water can be very

damaging to the delicate roots of many succulents,

and giving that unnecessary moisture a place to grow can mean the difference

between success and failure. The containers you choose should be well made, with adequately-sized drainage holes to allow excess moisture to escape.

FEEDING YOUR SUCCULENTS

Succulents need proper moisture and regular, if infrequent, watering to grow and thrive, but they also need quality food to do their best. Feeding succulents is an important part of their care, but it is one that many beginning growers overlook or misunderstand.

Like their moisture requirements, the nutritional needs of succulents are pretty basic and easy to meet. For most varieties of succulents, a yearly feeding is all that is needed. Succulents are not picky about the kinds of food they get,

either, and for most, any quality organic fertilizer will do quite nicely.

The nutritional needs of most succulents are pretty minimal, but the timing matters a great deal. For best results, that annual feeding should come at the beginning of the growing season. Getting the timing right can vastly improve the health of the succulent garden and make the plants easier to grow and propagate.

SUCCULENT PROPAGATION One of the best parts of growing succulents is that they are relatively easy to grow and propagate. A great deal of the fun of growing these plants is sharing them with family and friends. All you need is a few cuttings, and your friends can grow beautiful and bountiful succulent gardens of their own. As with feeding, the timing will be critical when propagating your succulents and sharing the results of your hard work and success. Once the cuttings have been taken, they need time to dry and get ready to take root. Allowing the new cuttings the time they need can make a world of difference, so bring plenty of patience.

Succulent growers who wish to propagate and share their plants should invest in a supply of empty trays. Once the cuttings have been taken, those pieces should be placed in an empty tray and allowed to stay there until the raw ends callous. Once the cuttings have calloused, they should be rooted in quality soil designed for succulents. Gardeners can simply fill the tray with the soil and place the cuttings on top. The nutrients in the soil will give the cuttings everything they need, and they will begin to grow roots and establish themselves. Once the new succulents have become established in their soil trays, they can be planted in a different part of the garden or shared with friends and family.

Growing succulents can be very rewarding for gardeners of all ages and abilities. If you have never grown plants before, the minimal care needs makes a succulent garden an obvious starting point. If you are an experienced gardener, getting started with succulents will give you a new challenge, and a new way to work the soil. No matter which camp you fall into, understanding and adapting to needs of these special plants will boost your odds of success and let you have more fun. HL