Thick, water-filled leaves and stems of sedums are designed in such a way that they are able to retain the resulting moisture for a long time. The name of the Crassulaceae family is interpreted as “eternally living,” and indeed, these succulents are extremely adaptable creatures to the gardener’s inattention. And the propagation of these plants is not particularly difficult. Let's get to know them better
In the modern classification from sedums, or sedums (Sedum), a group of plants separated with taller straight stems (50-70cm), paniculate inflorescences in the shape of a dome, with bell-shaped flowers that did not open to the stars, which received name sedum (Hylotelephium). Sedum blooms from late July to September, making worthy company for summer and autumn garden plants.
The most recognizable representatives of the genus are Sedum spectabile (Hylotelephium spectabile) and found in forests and glades of the Non-Black Earth Region Sedum telephium (Hylotelephium telephium). A wide variety of garden varieties and hybrids have been created with pink, purple-red, beige or white flowers, differing in height and leaf color. The textured leaf pattern supports the decorative appearance of green-leaved sedum (Brilliant, O. telephium).
Throughout the season, their compact bushes harmonize with the linear leaves of cereals, irises, and daylilies. Speaking about the green leaves of sedum, it should be noted that most of them have a more or less pronounced bluish bloom, which is most clear at dawn and practically disappears in the warm colors of the sunset rays. Ornamental leaf plants can produce single species stems with green leaves, which should be removed so that the bush does not turn into a progenitor. Variegated bushes of Frosty Morn or Mediovariegatum can be used to dilute a border of hostas or to edge a flower arrangement, interspersing them with green-leaved varieties.
You should not plant them only with other variegated plants. Filling the garden with sedums with green-red, purple and brownish leaves such as Purple Emperor should also be treated with caution. Otherwise, it’s easy to get a dark, failed spot in the flower garden or make gloomy borders. At the same time, this color gives win-win options in combination with beige, yellow, silver, dark green and crimson, lilac-pink.
Read also: DIY mini garden of succulents
Plant astilbes, early-blooming chrysanthemums, and chrysanthemums with these sedum plants.
You have to wait half the summer for the sedum to bloom - during this time its leafy attire becomes so familiar that the flowering is perceived as an unexpected gift. The violent opening of inflorescences, present even on the smallest and youngest shoots, turns the bush into a blooming bouquet.
To complete the golden leaf border, choose a sedum variety with bright pink, red or crimson ( Red Cauli with dark green leaves on reddish stems) inflorescences, and for green leaves - with white ( Gooseberry Fool and Iceberg with dark green leaves), light green-lemon inflorescences (low border variety with green leaves, Citrus Twist).
THE VIBRANT OPENING OF THE BLOWERS OF THE SCRUM, PRESENT EVEN IN THE SMALLEST AND YOUNGEST SHOOTS, TURN THE BUSH INTO A FLOWING BOUQUET
Based on shades of pink and crimson, with the participation of sedum Rosenteller, Korean chrysanthemum and paniculata hydrangea, it is easy to create an autumn trio that will decorate any corner of the garden until October. If you like more contrasting solutions, then plant sedum Matrona next to spirea Golden Princess, add yellow Korean chrysanthemum flowers and purple heuchera leaves to the first row, and as a background plant choose any shrub with green leaves, such as openwork and translucent dwarf birch. White-beige flowers with greenish-lemon centers on bright crimson sedum stems look elegant. Hab Gray(dark green leaves with a dark purple-red center, spreading out into a reddish mist towards the edges).
In a garden that needs to be decorative throughout the season, it is better to combine them with gray fescue. It will delicately dilute the dark color during the period of growth and budding of sedum. Types of sedums with star flowers, forming thickets pressed to the ground, are, as before, classified as sedums.
Blooming half as tall as sedum false sedum (Sedum spurium).
Its overwintering fleshy leaves can be green, variegated ( Tricolor), purple ( Purple Carpet). Flowers, depending on the variety, range from pink to crimson and purple-red.
Sedum Rural (Sedum selskianum) differs in the shape of the leaves and yellow flowers. Their place is in rocky compositions, on hills among gravel; They are not suitable for the border and foreground of a flower garden due to uncontrolled growth in different directions.
