Succulents a favorite for dramatic looks and ease of care
Published 12:06 pm Tuesday, May 24, 2016
- Simple and sweet, these little succulents — available for purchase at Copper Creek in Joseph — make great, low-maintenance office plants.
They’re like little art installations all by themselves — and in a terrarium they’re a beautiful and stark story of life in the desert.
Succulents, known for their color and ease of care, make wonderful additions both inside and outside any home.
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They thrive in sunny, well-drained areas and require very little care. In fact, they will do well beside your computer as a single plant in a coffee cup. More innovative, outside plantings can be a collection of succulents in the seat of an old chair or in the mouth of a milk can.
The simple instructions for most succulents is to allow the dirt to dry between waterings and to use a soil that allows the water to run through easily. You also should know that succulents all have a winter dormancy, so don’t overwater during the winter.
Succulents come in a wide variety of colors from blue-green, pink, red, yellow, white, burgundy and near-black. The leaves can be round, ruffled, spiky or even berry-like. Some bloom (a succulent can be a variety of cactus, such as Christmas Cactus) and some do not.
Although they like the dry humidity and warm conditions found in most homes — and while they like direct light — they can adapt to lower light. Avoid fertilizing in the winter, but do fertilize in the spring or once a month during the summer. Check with your nursery or online for the proper balance and frequency of fertilizer for each plant.
Varieties include Burro’s Tail, Hen and Chicks, Crown of Thorns, Christmas Cactus, jade plants, aloe vera, Pincushion Cactus and snake plants.