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Home , Echeveria, Euphorbia horrida, Inflorescence, Sempervivum, Sempervivum tectorum

ENHFL04-006

Warm Climate Production Guidelines for Succulents

Rick Schoellhorn, Marc Frank

If you’re looking to stand up to neglect and don’t require frequent diversify your watering. Even when they are not in bloom product line and many succulent provide visual interest set yourself apart in the of bold textures and colorful from the foliage. competition, Photo by Marc Frank perhaps you Many of these same characteristics make should consider growing succulents. These succulents attractive to professional growers. are plants that are adapted to withstand Although they may take longer to produce, drought by storing water in specialized cells in these are plants that actually thrive on their , stems, and/or . The term reduced water and fertilizer inputs. They succulent does not refer to a family per rarely require insecticides, fungicides, or plant se, but to a water-storing adaptation that is growth regulators. Many succulents are found in many different plant families. Cacti easily propagated by stem or cuttings, are probably the best known family of while others readily produce offsets that can succulent plants, but there are many other be removed and potted separately. Most types of succulents in a huge of succulents can also be propagated by , shapes and sizes. but it may take a year or longer for them to reach a saleable size. Succulent plants are increasingly popular among plant collectors, home gardeners, and In order to grow succulent plants, you will professional landscapers for a number of probably need to modify your normal reasons. With water restrictions in place in production protocol. A well-aerated and many areas across the country there is an freely-draining medium is critical. increasing demand for plants that are Commercial and succulent mixes appropriate for xeriscaping, or landscaping to usually consist of equal parts coarse sand, promote water conservation. Many perlite, and peat or fine bark. If you want to succulents are particularly well adapted to make your own, try mixing one part soil less withstand climatic extremes, from drought to or soil-based media with one part coarse high heat, strong winds, and frost. They are sand and one part washed grit, small gravel, generally free from insect pests and diseases claimed clay, pumice, or expanded slate. and are less prone to nutrient deficiencies. Mixing a time-released fertilizer in the media They are also amazingly tolerant of poor and will insure a constant supply of nutrients. shallow soils. There is a huge variety of Succulents should be allowed to dry slightly forms and landscape uses for succulents, between watering. Under potting is a good including ground covers, bedding plants, and way to insure that the roots don’t become imposing garden centerpieces. Succulents oversaturated. To produce rapid growth and make excellent container plants. Mixed the best form and color, succulents should be containers of succulents are a high value grown in the strongest light possible. Plants product that consumers love because they that are grown in full sun and warm

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ENHFL04-006 temperatures will respond more favorably to teeth and reddish orange arranged on high water and fertilizer inputs. Many dense spikes. All three of these form large succulents tend to go dormant during the clumps that thrive in full sun and are relatively shorter days and cooler temperatures of frost tolerant. Aloe variegata, partridge breast winter. This is the time when they are most aloe, is a much smaller with extra prone to fungal pathogens that cause rot. To thick, triangular, spineless leaves that are keep them actively growing during the winter deep green with silver-white bands. It prefers months, you may want to consider extending more shade than most other aloes and is day length with supplemental lighting and particularly prone to rotting if over watered. It keep your greenhouse warm. Maintaining a is usually grown as a container plant. lower than normal relative humidity and excellent air circulation in your greenhouse will reduce the likelihood of disease and The Century Plants, or Agave, are an insect pests. incredibly diverse group of forming perennials. There are Agave to suit almost Aloe every climate zone in the U.S. with cold hardy There are over 300 species of Aloe native to forms that can withstand single digit Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, but only a temperatures. While most people look at few are common in cultivation. Most are low these plants as a southwestern phenomenon, growing stemless rosettes of attractively our changing ideas of what an annual is are patterned and frequently spiny succulent opening markets for these plants as summer leaves, but some aloes develop stems and color throughout the U.S. Northern growers grow into bushes or . All have erect may need to look at buying in pre-finished spikes of tubular flowers in shades of orange, material, as the crop is in general a very slow yellow, or pink. (also known one from seed to sale can be 1-6 years. as Aloe saponaria) is commonly referred to as Plants are durable, but heavy which can be a soap or zebra aloe. It has medium green problem in shipping. Another misconception is leaves with white spots arranged in bands that all Agave are sharply spined, and a and a branched inflorescence with pinkish- problem to work with; while it may be true that orange flowers. This an awesome landscape most Agave are spined, one of the most plant for mild winter regions because it dramatic and easily grown species A. multiplies readily to form handsome clumps attenuata is soft leaved and extremely that bloom repeatedly throughout the year. architectural. A. americana is a large blue Medicinal or Barbados aloe, Aloe vera, is gray foliaged form with sharp spines but a known for its gel that is wide range of acceptable climates across the used in cosmetics and southern half of the United States. The to soothe burns. It has variegated form of this plant is less cold grey-green foliage with hardy, but broadly banded with creamy yellow dull spines and intense stripes. There are Agave native throughout yellow flowers. the U.S and for specimen containers, or Candelabra or torch creating a western look in a landscape you aloe, Aloe can’t beat these prehistoric, bold textured. arborescens, has blue Except by using paddle Cacti, which is also a green foliage with great idea, but will have to be another Photo by Marc Frank sharp paler colored article…