U Sedum Kamchatka (Sedum kamtschaticum), as with s. false, there is a variegated variety Variegatum, but the leaves do not overwinter. The shoots of the plant become woody and in the spring they appear as reddish hard cords, which are beautifully overgrown with succulent young leaves, especially bright in the decorative leaf form. The lush clumps of the plant resemble compact bushes that can be successfully grown along paved paths exposed to the sun.
Sedum's Jackets CAN BECOME AN UNpretentious HIGH EDGE AND A GOOD SECOND ROW OF A FLOWER BED. PLANT FLOWERS FROM LATE JULY TO SEPTEMBER
Sedum reflexus (Sedum reflexum) from a distance it looks like a miniature forest of fir trees. The height of the plant is 15-20 cm, and the creeping and rooting stems along the entire length are longer and form cushion-shaped thickets that easily “absorb” small and medium-sized stones encountered along the way. Variety Cristatum with originally curved leaves that look like light green scallops, it is quite whimsical.
It does not always please with truly solid large ridges, which, as they grow, turn into strange shoulder blades lying on the ground. It is interesting that the inflorescences of the variety partially turn into comb-like processes with a row of flowers at the top. When planting these sedums, do not forget that they create large spots of color, which are especially noticeable in decorative leaf forms and during flowering.
True, their short stature makes it possible to take into account their color combinations only with the closest neighboring plants. They look great on rocky hills, next to creeping coniferous plants, and they benefit when combined with forms with blue and dove, as well as with golden needles.
All sedums absolutely cannot stand the proximity of crops with more aggressive roots, and the smaller the plant, the more sensitive it is. It is not without reason that it is found in nature almost throughout the entire territory of Russia. sedum acrid (Sedum acre) not only finds vegetation-free sandbanks of rivers, roadsides, and light pine forests, but also releases toxic substances that oppress neighboring plants. In garden compositions with. caustic forms a low golden mat that completely covers the soil. There are forms with white (f. alba) and yellow (f. aureum) leaves.
Looks more lacy white sedum (Sedum album). The species plant resembles the previous species; its fleshy leaves also do not exceed 5 cm in height; It is only during flowering that the difference becomes apparent. White sedum blooms with white stars, collected in large paniculate inflorescences on almost bare crimson stems. The purple anthers give the flowers a slight pinkish tint.
U f. atropurpurea chocolate red leaves and stems. Another covering covering is sedum spanish (Sedum hispanicum). This plant is loved for its cloud of snow-white blooms and for the diamond-like shine of dew or raindrops on its delicate, thin, fleshy bluish leaves. Unfortunately, s. Spanish is not a perennial and dies after flowering. This significant drawback is often compensated for by active self-seeding, and in this case gardeners do not even notice the change of generations. Otherwise, it is not inferior to the previous species and is actively used as a ground cover plant with a height of only 5-6 cm.
For more whimsical exotic small fry, it is advisable to arrange gravel gardens in flowerpots, free up the best spots in rock gardens, where to place them in a motley mosaic.
Oregon sedum (Sedum oreganum) Procumbens refers to such highlights. The amount of red in the color of this variety varies depending on the lighting - even slight shading can turn the variety into a species-specific green-leaved plant.
This is a highly decorative, relatively winter-hardy perennial with evergreen leaves that look like candy canes. It blooms extremely rarely with yellow flowers. Sedum spatulafolia (Sedum spathulifolium) it looks more intriguing in the form of a subspecies, the leaves of which, like mold, are covered with a white powdery coating. A distinct representative with bluish-purple and white leaves is the variety Cape Blanco .
No less original are the varieties in which red flashes shine through the white coating on the greenish leaves; the Purpureum variety is very interesting with young leaves in the form of white roses and old ones - purple. If you are lucky, the plant will delight you with low, up to 10 cm, flower stalks with yellow star flowers. Evergreen sockets thick-branched sedum (Sedum pachyclados) resemble plants of the genera Rhodiola and Molodilo.
The species is rarely found in gardens, as it grows poorly and often freezes, and blooms even less often. In central Russia, flowering is a great success, so even a small number of white stars appearing on the side of the rosettes is truly a huge achievement.
