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Save the Succulents! by Savannah Hague November 4, 2015
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Winter is coming and
we will be bringing our succulents indoors very soon, if they are not already
there of course! Succulents are known for being some of the hardest plants to
kill, because they take so little effort on your part. As long as you can spare
2 minutes once every two weeks, they
will be fine.
Especially since winter will be here soon enough. Did you know that succulents have a “hibernation” period? During the winter, they stop growing and build up the energy to produce blooms in the spring and summer, when they begin growing again. |
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Succulents are not very needy plants, they only ask for reasonable things, like air, sunlight, water, and nutrients. I don’t think that’s too much to ask for, so my little succulents are still alive. Hooray!
So I must be doing something right, at least. Succulents need at least 6 hours of sunlight, so putting them in or near the window is great. I have mine next to an east facing window, so it gets plenty of sun in the morning and in the afternoon, we open the windows so they can get some air as well. In the summer months,
it is okay to keep your succulents at 70 degrees Fahrenheit , but during the
winter months, you’ll want to keep them between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
This is also why I open the window in the afternoons, it is getting colder outside and it can get stuffy inside. Opening the windows lets the succulents know that it’s time for them to begin going into their hibernation period. But be careful - when temperatures reach freezing, the succulents could get damaged. |
Hopefully your
succulents are in some kind of well draining soil mix, so they are getting most of their healthy
munchies from that.
Succulent roots do not get water from direct contact, they absorb from the molecules in air which is why the soil mix and watering schedule is critical to these plants staying happy. I water my succulents about every two weeks, but really you need to watch the soil. If it gets too dry, you should water them. If it stays wet for a long time, you are probably over watering them and should change the pot and soil. They are nearly indestructible, but you don’t want to damage these beautiful little plants; they can get bugs, diseases or rotted roots if their soil is too wet. You are probably asking yourself, “What is the right amount of water?” Well, my succulents are no bigger than 2 inches in diameter and I use just about a tablespoon of water per plant, they all are still thriving. |
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I have
noticed on some of my succulents, the lower petals are getting droopy and
beginning to wilt. I was worried that they are dying, but just like any other
plant it is only natural for it to shed some leaves and petals so that it has
room to eventually grow new ones.
Also, if these petals are falling off, they are not completely dead yet, because succulents have special storage areas throughout their stems and petals that hold on to water. You could propagate them! Which means you could grow near carbon copies of the same plant! |
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Some
popular succulents include aloe, sedum (a.k.a. stonecrop), graptopetalum,
kalanchoe, echeveria, aeonium, dudleya, cotyledon, agave, crassula,
sempervivum, and senecio. Some are safe to eat, and some produce fruits that
are also edible! For example, the Arizona state flower grows on a cactus, which
is a subtype of succulent, called Sagura, and the flower produces fruits that
can be made into a sweet salsa or baked into biscuits and their seeds are
suppose to taste nutty!
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Some have medicinal
properties as well, like aloe and sedum.
Aloe is much more well known, and is always good to have at home. If you’ve fallen asleep in the sun, or been out gardening for a long while and come back inside all burnt up, just break a piece of aloe off and rub the sap on the burned area. You can almost feel the relief instantly! |
Sedum is an edible succulent that when sautéed, is suppose to relieve coughs.
Of course there is no scientific proof, but there is a strong possibility. |
So finally, it could
be possible that you are looking for a way to change things up and add some unique decoration to your life.
Maybe you are tired of the same old succulents in a pot. How about turning them into a wall decoration, or a wreath, or even use them as jewelry or accessories! Succulents have been becoming more popular in weddings.
They have been seen as centerpieces and bouquets, hair accessories and boutonnieres.
If you’re looking to spice things up, look no further, you have found your next trendy statement piece!
Maybe you are tired of the same old succulents in a pot. How about turning them into a wall decoration, or a wreath, or even use them as jewelry or accessories! Succulents have been becoming more popular in weddings.
They have been seen as centerpieces and bouquets, hair accessories and boutonnieres.
If you’re looking to spice things up, look no further, you have found your next trendy statement piece!
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