Growing Succulents as Houseplants. Dan Mahr. Southwestern Wisconsin Master Gardeners. March 2018.

Success with Cacti Coming to terms… and Other Succulents … “cactus” vs. “succulent” as Houseplants

Gymnocalycium saglione Agave patonii var. compacta

Rebutia donaldiana Haworthia baccata

Succulent: Cactus: any plant that has modified organs any plant that is scientifically (leaves, stems, or roots) for the classified as a member of the primary purpose of water storage to plant family Cactaceae. survive periods of drought. All cacti are succulents. Succulence occurs to varying Not all succulents are cacti: only degrees in about 55 families of plants. about 20%.

areoles

1 Growing Succulents as Houseplants. Dan Mahr. Southwestern Wisconsin Master Gardeners. March 2018.

2 Growing Succulents as Houseplants. Dan Mahr. Southwestern Wisconsin Master Gardeners. March 2018.

Leaf Succulents Stem Succulents

Lithops bromfeldii Adromischus alveolatus Haworthia schuldtiana whitesloaniana

Caralluma socotrana Euphorbia persistens Rebutia arenacea

3 Growing Succulents as Houseplants. Dan Mahr. Southwestern Wisconsin Master Gardeners. March 2018.

Interrelated Factors for the Root Succulents Healthy Growth of Succulent Plants Light Temperature Air Soil Water Nutrients Brachystelma pachypodium Container

Fockea edulis “caudiciform” plants Othonna cacaloides

Interrelated Factors for the LIGHT is the most essential element Healthy Growth of Succulent Plants for good growth of succulent plants, Light but is often the most difficult Temperature requirement to provide. Air Soil Water Nutrients Container

Othonna cacaloides Lithops julii var. fulleri Rebutia heliosa var. heliosa

LIGHT: factors to consider: Generally, the best TEMPERATURE for growth is 75-90 degrees. • Intensity • Tolerances vary. • Angle • Some are hardy. • Direction • Some cacti require a • Duration (photoperiod) cool winter for good • Match light to plant needs. flowering.

Artificial lights: intensity is the key to success.

Conophytum uvaeforme Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi

4 Growing Succulents as Houseplants. Dan Mahr. Southwestern Wisconsin Master Gardeners. March 2018.

AIR movement is beneficial; SOIL promotes root health and cold drafts are not. provides support for the plant.

Humidity should be low; 40-50% or less.

Pachypodium saundersii

Pachypodium brevicaule Trichodiadema densum

Use a well-drained SOIL MIX.

• Roughly 50% potting Landscape soil and 50% Baked clay gravel drainage material:  sponge rock (Perlite)  coarse sand Poultry grit  poultry grit  horticultural pumice Horticultural • Debate over peat. pumice Perlite • Avoid vermiculite.

Echinocereus triglochidiatus in the Mojave Desert

Improper WATERING is the recipe for failure. • Under-watering results in poor growth. • Over-watering can be a disaster. • Water regularly during the growing season. • Water lightly & infrequently during dormancy. • But some plants are winter

Aloe erinacea growers!

5 Growing Succulents as Houseplants. Dan Mahr. Southwestern Wisconsin Master Gardeners. March 2018.

OVER-WATERING can result in NUTRIENTS are required for root rot and loss of plant. healthy plants and flowering. • Well-drained soil mix. • Most succulents live in • Good root-to-soil ratio. nitrogen-poor soils. • Use 1/4-1/2 strength • Appropriate sized pot. soluble houseplant • Active growth and fertilizers. warm, sunny weather • Fertilize only during result in rapid active growth periods. evapotranspiration. • High phosphorous Rebutia albiflora Golden Rules of Watering: fertilizers promote flowering and healthy • If at all moist, don’t. Avonia quinaria var. alstonii roots. • If in doubt, don’t. (=Anacampseros alstonii)

The CONTAINER is the frame Secondary Considerations for the for your painting. Healthy Growth of Succulent Plants • Porous vs. non-porous. Repotting. • Shallow vs. deep. Recognizing growth • Square vs. round. periods. • Utilitarian vs. aesthetic. Pests and diseases. • MUST have drain holes. Migrating plants. DO NOT over-pot; balance Sources of plants.

pot size with root system. Adenia glauca More information.

Rebutia verticillacantha var. albispina

REPOTTING should normally When REPOTTING: be done every 2-3 years. • Inspect roots. • Better growth. • If necessary, allow • Promotes root health. roots to dry. • Replenishes nutrients. • Use slightly damp soil. • Improves soil structure. • Do not water for 7-10 • Removes salts. days after repotting; then water cautiously for first month. Disocactus flagelliformis Repot at the beginning of Astrophytum capricorne the growing season.

6 Growing Succulents as Houseplants. Dan Mahr. Southwestern Wisconsin Master Gardeners. March 2018.

Not all succulents have the Cacti and succulents are not same GROWTH PERIODS. immune to PESTS and DISEASES. • Most grow in summer. • Mealybugs. • Some grow in spring • Spider mites. and/or fall. • Whiteflies. • A few are winter • Aphids. growers. • Root rots. • Some are opportunists. • Stem rots. • Viruses. • Physiological diseases.

Pelargonium rapaceum • “The blahs” (check the roots!).

Aloe jacksoni

MIGRATING PLANTS

• Plants can be wintered indoors and spend the summer in the sun. • When moving out, expose to full sun gradually. • When outside, protect Echinocereus pentalophus from prolonged cool, wet weather. Check for • When in for the winter, hitchhikers! provide as much light as possible.

SOURCES of PLANTS SOURCES: How to pick a healthy plant. • Garden centers. • Avoid gimmicks. • Chain stores. • Has it had good light? • Friends. • Uniform shape. • Specialist mail-order nurseries. • Uniform color. • e-bay. • Avoid scarred plants. • Web sites: • Is it well rooted? www.cactus-mall.com/ • Check for pests. But please don’t Dorstenia foetida

dig up the desert! Notocactus sp.

7 Growing Succulents as Houseplants. Dan Mahr. Southwestern Wisconsin Master Gardeners. March 2018.

Plants That Can Tolerate Lower Light Plants That Can Tolerate Lower Light Mostly Small Species That Live Under Shrubs Mostly Small Species That Live Under Shrubs Cacti Succulents • Rebutia • Haworthia • Gymnocalycium • Gasteria • Lobivia • Small Aloes • Mammillaria • Sansevieria • Madagascar Euphorbias

Haworthia starkiana Gasteria ellaphieae

Lobivia tiegeliana var. pusilla

MORE INFORMATION WORDS OF CAUTION!

• Books. Many cacti and other • Journals. succulents have fierce spines or • Societies. highly toxic • Nurseries. chemicals to protect • The web. themselves from predation. Use caution when handling plants, and protect children and Euphorbia persistens Euphorbia obesa pets.

Enjoy your plants!

Rebutia senilis

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