ALL Sedums ABSOLUTELY CANNOT TOLERATE THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF CROPS WITH MORE AGGRESSIVE ROOTS, AND THE SMALLER THE PLANT, THE MORE SENSITIVE IT IS
Succulents are plants that have the ability to retain a large supply of water in their tissues. Externally, the leaves of succulents appear to be filled with water. These plants first appeared in countries with arid climates. Succulents are often very easy to care for and unpretentious. Succulents should not be overlooked when choosing indoor plants, as there are a number of flowering leaf and stem succulents that bring a lot of positive emotions to their owners.
Perennial leaf succulent. The plant consists of basal, green-variegated or plain green, thick, narrowed upward, hard, linear-lanceolate leaves. The leaves grow in a circle of one central leaf. The edges of the leaves are covered with small spines. It blooms rarely, with green-yellow inconspicuous flowers on a high stalk. The room temperature acceptable for plant life should not be less than +8 o C. Watering and fertilizing once a month. Frequent replanting into specialized deciduous-turf-sandy soil is required.
Perennial leaf succulent. The plant consists of basal, hard, concave, triangular, matte dark green leaves with a white border. The leaves grow in a circle of one central leaf. All leaves have one long spine at the end. The plant does not bloom. Do not place agave in open sun or sunny windowsills. The room temperature should not exceed +21 o C.
Perennial tree-like succulent. The stem of the plant is dense in the root zone, highly branched towards the top. The leaves are lanceolate, serrate, dissected, light green in color. The plant blooms rarely, but very profusely. The flowers are crimson with a light throat. The flowers are simple and double. When growing at home, you should ensure that the temperature does not fall below +12 o C. The plant requires daily spraying and watering every three days.
Perennial thick-leaved succulent. The plant consists of basal, green-spotted, thick, fleecy leaves. The edge of the leaves has a purple tint. The leaves grow from a dense small root stalk. The plant looks very saturated with water. When growing at home, it is worth watering the plant moderately every evening. Do not place the flower in the sun or sunny areas of the room. The temperature of normal growing conditions is not higher than +21 o C.
Perennial herbaceous leaf succulent. The plant cannot exceed 30 centimeters in height. Consists of basal, green-variegated with light waves, thick, narrowed upward, hard, linear-lanceolate leaves. The leaves form a rosette and grow in a circle. It blooms rarely, with orange flowers in a cluster of inflorescences. The plant is not picky about growing conditions and only requires constant watering.
Perennial herbaceous leaf succulent. The plant is from 10 to 50 centimeters in height. Consists of basal, thin, hard, xiphoid, light green, pointed petals. The leaves are covered with small, rough thorns. The leaves grow in a circle of one central leaf. Young shoots appear around the perimeter of the old plant. The plant is famous for its many healing properties. Does not require special care at home.
Perennial bushy climbing succulent. The plant consists of dense dark purple shoots. The leaves are small, dense, watery. symmetrically located along the branches. The flowers are regular, pink, on long succulent stalks. The main branch becomes a bare peduncle. Up to 5 flowers can bloom on one branch. The plant requires constant watering, unlimited growing space (for weaving), and a large amount of sunlight.
Perennial evergreen succulent plant. The stems are fleshy, spreading, creeping. The leaves are lanceolate, watery, light green, symmetrically arranged along the stem. The plant may curl. The flowers are small. pink or white. Flowers with small thin petals are located in the axils at the ends of the branches. Requires a high degree of illumination, average air temperature and abundant watering.
Perennial succulent. It has a second name: “living stones”. The body of the plant looks like a pebble. The plant consists of a massive rosette, which consists of two very thick, fleshy leaves. The body of the plant is colored matte gray-green. The flowers of the plant appear at the center of contact of the leaves. The flowers are regular, bright pink, the petals are small and thin. It is necessary to provide the plant with a large flow of sunlight and abundant, timely watering. The succulent grows in drainage soil made of small stones.
Perennial leafy tree-like succulent. The stem of the plant is dense, mostly in the root zone. The stem is about 20-50 centimeters high. Small branches with a single leaf are formed from the top of the stem. Leaves are lanceolate, oval-elongated. The leaves are shiny, covered with a waxy coating. The succulent blooms with small yellow flowers on separate long stalks. The plant requires plenty of light and moderate regular watering.