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ENHFL04-006 and yellow, orange, red, and pink, are borne in Sempervivum and Echeveria are both clusters on arching stems. There are about commonly known to as hens and chicks, and 150 species of Echeveria, which have been each attracts a devoted following of hobbyist extensively hybridized to create an collectors, but they are actually very different astounding assortment of . plants. Sempervivums, also referred to as has powdery grey leaves houseleeks, are native to southern and with pointed tips, forming a tight, elegant- central Europe. They are generally frost- looking rosette. has hardy but tend to suffer in extremely hot and upright stems with rosettes of rounded fuzzy dry conditions. The leaves form low-growing, green leaves with glowing red tips. Echeveria tightly rounded rosettes in varying shades shaviana has blue-green and patterns of green, grey, and red. The glossy leaves with frilly flowers, which are usually pink or purple, are edges. One of the most held on stout stems just above the foliage. popular cultivars is ‘Perle These plants are monocarpic, which means von Nurnberg’, which has that each rosette dies after it flowers, leaving broad pointy-tipped grey- behind a cluster of offsets. There are around green leaves flushed with Photo by Marc Frank 40 species and at least twice as many pink. An Echeveria cultivars of Sempervivum. The most relative, pagaguayense, commonly grown and hybridized species are sometimes called the ghost plant, has grey , which has grey-green leaves flushed with pink and erect spikes of leaves with red tips, and S. arachnoideum, white star shaped flowers with red markings. which has tiny threads connecting the leaf These plants may be grown in the landscape tips to create an amazing cobweb effect. in mild winter areas, but they really shine in Sempervivum are appropriate for landscape mixed containers. use throughout most of the U.S. but are prone to rotting in areas with hot humid summers. Yucca Combining several different Sempervivum in Yucca, an unfortunate name for a plant, eh? a container creates a dynamite effect. Well, this group of plants is also misunderstood and underused. Most of us are native to Central America. are familiar with Yucca elephantipes which is Consequently they are able to withstand high sold as an indoor plant, produced as a cane, temperatures and drought better than their much like Dracaena. As with Agave there are European Sempervivum relatives, but are not Yucca adapted throughout most regions of particularly frost-hardy. The rosettes of the United States, so why don’t we use them Echeveria are generally much larger than more often? There is also a misconception those of Sempervivum, and the range of leaf that ALL Yuccas are sharply spined and shapes and colors is much more diverse. troublesome to work with. I think two of the The foliage colors include green, grey, blue, best examples of soft foliaged and attractive pink, orange, and red, and many are edged in are the Yucca filamentosa hybrids ‘Bright a contrasting color. Some Echeveria have Edges’ and ‘Color Guard’. Both of these leaves covered with soft downy hairs, but variegated forms are brightly marked with most have a powdery or waxy surface which white to cream colored variegation, leaves lends a shimmering richness to the foliage exhibit curled filaments, and tips of leaves are color. The bell-shaped flowers, in shades of soft to the touch.

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ENHFL04-006 The Euphorbia has over 2000 species There are some major groups of Sedum and (all commonly referred to as spurges), about they are quite different in their growth habits. half of which are succulent. The The Stonecrops are a fantastic group of and the crown of thorns are two of the best plants with all foliage and qualities and known . The genus is textural interest you could possibly ask for. characterized by tiny -less flowers Most sedum are ground covers in the enclosed by that are often brightly landscape and easy in containers. Most colored and very showy. All Euphorbias from any leaf that breaks off and can be should be handled with caution because they propagated in this way, or by cuttings and contain a milky (known as latex) that is also from seed. is a great irritating to the skin and mucous membranes. perennial ground cover with yellow flowers in Some spurges, such as Euphorbia horrida early summer for the northern states, and S. and Euphorbia echinus, are leafless but have spurium and its hybrids provide brilliant purple swollen spiny stems that resemble a cactus. to red toned flowers as well as sharing strong Others, including Euphorbia obesa, form winter hardiness. For the southern tier of the small rounded and ridged domes that might US S. procumbens, S. rubrotinctum, and S. be mistaken for sea urchins. The crown of mexicana perform the same role. We trialed thorns, Euphorbia milii, has erect spiny stems Sedum ‘Angelina’ from EuroAmerican this with showy red bracts. New crown of thorn year’s in our trials and it was outstanding for hybrids, generally referred to as Euphorbia x yellow toned foliage and growth . Ball lomi, have much larger, long lasting bracts in Floraplant released ‘Coral Reef’ and ‘Sea a variety of colors. The pencil bush, Stars’ which were both fine textured and Euphorbia tirucalli, has thin, usually leafless dense growing plants. Another great group of succulent stems; a new of this Sedum to try, which has excellent northern species turns pinkish red in bright light. All of hardiness is the S. spectabile group. These these species are generally grown as are upright forms with fall flowering, usually in container plants except in frost-free climates. shades of brownish burgundy to Red. But there also many succulent spurges that ‘Autumn Joy’ was the old standard and is still may be grown as landscape plants in readily available but look for purple foliage temperate zones. Euphorbia myrsinites has forms (S. ‘Purple Emperor’), variegated spirally arranged grey-green leaves and foliage, and dwarf types like ‘Mini Joy’ from clusters of greenish-yellow flowers. Gopher Bodger Botanicals. There are literally spurge, Euphorbia lathyris, which has leaves hundreds of sedum species and cultivars out with a white midrib and small green flowers, is there and they make outstanding landscape reputed to repel burrowing rodents in the or container plants, with extremely low water garden. The Mediterranean spurge, requirements. I couldn’t begin to cover all of Euphorbia characias, grows to 3 feet or more, them but do a quick internet search for with erect woody stems, long linear leaves, Sedum and then plan on spending a few and dense showy inflorescences of yellow hours sorting through all the different types, flowers. Many cultivars of this species, there are definitely some that will work in any including a variegated form, are also operation. available.

