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The Secrets of Succulents

2/12/2015

 
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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.
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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. 

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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.

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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! 


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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!

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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!

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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. 

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?
32 Comments
Sara
2/12/2015 12:09:53 am

Laura this post got me really thinking that succulents are the perfect plant for me. Succulents are going to be like my best friend. No matter how many mistakes I make they are still there for me.

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Laura
2/13/2015 11:24:19 am

Thanks for chiming in Sarah, hope you get some succulents!

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Gingi Freeman link
2/12/2015 01:02:00 am

LOL, I love this post! So clever and SO SPOT ON! I love succulents. I'm usually snipping some to take home on my various vacations. They are to date the ONLY plant my husband hasn't killed, haha! <3 - www.domesticgeekgirl.com

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Laura
2/13/2015 11:25:02 am

I know, I always purge a good clipping when I see one too.

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Lori @ The Health-Minded.com link
2/12/2015 01:14:53 am

What a way to give plants some personality! I smiled the whole time I read this! Adorable! You are right! They are forgiving, and if my brother could grow them in a frat house in college, anyone can!

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Laura
2/13/2015 11:25:28 am

Thanks so much for the kind words Lori!

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Ceara @ Ceara's Kitchen link
2/12/2015 01:57:05 am

I love this post - Laura :) I've never knew what succulents were called before! They sound like such an easy and versatile plant! I might have to look into getting these too! I can only imagine how many beautiful plants you have growing inside your home!!

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Laura
2/13/2015 11:26:09 am

Yes, the ones that I haven't managed to kill. Luckily for succulents, I'm not too good with a little thing called water.

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Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg link
2/12/2015 03:28:49 am

My sister is an agriculture teacher up in Maine and she is obsessed with succulents. She's planning her wedding bouquet already and she's not even engaged yet. She wants a bouquet with succulents, though. Thinking outside of the box! I love your similes for these easy going plants. :D

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Laura
2/13/2015 11:26:40 am

Wow, I've seen wreaths with succulents and think those are so pretty.

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mira link
2/12/2015 03:56:13 am

Thanks for the wonderful info Laura! I got a couple of these plants and did not know they were called succulents. They have been pretty good to me, despite the cold weather here.

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Laura
2/13/2015 11:27:19 am

yes, my succulents have surprised me too this year. The wind chill factor was minus 30 today and yet all plants seem happy.

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Erin R.
2/12/2015 03:58:33 am

I have a succulent of some sort with round, juicy leaves that I have not managed to kill over the last several years. I always think I should get more house plants but I absolutely lay waste to everything I try. Thanks for the reminder! I'm going to track down another succulent for my coffee table and see how things go. Can you tell me the name of the Grandpa plant above? It's very pretty.

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Laura
2/13/2015 11:32:03 am

Hi Erin, thanks for the input. My mother and I put our heads together and believe it is called a "gollum jade" But you know, I find, the biggest problem with succulents is that they are almost never labelled, no matter where you purchase them from. And I honestly think it's because the nursery/garden center has no clue themselves and therefor omit to tag them. Just bought 3 small succulents and of course, no labels once again. Interesting.....and if you ask a friendly helper they have no clue. Back to google I guess! Have a great weekend.

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helen @ scrummy lane link
2/12/2015 04:11:06 am

Oh Laura, I love love love how you've personified these plants! So much fun! I also think that this is the plant for me ... sounds sooo easy to look after, which is my kind of plant!

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Laura
2/13/2015 11:34:07 am

Easy sounds good to me Helen!

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Cecilia link
2/12/2015 04:36:28 am

Hi Laura, how are you! Your great post about Succulents makes me really think that maybe I should change my opinion about them .... I like most that Succulents are like Grandpa, relaxing :) Have a nice day!

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Laura
2/13/2015 11:34:56 am

Doing great here Cecilia, thanks for the input =)

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Dannii @ hungry healthy happy link
2/12/2015 07:55:26 am

I love this and I love how personified they are. I really am learning so much about plants from your blog :)

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Laura
2/13/2015 11:35:41 am

Well, I was an English teacher so I guess I can't stay away from personification and simile =)

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D.D.
2/12/2015 10:22:36 am

I would guess that I grie a bunch of succulents but I have no clue what their names are. They are never labelled when you buy them!

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Laura
2/13/2015 11:36:06 am

I agree!!

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Tandy | Lavender and Lime link
2/13/2015 12:06:24 am

I have a hairy succulent which has sprouted two off shoots. It gets very little attention which is perfect for me :)

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Laura
2/13/2015 11:37:17 am

I have a furry succulent and think it's pretty fun =)

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annie@ciaochowbambina link
2/13/2015 01:48:42 am

Your clever writing has me learning so much about plants and gardening! Things I'm certain I would not otherwise know! I really appreciate that! Great post, Laura!!

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Laura
2/13/2015 11:37:58 am

Oh thanks so much Annie!

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Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice link
2/13/2015 05:33:11 am

I love how you compare succulents to a grandpa, very true! I don't have any at the moment, but I do like them. Thanks for sharing!

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Laura
2/13/2015 11:38:26 am

Thanks Gayle!

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Jaden Hair link
2/13/2015 12:16:42 pm

I love succulents so much! I was thinking to doing an entire wall of succulents in my kitchen.

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Laura
2/13/2015 11:39:53 pm

Ok, I identified the wrong plant! The gollum jade is the second in the lineup. Right after the snake plant. The grandpa plant is a paddle plant, oops!

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Kari Peters link
2/17/2015 10:44:38 am

Succulents sound like my kind of house plant - uber easy and really hard to kill! :)

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thefolia link
3/18/2015 06:19:46 am

Viva la succulent! I have them everywhere in my nest and outdoors! Happy Nesting.

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    Hi, I'm Laura and hail from Buffalo, NY. I consider myself a lifelong learner who loves gardening with a 360 degree view. Thanks for stopping by!
    Laura Sproull

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