Succulents

/Succulents

Dragon Tree

Native to India and Ceylon, forms a candelabra-type specimen with deep green stems splashed zig-zaggedly down the centers with a lighter silvery green. In time, can become a small tree with a corky trunk topped by a canopy of hundreds of marbled green branches. Excellent as house plant in brightly lit areas, for atriums or on the patio. Can be used in the landscape in temperate regions. Responds well to warmth, with its active growth period in the late spring and summer months. Porous soil with adequate drainage. Water thoroughly when soil is dry to the touch during active growing season. Requires bright light for best appearance, and should be given a winter resting period at which time less water should be given. Protect from frost.

By | 2016-03-16T01:46:19-07:00 March 16th, 2016|Succulents|0 Comments
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Living Stones Or Stone Faces

Lithops resemble small, rounded pebbles as a camouflage protection against grazing animals. Living stones also subsist on very little moisture and do best where there is low humidity, no frost, and about 4-5 hours of sunlight. Do not water during winter dormancy. After white blooms emerge, the plant bodies open to produce a new pair of succulent leaves and the old leaves will then eventually shrivel up. In late spring and summer, water most Lithops very sparingly - when in doubt do not water. Lithops are among the most drought tolerant plants on earth. However, yours is the beautiful L. optica rubra, a completely pink-purple species that grows in late summer through winter, so unlike other Lithops species, withhold water in the spring months.

By | 2016-03-15T17:36:49-07:00 March 15th, 2016|Succulents|0 Comments
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Euphorbia Leucodendron

Euphorbia leucodendron, native to Madagascar, forms spineless, rounded pencil-like green stems with darker "polka dots" to 1/2" in diameter. Offsets from the base to form clusters of cylindrical stems to over 3' in height. Responds well to warmth, with its active growth period in the late spring and summer months. Porous soil with adequate drainage. Water thoroughly when soil is dry to the touch during active growing season. Requires bright light to full sun for best appearance, and should be given a winter resting period at which time less water should be given. Protect from frost. All Euphorbias contain a white sap that can be irritating to eyes and mucous membranes. If contact is made with this white sap, take care to not touch face or eyes before washing hands with soap and water.

By | 2016-03-15T05:35:11-07:00 March 15th, 2016|Succulents|0 Comments
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Succulent Propagation

Almost all succulents can be propagated from leaves or stem cuttings. Take individual leaves or cuttings and allow them to dry, or callus over in a location out of direct sun for about a week. This can be as simple as putting the cuttings on a paper plate and setting them somewhere like on top of the refrigerator or a bedroom dresser. After drying, pot them up in relatively small pots with new, well draining, dry soil (do not water) and leave them again for about a week. Leaves can be just laid on top of the soil with their stem end in contact with the soil surface. After that week the leaves and cuttings should have begun to initiate new roots. Now give them a good watering and put them in a bright location. Don't water again until the soil has become fairly dry to the touch.

By | 2016-03-15T00:09:58-07:00 March 15th, 2016|Succulents|0 Comments
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Woolly Senecio

A perennial succulent dwarf shrub to under 1' tall from The Little Karoo desert of South Africa, with stunningly attractive upright cylindrical succulent leaves that are pure white due to the fine white hairs covering all surfaces of the leaves. This plant is known to produce bright yellow flowers on a short terminal stems. Plant in full sun in an open airy location with well-drained soil and water sparingly, allowing soil to dry between watering - it is an easy plant to rot if given too much water or shade. Best not wet the foliage and to be kept drier in winter months. Cold hardy to at least 22 F. Probably one of the most beautiful of the succulent Senecio that can be grown in a well-drained soil or mounded planting or as a very attractive container plant.

By | 2016-03-14T10:17:31-07:00 March 14th, 2016|Succulents|0 Comments
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Euphorbia Suzannae

Euphorbia suzannae, native to South Africa, forms small, knobby spherical emerald green stems to 1" or so in diameter. Clusters profusely to form wide clumps to 10" in diameter. Each stem has "toothed" ridges along the margins, and often has deciduous leaves during active growth. Responds well to warmth, with its active growth period in the late spring and summer months. Porous soil with adequate drainage. Requires filtered light for best appearance, and should be given a winter resting period at which time less water should be given. Protect from frost. All Euphorbias contain a white sap that can be irritating to eyes and mucous membranes. If contact is made with this white sap, take care to not touch face or eyes before washing hands with soap and water.