Perennial leaf succulent. The plant consists of basal, green-spotted, thick, slightly flattened sword-shaped leaves. The edges of the leaves are smooth, the end is sharp. The leaves are collected in numerous dense rosettes. It blooms with small, tubular-swollen flowers. The flowers are usually located on a long stalk in an apical one-sided inflorescence. The plant is not picky about light and heat. requires only regular watering and replanting every two years. It is also necessary to plant young rosettes.
Perennial herbaceous stemless succulent. The plant consists of small ones. dense, watery, heart-shaped leaves collected in a rose-shaped rosette. The leaves are dark green, matte, with a sharp tip. It blooms with large, pink, lily-shaped flowers on individual tall peduncles. Requires sufficient light and moisture. Grows best in well-drained soil made from small stones.
Perennial leafy tree-like succulent. The stem of the plant is dense, mostly in the root zone. The stem is about 20-50 centimeters high. Single leaves are formed from the top of the stem. Leaves are lanceolate, oval-elongated. The flowers are green, in the form of a capsule with seeds, on a separate stalk. The plant is not picky about light and heat. Requires only constant regular watering and spraying. Once a month it is necessary to fertilize.
Perennial leaf succulent. The plant consists of numerous stems with symmetrically arranged, dark green, oval, lanceolate, shiny leaves. The stems in the root zone are thick and watery, becoming thinner towards the top. The plant rarely blooms. It shoots out a small arrow at the base of the stems and opens into a simple cob. Zamioculcas needs to be watered once every two days, providing the plant with plenty of light. The succulent does not tolerate low temperatures; the room temperature should be at least +8 o C.
Perennial succulent. Each plant consists of round, fused leaves. The leaves form a spherical, heart-shaped body of the plant. The stem of the plant is very short and is located in the ground. The body color of the plant varies from bluish-gray-green to brown. The plant is very small, no higher than 5-10 centimeters. The flowers are small, regular, narrow-leaved, yellow. The flowers emerge on short stalks from the fusion of leaves. It is necessary to provide the plant with a large flow of sunlight and abundant, timely watering. The succulent grows exclusively in soil made of small stones.
Perennial semi-shrub succulent. The stem is single, woody. In the first year there is only one stem, and in subsequent years it bushes. The height of the plant can reach 50-180 centimeters. The leaves are thick, watery, numerous, symmetrical, oval, dark green, shiny with a reddish edge. It blooms rarely in winter, with light pink or white star-shaped flowers. The plant tolerates cold well. The succulent does not tolerate excess moisture in the soil and air.
Perennial climbing succulent. The young stems of the plant are initially erect, then droop and creep. The plant reaches no more than 15 centimeters in height. The leaves are fleshy, triangular, smooth, bluish-green or light green. The leaves are arranged symmetrically along the stem. It blooms with small pink flowers on long stalks. You can plant it in a squat pot (it will trail down) or in a tall pot (it will trail and can be hung). The succulent is heat-loving and moisture-loving.
Perennial herbaceous stemless succulent. The plant consists of small, dense, watery, oblong leaves collected in a rose-shaped rosette. The leaves are dark green, matte, with a sharp brown tip. There are always a lot of outlets and it grows quickly. It blooms with small, regular, white flowers on separate tall peduncles, which consist of fused elongated leaves of the plant. Requires sufficient light and moisture. Grows best in well-drained soil made from small stones.
Perennial shrubby succulent. The leaves are succulent, bluish-gray-green, symmetrically opposite, triangular, fused at the base. The leaves expand upward. The edges of the leaves and the body of the plant itself are smooth. The flowers are regular, pink or red. The flowers emerge from the leaves on separate stalks. Heat-loving succulent. It is necessary to provide the plant with sufficient sunlight and abundant watering.
Perennial shrubby succulent. Stems are solitary, woody with a red-brown tint. The leaves are small, juicy, symmetrical, dark green, lanceolate, oval. The leaves are collected in small rosettes of three to four leaves. It blooms rarely, with small regular pink flowers in spike-shaped inflorescences. Requires plenty of sunlight, fertilizing once a month and abundant regular watering.
