Succulent Gardens - Indoors and Out!

What is it about succulents?  They are easy to grow indoors and outdoors, drought resistant, and there are so many varieties!

Plan your garden before you go shopping.  There are many online resources, videos, and book resources to help you get started. Essential Succulents: The Beginner's Guide by Ken Self is a great read!

Design options are unlimited.  Think about color, size and scale, shape, texture, and context.  There are wreaths, containers, and even wall gardens.  Look for plants with good color and shape, no dead leaves, and free of insects.  Zone 6 succulents include, among others, Hardy Ice Plant, Pig’s Ear, Cape Blanco Stonecrop, and Houseleek.  Others can be planted or arranged in pots in your design and then moved indoors in the colder months.  When moving them indoors, avoid extreme changes in temperature.

Now DIY planting can begin.  Be gentle because the roots are fragile, and don’t

plant them too deep.   Use soil that drains well.  Outdoors you may need to add succulent soil, pumice, vermiculite or sand to your existing soil.  Keep watering to a minimum, once per week or less, to avoid root rot. Here's a few more tips and a reference sheet:

• Over-watered plants start to droop and indentations are left in the leaves when touched. 
• Succulents like the sun, but some can get sunburned so plan for those plants too. 
• Maintenance includes cleaning up the dead leaves, watching for bugs, and pulling weeds. 
• Fertilization can be done on a monthly basis during the growing period.  Follow the label instructions. 
• Propagation is done with a stem cutting and best done in the spring after the dormant period. 

Enjoy growing the many 

varieties of succulents both

indoors and outdoors.

The creativity and fun are endless!