By | 2016-03-13T07:52:37-07:00 March 13th, 2016|Succulents|0 Comments
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Cream And Green Carpet Sedum

Native to Japan and possibly China, a tough low growing evergreen succulent to 6" tall and trailing to 2' wide with needle-like pale green leaves that have a thin creamy-white margin. The new growth on this plant is often upright and then lies down under the weight of the stems and in shade it tends to grow slightly more open and taller. When this plant flowers in the early summer, the small bright yellow starburst flowers appear just above the foliage. Plant in full to part sun in a well-drained soil and irrigate occasionally to regularly. Hardy to 0 °F. A great plant for use as a ground cover (tolerates steep slopes), for tight spots such as embedded in walls or rock gardens, in hanging baskets, tumbling over a wall or even as a house plant in a bright spot.

By | 2016-03-12T00:05:24-08:00 March 12th, 2016|Succulents|0 Comments
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Queen Of The Night Dutchmans Pipe

A large epiphytic cactus native to Mexico and Brazil. Epiphyllum oxypetalum reaches 20 feet in height. The dark green branches reach 3 feet long. This cactus lacks true leaves; its leaf-like growth is really flattened stems. Its showy blooms appear in late spring or early summer, and its white flowers are 11 inches long and 5 inches wide. This fragrant, nocturnal bloom opens in the late evening and closes again at sunrise. Plant in moist, well-draining soil. Mix two parts peat moss, one part sand and one part pine bark. Place in a site with full sunlight to partial shade exposure. The site should not be an area where temperatures fall below 35 degrees F. Water whenever the surface of the soil is dry. Reduce the amount of water given in the winter. Do not let the soil dry out all the way. Feed every month with a 10-10-10 balanced fertilizer diluted to half strength. Do not fertilize during its inactive period during the winter.

By | 2016-03-11T22:35:36-08:00 March 11th, 2016|Succulents|0 Comments
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Spring Cactus Easter Cactus

Rhipsalidopsis are commonly known as Easter Cacti or Spring Cacti as they typically flower during April and May, and has reddish-orange flowers. Often confused with Christmas Cacti or Schlumbergera, they are, in fact, similar in appearance but have very different flowers. The soil should be very porous, lightweight and slightly acidic. Slightly acidity can be provided by addition of peat moss or leaf mold. Plants must have good air circulation. Water thoroughly when soil becomes dry to the touch, but make sure water drains away rapidly. Soils that do not drain well and remain sodden for days or weeks will smother the root systems and encourage certain root diseases. Rhipsalidopsis thrive in temperatures between 70 and 80°F. Plants are happiest when night temperatures are between 55 and 65°F. Excellent as a hanging basket indoors in bright, airy spot or on a sheltered patio in temperate areas.

By | 2016-03-11T02:41:47-08:00 March 11th, 2016|Succulents|0 Comments
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Living Stones

Easy to grow, they tolerate long periods of dryness. A. schoonesii is not all that common, a bit of a specialist plant. It has a large taproot so it is very resistant to drought. When it is potted up, the plant can be progressively raised above the ground so that some of the roots can be seen and it is especially cultivated for their looks. Architecturally it is a real stunner. When the "caudex" shape of the raised roots is adequately visible this plant is incomparable. Prefer full sun to part sun but, should be protected from excessive heat and sun in summer as it will redden with more light exposure. Regular water in summer (but always allow to dry out before you water again), keep quite dry in winter. Needs deeper pot and excellent drainage to accommodate the tap root, It can be kept for years in a 3"x3" pot, and should be repotted only every 2-3 years . It is also perfect for the bright windowsill. Frost hardy to about 10 degrees F.

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:21-07:00 March 9th, 2016|Succulents|0 Comments
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