Have you ever thought about planting a succulent garden? Succulents are one of the easiest plants to grow and maintain.
Succulents are plants that grow in dry climates and can be found all over the world. They’re known for their low-maintenance, drought resistance, and air-purifying capabilities.
Succulents make an amazing addition to any space. They bring life and color into otherwise drab and boring spaces. They come in all sizes, from miniature to 12 feet tall; and in many colors, including green, purple, blue, and red.
Whether you have a small area or large, creating a succulent garden can be the perfect way to spruce up your home or office. Some people like to get creative with their succulent gardens by making arrangements or planting them as accents in a garden bed.
Succulents are pretty low maintenance, so they are the perfect way to get your green thumb on without having to spend hours tending to your garden.
Many people like to grow these plants because they can be easily propagated from cuttings, and their fleshy leaves are perfect for growing in arid environments or on windowsills. Succulents can enhance any space, whether indoors or out.
Another great thing about succulents is that they have sturdy leaves that make them more resistant to pests.
In this article we will discuss how to care for succulents as well as some tips on choosing the right plants for your needs!
How Do You Start A Succulent Garden?
The first question is what types of succulent plants should you plant? There is such a wide variety that it can be hard to choose!
Most succulents are easy to grow even if the conditions aren’t the best. But if you’ve never grown these types of plants before, you’ll want to start with the more hardy varieties. For the best results, be sure to choose ones that are native to your area.
If you have a large space, you can plant taller succulents like agave species or yuccas. If your garden is on the smaller side, or if it’s an indoor window garden, stick to smaller ones that don’t need as much root space.
Keep in mind that not all succulent are the same, so the growing conditions among the various plants will differ. They come in many different shapes and sizes, so it’s important that know what type of plant needs which conditions before planting succulents.
Speak with your local nursery employees so that they can help you choose the best succulents for your particular climate and growing conditions.
Common Mistakes When Growing Succulents
There are 3 common mistakes when growing a succulent garden that could lead to them dying or losing their beauty before you even have a chance to enjoy them!
- Over watering
- Placing them in the wrong type of soil
- Placing them somewhere that gets too much sun or not enough sunlight
With the right care, succulents are very easy to maintain and will grow into beautiful plants that you’ll love coming home to every day.
Watering Your Succulents
Succulents are a perfect plant for most climates, and they don’t require much watering. Because succulents are so “juicy”, and have water-storing leaves, it might seem like they are fine without water, but they actually need it to survive. It’s true that they can survive on their own moisture for a while, but not indefinitely.
Different succulents require different amounts of water, so again, it’s important to research each type of plant before you grow them. You will likely have to adjust the amount of water you use for each type of plant.
Generally, you don’t want to water a succulent too much, even when the weather is hot. Once a week should be often enough for most varieties, but again, do check your particular type of plants to be certain. Water the roots and not just the tops of your plants to make sure they thrive!
If you create your succulent garden outdoors, be sure to adjust the amount of water according to how hot it is outside, so they can be as happy and healthy as possible!
Inside The Aloe Plant’s Water Storing Leaves
Where to Plant Your Succulents
Succulents can be grown in containers or in the garden outside. When planning the layout of your garden, check to see how much space each of your plants will need to allow them room to grow. Some of them will need more elbow space than others.
Instead of planting your biggest succulents in the back row, make sure to plant them instead in a spot near the middle, where they can grow and flourish. Place smaller plants, or ground cover plants, on either sides.
The best time to plant your succulents is in the springtime, as long as you are planting them outside. This will allow for soil that has been frozen over winter to thaw and warm up. If you’re planting them inside, in containers or pots, anytime of year works!
But what about cold weather? If you live in a cold climate, or an area with cold winters, your plants will need protection from frost or snow. For that reason, you may want to plant even your outdoor plants in pots that can be brought inside during the winter months.
Succulents don’t like cold weather at all, so it’s important to take care of them this time of year as well!
How Much Sun Will Your Succulents Need?
Succulent plants love light, so be sure not to put their container too far away from windows, so they can get plenty of sunlight. The more sun exposure your succulents have the better chance they’ll grow healthier and faster!
Keep in mind that the amount of sunlight needed for succulents can vary as well. Most plants need to be in a place with lots of sun. But the strength of the sun’s rays can change depending on the season, how cloudy it is, where you live, and where you put your plants.
If you start to see dark spots on the plants, they might be getting too much time in the sun, especially if you live in a hotter climate.
You might also notice that the plant’s leaves will start drooping. If this happens, move your pot to a shadier place or just take it inside where it’ll be safe from too much sun exposure.
Do Succulents Need Special Soil?
The type of soil you use for your succulent gardening can have a big impact on how the plants grow.
You can purchase special cactus soil, or you can start with regular potting soil and add coarse sand, gravel, or perlite for drainage. The best and most popular soil mix for succulents is a mixture of soil and pumice material. Pumice, aka volcanic rock, can be found at your local nursery, hardware, or gardening store.
You’ll also want to be sure the soil is deep enough to allow for growth of the roots.
Drainage for Succulents
Another secret to a happy succulent is excellent drainage! If they are over-watered or if too much water builds up in the soil, root rot can develop. Good drainage will keep your plants looking their best.
The pumice material mentioned before will help greatly with providing good drainage.
If you are planting succulents in a pot or container, there will need to be drainage holes at the bottom of their containers. If you put your plant in a pot without drainage holes, water will collect and suffocate your succulent. The best way to avoid this is by choosing a pot with large drainage holes! Line the bottom of the pot with gravel, rocks, or pot shards to provide good drainage and anchor the plant.
Do A Soil Test
If you are planting your succulent garden outside, you’ll want to do a soil test to check for proper drainage.
To test the soil, pour water in the area or container where you want to plant the succulent. If the water pools up, then the ground under that spot does not have good drainage. This will make it difficult for your succulents to grow properly.
Try adding more pumice to the soil in that spot, or move to a different area altogether.
If you’re looking for a fun gardening project, why not try creating your own succulent garden!
If you’re looking for plants that don’t need a lot of attention, succulents are the perfect choice. They’re low maintenance, great looking, and make great house, garden, or office plants. Not only that, but succulent plants also have a great resistance to pests so they can continue looking beautiful and inviting!