Perennial leaf succulent. The plant consists of basal, green-variegated or plain green, thick, narrowed upward, hard, linear-lanceolate leaves. Leaves grow chaotically along the permitted perimeter. The edges of the leaves are smooth with a golden-yellow edge. It blooms rarely, with green-yellow inconspicuous flowers on a high stalk. The temperature in the room acceptable for the life of the plant should not be less than +16 o C. Watering and fertilizing once a month.
Perennial shrubby succulent. The stems are juicy, fleshy, covered with light gray bark. The leaves are ovate, alternate, shiny, rich green with dark green veins, symmetrically arranged along the stem. Blooms with an umbrella inflorescence. Peduncles are small, short and thick. The flowers are bearing, small, closed, red in the form of inverted caps with feathers. The plant is thermophilic, the temperature should not be lower than +10 o C. The plant also requires a high degree of illumination. You can water the plant no more than once a month.
Perennial bushy low-growing succulent. The stems of the plant are numerous, tetrahedral, succulent, light green or bluish in color. The stems branch in the root zone. The edges of the stems are covered with teeth. The height of the plant can be 10-60 centimeters. The flowers are solitary, on curved pedicels. The flowers are covered with small soft fibers, burgundy in color and shaped like a five-pointed star. The flowers are very beautiful, but they emit an unpleasant smell of rotten meat. The plant should be placed in shaded areas. The temperature of normal growth of slipway should not be lower than +10 o C. Succulents can be watered no more than once every two weeks.
Perennial tree-like succulent. The tree trunk is dense, can be either squat or tall (depending on the subspecies of the plant). The leaves are small, oval, juicy, dark green. The leaves are symmetrically arranged along the branches. According to Chinese beliefs, the leaves of the tree resemble coins, hence the second name “money tree”. The plant is not picky about light and heat. Requires only constant regular but moderate watering.
Perennial tree-like succulent. Phocea has a caudex trunk. The trunk can be elongated, round or oval; long, thin, branched stems grow from this base. At first the stems need support, later they become woody. the leaves are oval, shiny, dark green with a clearly visible central vein. The flowers are white, regular, small, inconspicuous, with a pleasant aroma. The plant is unpretentious to light and heat. The plant needs to be watered only when the soil is completely dry, and then sparingly.
Perennial herbaceous dwarf succulent. The plant consists of basal fleshy leaves. The leaves are sword-shaped, short, dark green with white stripes. The leaves form a circular rosette. They can grow upward in a circle. The edges of the leaves are covered with small teeth. Flowers appear rarely and not in all species. The white flowers are small and inconspicuous. When grown at home, succulents require a shaded growing area and abundant, timely watering. It grows best in soil made of small stones.
Perennial succulent. The plant consists of a massive rosette of very thick, faceted, fleshy leaves. The body of the plant is colored matte gray-green. The plant rarely exceeds 15 centimeters in height. The flowers of the plant appear at the center of contact of the leaves. The flowers are regular, bright pink, the petals are small and thin on a separate high stalk. It is necessary to provide the plant with a large flow of sunlight and abundant, timely watering. The succulent grows in drainage soil made of small stones.
Perennial ampelous succulent. Abundantly branching cactus shrub. The branches are flat, jointed, without thorns, with jagged edges. The flowers are zygomorphic, tubular, located at the ends of the branches. Flowers can be crimson, pink, red and orange. When growing at home, you should place the succulent exclusively on the sunny side, water it once every two days and feed it once every two weeks.
Perennial herbaceous tree-like succulent. The plant consists of small, dense, watery, oblong, lanceolate leaves collected in a rose-shaped rosette. The leaves are dark green and shiny. There are always a lot of outlets and it grows quickly. All rosettes are placed on a branched stem. It blooms with small, regular, yellow flowers on individual tall peduncles, in a racemose inflorescence. Requires sufficient light and moisture. Grows best in well-drained soil made from small stones.
Perennial herbaceous succulent. It has a second name: “stone rose”. The plant consists of small, dense, watery, oval leaves with a sharp tip, collected in a pink rosette. The leaves are bluish-green, matte. There are always a lot of outlets and it grows quickly. It blooms with small, regular flowers, similar to bells, red on separate tall peduncles, which consist of fused elongated leaves of the plant. Rarely can a plant be a climbing plant. Requires sufficient light and moisture. Grows best in well-drained soil made from small stones.
