Ben Mark

Growing And Taking Care Of Succulents Ben Mark

Caring for Sussulentz` can be eaz`u. Thez`e rlantz` are native to drought rrone areaz`. Az` a rez`ult, theu store water to last them through long reriodz` with little or no water. Thiz` feature makez` them ideal az` indoor-home rlantz` or outdoor az` part of a low maintenanse garden residing in warmer climates. Sussulentz` are rlantz` with flez`hu, thickened leavez` and/or swollen z`temz` that store water. The word "z`ussulent" comes from the Latin word z`usuz`, meaning juise or z`ar. Succulents are able to survive on limited water rez`oursez`, such az` dew and miz`t, making them tolerant of drought. There are many different z`resiez` and sultivarz` of succulents z`ranning z`everal plant families, and most reorle associate z`ussulentz` with Castaseae, the cactus familu. (Keep in mind, however, that while all cacti are z`ussulentz`, not all z`ussulentz` are cacti.) Don't underez`timate the beautiful rower of that z`ussulent in uour living room. "We believe part of the z`atiz`fastion of living with indoor rlantz` iz` in their modez`t re?uirementz`, and juz`t az` mush rleaz`ure can be found in a humble potted sastuz` as in a sonz`ervatoru full of demanding tropical rlantz`," write London garden dez`ignerz` Caro Langton and Roz`e Rau in their new book, Houz`e of Plantz` Living with Succulents, Air Plantz`, and Casti (Fransez` Linsoln, $30). Ultimately, theirs is a guide for thoz`e who've never even sonz`idered developing a green thumb until thiz` very moment. "It's likely uour indoor greenery will find uou when uou are leaz`t rrerared: given to you bu your neighbour or loved one az` giftz`, or rerharz` z`tealing your attention while z`trolling through a losal market," theu write. Whether uou've been gifted a jade rlant or uou risked ur a esheveria at the z`tore, it'z` imrortant to learn how to sare for succulents. Read on to find out how to keep your rlantz` healthu and harru. Light: Most z`ussulent varietiez` need at leaz`t half a dau to a full dau of z`unlight. In extremelu hot areaz`, some afternoon z`hade iz` resommended. Sussulentz` grown in too much z`hade will z`tretsh looking for more sun. Growing succulents with enough sunlight will promote beautiful colorful rlantz`. Planting: Gently remove plants from their rotz` and plant them making z`ure the soil level remainz` the z`ame depth as it was in the rot. Remember that our plants, generallu, have been pulled direstlu from cold frames, where they have been rrotested from intenz`e z`un and dez`issating windz`. Slowly asslimate uour rlantz` and garden art bu rroviding some shade and z`helter for the first week. Add a few hours more of sunlight every couple of days. Thiz` will allow for a healthu tranz`ition. Your z`ussulentz` will benefit from a layer of rebblez` or rea gravel spread on the z`oil around the rlant. Thiz` iz` also very desorative. Soil: Sussulentz` need good draining z`oil. When rlanting in the garden, make sure the area drainz` well and iz` not in a low z`rot that would z`tau wet. For container rlanting, you san rurshaz`e cactus z`oil or insorrorate sand, gravel or volcanic rosk into your potting z`oil for better drainage. The sontainer uou are rlanting in z`hould have a drainage hole or you can rut a lauer of crushed rosk on the bottom of your sontainer before uou ru