Growing a succulentcontainer garden is easy and immensely satisfying.
Having evolved in some of the world’s harshest conditions, succulents are vigorous plants thatrequire very little water.
The biggest challenge when learning how to grow succulents is to avoid excessive nurturing.
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These plants don’t do well if they are overwatered or overfed.
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Before Getting Started
Planting and maintaining asucculent container gardenis easy.
The key is toselect the right container, soil, and plants.
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Some succulent species will remain fairly healthy even if you don’t provide the optimal growing conditions they prefer.
And other species are very sensitive to their conditions.
It’s important to do your research before settling on species for your container.
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For instance, some succulents are hardy while others are tender.
The hardy succulents can withstand cooler temperatures while the tender succulents will quickly succumb to cold weather.
If you select tender succulents, bring them indoors when outdoor conditions are too cold.
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And they also must be protected from drafts and air conditioners.
Some notoriously easy-to-grow succulents includealoe(Aloe spp.
),jade(Crassula ovata),zebra cactus(Haworthia spp.
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), andhens and chicks(Sempervivum tectorum).
Some trickier succulents to grow includeliving stones(Lithops spp.
),string of pearls(Senecio rowleyanus), anddonkey’s tail(Sedum morganianum).
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This will keep your soil in the container while letting excess water escape.
Alternatively, you might use a piece of landscape fabric or a commercial pot screen to cover the holes.
This will make it easier to water the plants without overflowing the sides of the container.
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Move the plants until you are satisfied with the arrangement.
Then, gently pack additional potting soil around each plant.
Keep the soil at the same level at which the plants were growing in their nursery pots.
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ensure that you have filled in all spaces between the plants.
If you leave air gaps, the roots might dry out and kill the plants.
Hold each succulent gently at the top with the stem between two fingers.
Turn the pot on its side, and gently tap the bottom to ease out the plant.
Plants in an overcrowded container will likely grow more slowly than normal.
And they might not be as healthy because there will be more competition for moisture and nutrients.
you might do this with a soft-bristle brush or even by gently blowing on the plants.
The top dressing material can be brightly colored or neutral, depending on the look you want to achieve.
During spring and summerthe growing season for most succulentskeep the soil moist but not wet.
It’s better to let the soil become slightly dry between watering than it is to overwater.
During winter, when succulent plants are normally dormant, water less frequently.
Keep the soil on the dry side, but don’t let it dry out completely.
Fertilization should be fairly minimal with succulent plants, and it might not be necessary at all.
This depends largely on the key in of succulent you are growing.
Pruning and Repotting
In general, succulents are slow growers.
But eventually, your succulent container will begin to look crowded and untidy.
That’s when you better prune andrepot.
Always be on the lookout for lower leaves of your succulents that have naturally dried up and died.
Succulents that have become too tall or leggy require a more severe pruning: chopping off the terminal head.
This practice is also known as beheading.
Succulents can thrive in containers thanks to their generally compact size and hardiness.
But they must have a container with drainage holes, as well as well-draining soil.
Unglazed clay is an optimal material for potting succulents.
The walls will allow excess soil moisture to evaporate through them.
The container also should have sufficient drainage holes.
A pot that is too deep can lead to soggy soil and root rot.