Succulents combine plants from different families, but with one important common property: they accumulate moisture in their stems and leaves. Hence the name - from the Latin "succus" - juice.
Succulents include herbs and trees, shrubs, vines and epiphytes. This group of plants does not require frequent watering and is completely low maintenance. In addition, succulents are distinguished by original, beautiful leaves, both in color and shape.
Flowering species are very decorative. Thanks to this, the succulent garden has become popular in landscape design and among amateur gardeners.
The choice of succulents for garden compositions from the Crassulaceae family is varied - these are Crassula, Aichrizon (“tree of love”), sedum, Kalanchoe, Echeveria (“stone rose”), Aeonum (“living forever”).
Succulents will definitely please you:
The most common succulents used in landscape design are young and sedum. They, in turn, have many subspecies of different shapes and colors.
Succulent species of milkweed are used as ground cover plants.
Creeping sedums are ideal for multi-tiered compositions and for green roofs (Crassula calico kitten, crassula Pangolin, crassula Red pagoda).
Prickly pear will diversify your garden not only with its southern flavor and sunny yellow flowers. At the end of summer, you can also harvest delicious vitamin fruits rich in vitamin C.
Livisia will be a beautiful flowering succulent for a flower bed or hill. This perennial plant has a variety of flower colors - pink, white, red, plain and striped. Libya dwarf, plum-shaped and blunt-leaved will decorate the garden and will certainly please you with its colors.
Advice: some species have large, sharp thorns, which is dangerous for children and animals, so it is better not to choose such plants for growing.
These plants certainly have more advantages than disadvantages. But despite the fact that succulents are not demanding to care for, there are some points you should know and take into account.
For good growth and development of plants you need: sun, moderate watering and sandy soil.
When planting succulents, leave some space between them for free growth. Fill the empty spaces with pebbles, driftwood, figures of lizards, snakes, and snails. Combine plants with similar lighting and watering needs into flower beds.
Planting these plants does not require fertile soil. Succulents will take root well among stones and crevices of an alpine hill, and retaining walls, which will significantly enliven terrace structures.
Duet of succulent + stump. Juveniles can be planted in an old stump or snag. Very stylish and unusual.
Composition of succulents in a flowerpot or flat vessel, in a shell, garden sculpture and other interesting items that match the style of the garden. You can decorate the composition with colored stones or beads.
Create a volumetric relief composition( topiary), using a frame of a certain shape, for example: an animal figurine, a crescent, a star.
Drop off flowerbed in a certain shape, for example, lizards, using different varieties of juveniles.
Mosaic flowerbed, in which plants are planted in groups, alternating different colors and varieties, forming ornaments and patterns.
When creating your garden, you can safely experiment with a combination of succulents in shape, color and texture of leaves. Easy to transplant and propagate, succulents will allow you to get creative and create new flower bed options.
Penumbra. If you have chosen a place in partial shade, then succulents that do not require a lot of lighting are suitable for such a flower bed: guernia, ceropegia, slipway, green Crassula, haworthia, gasteria with green cover, aloe, sansevieria.
Sun. For an arid place under the scorching sun, the following types of succulents are suitable, which are distinguished by their brown color, waxy coating, and have “pubescence” on the leaves, as well as a ribbed shape:
Clue:
Hatiora is not capricious in mixes and coexists with all succulents.
Pachyphytums require spacious areas for planting.
It is better not to plant Crassula moss in ceramic flowerpots.
Succulents are great for vertical gardening. They can be used to decorate arches and pergolas or make a special support structure or shelving.
Tradescantia, which can climb along a support or be grown in a flowerpot, perfectly complements the planting of succulents. And also, hoyas or wax ivy as a hedge.
In the form of ampels you can use:
Under comfortable conditions, these plants will definitely delight you with their flowering.
An interesting idea and original decoration is a wall panel made of succulents. To do this, you will need a frame with a mesh and cells filled with special soil. Plant cushion-shaped or rosette-shaped succulents in the cells in a mosaic pattern - these are young plants, sedum, echeveria, etc. This is the kind of unusual living picture you will get.