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ENHFL04-006 Succulent Mixed Containers States and these plants can also you or your I was so pleased to see Saul Nursery’s booth retail customers the ecological identity our at the southeast show had some excellent industry needs to promote. examples of succulent mixed containers on display in the trade show. I really think more Production guidelines for Cacti & nurseries should look at this product as a way Succulents to diversify from chain retail. These succulent Fertilization – 150 ppm N, but for larger size containers are heavy, and fragile so they production, a granular or slow release can be don’t ship well, giving local marketers and real applied at medium rates. When using slow edge in producing something unique and with release make sure all other production a high profit margin. In following the old rule environmental conditions are optimal, of one upright plant, one mounding plant and otherwise stem breakage, poor quality one trailing plant to make an attractive mixed growth, and diseases can become an issue. container try using Agave or Yucca for the upright plant, Watering – Always on the dry side, the key Echeveria, factor in good production is making sure roots Euphorbia, have a lot of air surrounding them, which Kalanchoe make means you really need to watch watering and excellent mounding possibly use a media designed for succulent plants, and then production. use Sedum or

Portulaca for the Photo from EuroAmerican Media – Use media with a lot of drainage trailing component. capacity. Many growers cut normal peat These containers are a bit slow, but easy and production media in half and supplement with can be planted in anything from old tires, scoria, gravel, or PermaTill®. However, you moss topiary & wreaths (EuroAmerican has can use a standard production media; you will some great offerings!), sea shells, driftwood, just need to be careful with watering or custom cement containers to make for frequency. unique and profitable retail sales. Production Temperatures – In almost all In general this group of plants has always cases quality growth occurs at night played a minor role in our industry, but with temperatures above 55°F and day time increasing water restrictions and consumers temperature must be at least 65-70°F. looking for the easiest way to get the However, the hot days of summer will not be maximum effect for their gardening efforts, a problem and production conditions into the you may want to brush up on your knowledge 100°F range can still produce good quality of succulents and succulent-like plant plants. High temperatures and high humidity materials. They offer a higher price point than can create a lot of disease issues, so stay on traditional annuals and in some cases even the lookout. perennials. They can be a local market item that allows you a niche that will likely never Light level – The higher the better in most get truly exploited by chain retailers because cases, a minimum of 5,000 ft-C. Most plants these plants are problematic in the mass require high light to develop strong leaf market machinery. In addition there are many coloration and will stretch badly under low native forms found throughout the United light conditions. Low light levels can be offset

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ENHFL04-006 with dry soil conditions, but only for a short period of time. Sources for Cacti & Succulents: Propagation – Seed, Cuttings, Leaf cuttings, ForemostCo - http://www.foremostco.com Division of mature plantings. Ball Floraplant - http://www.ballfloraplant.com Liner Farm Inc. Box 701369, St. Cloud, FL Crop timing – Highly dependent on the crop. 34770-1369, Phone: (800) 330-1484 Check with your supplier and find out crop Fax: (407) 892-3593 schedules before you commit to growing the Plant Delight’s - http://www.plantdelights.com crop. Some types are very slow and may Yucca Do Nursery - http://www.yuccado.com require more than one season to reach a Saul Nurseries Inc. 5007 New Peachtree Rd, salable size. Chamblee GA 30341-3124, Phone 770-458-0058 Growth regulators – In most cases you’ll be Bodger Botanicals - using drought, and high light levels as a plant http://www.michells.com/Bodger/bodge growth regulator and chemical PGRs should r.htm not be necessary. Green Leaf Perennials - http://www.green- leaf-ent.com Flowering – In most cases these plants do not EuroAmerican Propagators – need to be in flower to be sold, that’s part of http://www.euroamprop.com the inherent advantage of growing this type of crop. Within the different types of succulents we’ve discussed here there are long day and short day flowering types, so do some research before taking on the crop if flowering is a major issue.

Overall notes: Care needs to be taken to avoid over- watering and over-fertilizing any of these plants especially during the short days, lower light levels, and cooler conditions of winter.

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