Buying Succulents, a Great Decision
There are a wide variety of succulents a person can choose from, but almost all of them have greater practical use than the majority of other house plants people choose to use for ambiance. Many succulents have leaves that create oils and flesh that have medicinal uses for people, the aloe vera plant for example. The Agave plant is used to make liquor and asparagus is a delicious vegetable with very unique flavor.
While not all succulents are popular as house plants or lawn and garden decor, those that are are generally hardy and can survive without a great deal of care. However, there are a few things to keep in mind once your succulents arrive.
Succulent Faux Pas
Succulents are meaty plants with an appearance that more closely resemble the stems and leaves of cacti than plants that grow in pluvial regions. The purpose of the evolutionary design of succulents is to save water in order to survive periods of drought.
That being the case, there are a two things one must remember about succulents:
Too Much Water, Not Enough Sun ' One of the easiest ways to kill a succulent is to give it too much of the wrong thing. For most house, lawn and garden plants, too much sun and not enough water can spell disaster.
Succulents are different in this regard. Too much water can cause the leaves to bloat and eventually bend and break. Not enough sun can cause the plant to suffer from bacterial attack among other diseases.
A good rule of thumb is to treat your succulents the opposite of how you treat a house plant. Be modest with the water and excessive with the sunlight. The University of California's Sonoma County Master Gardeners calls succulents, 'the camels of the plant world (1).'
Succulents Thrive Under Pressure, Particularly Cold
In addition to having the aptitude to survive without a great deal of water and under the intensity of the sun, succulents can also manage large temperature swings. While they thrive in the hot desert sun, they are also accustomed to the freezing cold spells of desert winters and dramatic daily temperature drops desert nights often bring.
As a result, do not be afraid to allow your succulents to fight through some cold weather!
Treat 'em Like a Cowboy
If you think of your succulents as rough and tumble men, give them their space and the bare essentials, your succulents with thrive. Try to over care for them, and succulents generally don't do as well!
