A primer for planters What is a succulent?

 ‘Succulent’ is not a family/genera/ name  Any that stores water in stems and leaves  Can be tender (tropical) or hardy (up to zone 3)  Examples:  Sempervivum   Aloe  Haworthia  Cactus  Echeveria Why grow them?  Unusual shapes and textures, architectural  Do well in difficult places like hot rocky slopes  Easy care, minimal water, no fertilization needed  Many have interesting flowers  Suitable for theme or mini-gardens  Collector mania! In Victoria  Summer drought  They are not cacti: still need some water  Most can take our sun  Winter rains – protect from waterlogged soil  Hardy succulents: under eaves or in free draining soil  Tender – Cool greenhouse, bright indoor window  Take a chance! Care for hardy succulents  Good drainage  Water only when dry  Ideal Soil:  pH 7, high mineral *  Rocks or gravel mulch  Sun in Victoria  Hardy succulents best in tough environment  Granite dust fertilizer * will grow in anything Succulent species  Sempervivum: houseleeks, hens & chicks  Very tough, easy care, interesting variations  Sempervivum arachnoides – spider web hens & chicks  Foliage looks like flowers, radiating from a centre Small Sedum  Unusual leaf shape, colour & texture, adapted for survival:  S. rupestre ‘Angelina’  S. spurium ‘Red Dragon’  S. Makinoi ‘Ogon’  Native S. spathulifolium  Most can take low temperatures  Less water, more attractive And others...  family  Bonsai Jade, , hardy to -9C  Delosperma nubigenum  Hardy Ice Plant Zone 5  Tender :  Aloe - part shade  Haworthia - low water  Kalachoe – sun colour  Aeonium – VERY tender  Echeveria - zone 9 Have fun with succulents!  Use your broken pots to make fairy gardens More ideas...  Topiary  Window boxes  Vertical planters  Corsages, boutonnieres  Rock gardens, under steps  Grow in any kind of container*  Living wreaths and centrepieces  Grow in tubes that are tucked here and there * As long as there’s drainage Planting a succulent container Key: GOOD DRAINAGE!  Drain hole or  (with care) gravel base  2 - 6 inches soil  Soil mix –  1/3 loam, 2/3 drainage material  Arrange your plants  Rocks or gravel on top Planting in pictures  Here are the supplies And the plant material...  Sempervivum, crassula, sedum, delosperma Preparation  Soil mixed ahead of time  Sandy loam  Drainage material  Granite dust  If root bound, clip bottom off  Prune off any broken branches and dead flowers First the base  Cover the drainage hole so soil won’t wash out  Build up soil on bottom and one side of pot Ways to arrange your plants  Fine Gardening way:  Thriller - focal point  Spiller - adds vertical line  Filler – fills in the gaps  Other ways:  Symmetrical  Exceptional plant only (bonsai)  Container colour or texture  Theme based Cover the soil  Rocks  Stores heat in day, releases at night  Mimics natural habitat  Can enhance style or theme  Hide the perlite!  Gravel  Prevents splashed soil  Good drainage plus mulch  Colour and texture echoes No drainage? Make a reservoir  Gravel base covered by screening Chicken grit mulch The final arrangement  Ready for indoors or outdoors  All plants we used are hardy in Victoria (to -9C)  Put in dry place for winter, under eaves or roof

 Thanks to Nat for providing the plant material  http://www.stupidgardenplants.com/  Father’s day sale of perennials  corner of Fairfield and Cook Street