Succulents are for the fleshpots. Lush, stiff and spiny or smooth and sleek, some succulents are even furry! Like people, succulents come in a myriad of colors, shapes and sizes. It's no wonder succulents are like your own family, and a surprising number of plant families are represented among them. Let me tell you how.
Succulents are like your sibling.
You may think you look just like your sibling. Or not. But it's still likelier you more closely resemble your sibling than "random guy you see in line at Chipotle." Succulents are unique in this same way. They may vary greatly in size, texture, appearance, color and form but still resemble each other more than any other plant.
And so many plant families contribute to the succulents. The great family of cacti contributes many of the well-known succulents like the air plant. The Lily Family gives us the Aloe and Yucca, and in the Amaryllis Family we find those Agaves to which the century-plant belongs. Then there's the Orpine Family in which the the lovely hen-and-chickens belong not to mention that even the daisies and Portulaca Family contribute succulents to the genre.
You may think you look just like your sibling. Or not. But it's still likelier you more closely resemble your sibling than "random guy you see in line at Chipotle." Succulents are unique in this same way. They may vary greatly in size, texture, appearance, color and form but still resemble each other more than any other plant.
And so many plant families contribute to the succulents. The great family of cacti contributes many of the well-known succulents like the air plant. The Lily Family gives us the Aloe and Yucca, and in the Amaryllis Family we find those Agaves to which the century-plant belongs. Then there's the Orpine Family in which the the lovely hen-and-chickens belong not to mention that even the daisies and Portulaca Family contribute succulents to the genre.
Succulents are like your easy going friend.
We all have that one close friend who always tell us exactly what we want to hear....no matter how wrong we are! They're easygoing, flexible and just nice to be around. You rarely hear this person complain. Succulents are like this friend. Non-fussy, succulents rarely complain about not having enough water or light, don't whine about soil conditions or whether they're planted indoors in pots or out in the garden. Just give them good drainage and don't overwater. They attract very few pests and can take a little {but very little} frost.
We all have that one close friend who always tell us exactly what we want to hear....no matter how wrong we are! They're easygoing, flexible and just nice to be around. You rarely hear this person complain. Succulents are like this friend. Non-fussy, succulents rarely complain about not having enough water or light, don't whine about soil conditions or whether they're planted indoors in pots or out in the garden. Just give them good drainage and don't overwater. They attract very few pests and can take a little {but very little} frost.
Succulents are like your enemy.
Most succulent houseplants have shallow roots just like your worst enemy. Succulents won't mind the lack of depth. Just keep in mind that in their native growing conditions, succulents like sandy, well-drained soil. Blend your own potting mix by going half sand, half potting mix in the pot. And when you do get burned? Go ahead and rub some aloe vera on from your fleshy succulent plant. It's the best natural remedy out there for burns and scars!
Most succulent houseplants have shallow roots just like your worst enemy. Succulents won't mind the lack of depth. Just keep in mind that in their native growing conditions, succulents like sandy, well-drained soil. Blend your own potting mix by going half sand, half potting mix in the pot. And when you do get burned? Go ahead and rub some aloe vera on from your fleshy succulent plant. It's the best natural remedy out there for burns and scars!
Succulents are like your athlete.
Succulents are flexible like a gymnast, and true to form, their geometric shape can seem so rigid, so spiny that these plants at times hardly seem like they're alive. Ever see a living stone succulent? Then you know exactly what I mean. Succulents are focused and stoic. These are intense plants. They want to win. Water may be given when the plants are growing but must be withheld almost entirely when they are resting. When in doubt, go the neglect route. They should be watered from below. And like all those runners in your neighborhood - succulents must have some fresh air!
Succulents are flexible like a gymnast, and true to form, their geometric shape can seem so rigid, so spiny that these plants at times hardly seem like they're alive. Ever see a living stone succulent? Then you know exactly what I mean. Succulents are focused and stoic. These are intense plants. They want to win. Water may be given when the plants are growing but must be withheld almost entirely when they are resting. When in doubt, go the neglect route. They should be watered from below. And like all those runners in your neighborhood - succulents must have some fresh air!
Succulents are like Grandpa.
Succulents like to kick back and relax. They're in no hurry to go anywhere (or be transplanted, in fact, they'll happily grow in the same crowded pot for years!) Long-lived and slow-growing, you'll wait years before seeing many of your succulent plants actually get any bigger. Of course with succulents, variety is everything and some like hens-and-chickens can multiply rapidly forming mats of rosettes in a ground cover. So just like Grandpa, succulents tend to surprise you!
Succulents like to kick back and relax. They're in no hurry to go anywhere (or be transplanted, in fact, they'll happily grow in the same crowded pot for years!) Long-lived and slow-growing, you'll wait years before seeing many of your succulent plants actually get any bigger. Of course with succulents, variety is everything and some like hens-and-chickens can multiply rapidly forming mats of rosettes in a ground cover. So just like Grandpa, succulents tend to surprise you!
Succulents are like having multiple best friends.
Going back to that easy going friend. Ever wish you could clone them? Me too. Well, with succulents, you can. Go ahead and propagate. If you want more than one succulent plant that you already have, you can break a piece of it off and either stick in right into the ground (summer) or into a glass of water and it will sprout roots. I've read that it helps to dip the cut end into powered charcoal or they may just rot on you. but haven't tried this method myself yet. Then you can plant it wherever you choose: indoors or outside.
Best of all? Succulents never brag. No one likes a bragger. And they have nice names. (Mother-in-Laws Tongue. Hens and chicks. Blue Chalk Sticks. Lipstick Echeveria. Medusas Head) The list goes on and on.
Going back to that easy going friend. Ever wish you could clone them? Me too. Well, with succulents, you can. Go ahead and propagate. If you want more than one succulent plant that you already have, you can break a piece of it off and either stick in right into the ground (summer) or into a glass of water and it will sprout roots. I've read that it helps to dip the cut end into powered charcoal or they may just rot on you. but haven't tried this method myself yet. Then you can plant it wherever you choose: indoors or outside.
Best of all? Succulents never brag. No one likes a bragger. And they have nice names. (Mother-in-Laws Tongue. Hens and chicks. Blue Chalk Sticks. Lipstick Echeveria. Medusas Head) The list goes on and on.
What about you? Even if you don't consider yourself a plant person, you might want to give a few of these a whirl. Believe me, you can't kill them and they look spectacular indoors!
Do you have any succulents? What do they remind you of?
Do you have any succulents? What do they remind you of?
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