Succulents look fabulous with their amazing diversity of leaf shapes and colours. They create strong focal points in minimalist designs and their evergreen foliage makes them ideal for small urban gardens.
Succulents store water in their leaves, stems or roots to help them withstand the severe drought conditions of their native habitats. They also have other adaptations to reduce water loss through transpiration, such as hairy or waxy surfaces. Cacti have succulent stems too, but they are classed in a group of their own because of the way their spines are produced.
Because of their low water demands, there are few plants more suited to container cultivation than succulents. If you like plants but are too busy to look after them, succulents are for you. Don showed how easy it is to team succulents with stylish containers to create some wonderful potted effects.
Hanging baskets
Low water use succulents are ideal for hanging baskets. Don potted trailing jade vine (Senecio jacobsenii) into a terracotta hanging basket. This plant’s long stems trail over the sides creating a pretty effect. (Tip: when potting a plant with a trailing habit, place it on a bucket so the stems aren’t damaged.)
Chimney pots
Don filled some terracotta chimney pots with potting mix suitable for succulents, then planted them with rhipsalis. Rhipsalis spp. are native to South America. There are around 50 species in the genus. Rhipsalis usually like warm climates, high humidity, shade or a position which receives morning sun. (Tips: Because chimney pots have no bottoms, it is a good idea to firm down the first few handfuls of potting mix that you add. Don’t compact the potting mix at the top of the pot. If you want to move a chimney pot after planting, simply slide a tile or piece of board under the bottom so that the potting mix doesn’t fall out.)
Colour contrast
Foliage colours can match or complement the colour of the pot. For dramatic colour contrast, Don planted a grey-leaved string of bananas (Senecio radicans) in a tall black pot.
Caring for succulents
The ideal potting mix for succulents in containers should contain half coarse sand and half free-draining potting mix. Keep the mix barely moist when planting and don’t water for the first week. A six month slow release fertiliser such as Osmocote is recommended.
A well-drained sunny aspect is the ideal situation for growing succulents. Insufficient sunlight will cause the succulents to become leggy, distorted and lacking in colour. Place containers under the eaves in cold areas which experience considerable winter rain, but in positions where they still receive sun.
Because succulents are often brittle, stems or leaves may break off when handled. Don’t worry, succulents grow easily from cuttings. Simply set aside the broken piece for about a week or so, until it dries out. Then insert into a tray or pot filled with 50:50 potting mix and washed river sand. Before you know it, you’ll have a new plant!
Costs
- Trailing jade vine (Senecio jacobsenii), $12-$15 for 120mm ( 5″)
- Rhipsalis spp., $15 for 150mm (6″) pots
- String of bananas (Senecio radicans), $12 – $15 for 120mm (5″) pots
- Bagged river sand, about $8 for a 25kg bag
- Potting mix, about $10-$18 for 30 litre bag
- Terracotta chimney pots, around $90 from specialist pottery outlets
Further information
You’ll find a good range of succulents at the following nurseries:
NSW
Valley View Nursery
19 Bay Road
Arcadia
Phone: (02) 9655 1550
VIC
Collectors Corner at Garden World
Springvale Road
Keysborough
Phone: (03) 9798 5845
Gill’s Nurseries
1 Centre Road
Brighton East
Phone: (03) 9592 8711
WA and SA
The Conservatory
80 Unley Road
Unley
Phone: (08) 8272 9657
Fraser Giftware and Garden Centre
Cnr Fraser and Comrie Roads
Canningvale
Phone: (08) 9455 1174
TAS
Chandlers Nursery
75 Queen Street
Sandy Bay
Phone: (03) 6223 5688