In the world of flora, succulents occupy a special position. Representing a large group of plants, they are not related to each other. A large association arose, literally, on dry soil. The conditions in which these plants grow, and the appearance of the flowers that have developed under their influence, allowed scientists to classify representatives of various families into a separate order.
All succulents are characterized by the presence of a thick covering of bristles, hairs, and spines. All succulent plants are full-bodied and decorated with fleshy trunks and leaves with a bluish bloom. Both cover and bloom are included in the arsenal of plant protective agents that protect them from death in the complete absence of moisture. Moreover, it is successfully accumulated by plants in leaves and trunks. The powerfully developed root system of succulents is busy searching for water in the depths of the earth.
The impressive appearance and amazing adaptability to meager care have made succulent flowers the favorites of landscape designers. Today they are experiencing the peak of popularity and are actively used for arranging alpine slides, rockeries, creating original compositions from succulents in pots.
Considering that the group includes representatives of forty separate families, the decorative capabilities of these plants increase significantly. Agave and Kalanchoe, swallowwort and bromiliaceae, groundsel and glottiphyllum, aisaceae and aloe allow you to create amazingly beautiful compositions in gardens, greenhouses, and on window sills. Succulents are great for framing ponds and swimming pools. Just don't get confused cacti and succulents, since spiny exotics form a family of their own. However, they have adopted the characteristics of their opponents to such an extent that they share decorative demand with them.
The unpretentiousness of the plants is so high that even a child can grow succulents at home. And yet, in order not to offend such a large group with a cool attitude, certain rules for caring for them exist.
In temperature conditions, plants prefer moderation. It is also important for them that the daytime temperature differs from the nighttime temperature by 4-5 degrees.
In terms of illumination, most succulents prefer bright light, but there are species that need a little shading.
When watering, you should focus on the degree of dryness of the soil. However, it is well known that indoor succulents, left unattended for a week or two, cope well with a lack of moisture, since they are naturally ready for this.
They prefer soil that is breathable and crumbly. For indoor succulents, it is important to provide a good layer of drainage.
For all succulents, home care begins with proper planting. The planting container should be almost flat. As a substrate, use ordinary forest soil mixed with 1/4 river sand and 1/5 charcoal.
Succulents are propagated by stem cuttings and leaves. The separated cutting cannot be placed in water; it must be allowed to dry for two days, and then planted directly in the ground. The leaves are simply placed on damp soil, leaving them open. The best time for breeding is from April to August.
If you use succulent seeds for propagation, you should choose well-ripened and fresh material. It is difficult to obtain one at home, so it is worth choosing a simpler, vegetative method of propagation.
Important! If you want your home succulents to bloom regularly, keep them in ascetic conditions, with poor soil, minimal watering and in a flat pot.
For those who are just mastering succulents and caring for them, we have prepared the top 10 most popular types.
Agave Victoria-Regina - representative of leaf varieties. It is interesting for its spherical shape, which is created from dense, 15-20 cm long leaves, with white stripes along the edges. It is photophilous and does not tolerate excess moisture well, responding to it by rotting the base of the rosette.
Euphorbia Mile or "crown of thorns", the most popular succulent among beginning gardeners. It is a thorny shrub, the tops of the stems of which are decorated with elongated, matte green leaves. The flowers are collected in complex inflorescences and are colored in shades of white, pink and yellow.
Echeveria agave well known to many gardeners. As with all succulents, caring for this species at home does not require much effort. If we talk about decorative qualities, then it is enough to imagine green rose without a stem, with fleshy leaves covered with a waxy coating. Under favorable conditions, it blooms in early summer, producing 30-40 cm arrows with red-yellow flowers at the tops.
Stapelia – one of the most decorative types. Both the shape of the flower and the color evoke admiration from everyone who sees it. However, as soon as you inhale the aroma of the stapelia flower, an annoying disappointment sets in: the persistent aroma of carrion hits your nose. The plant is pollinated by flies, which is why it smells to attract insects. But, despite such a contradictory argument, gardeners are happy to place slipways in rockeries and alpine slides.
