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Succulents Oh My!

Succulents Oh My!

Posted by Kym Erickson on 11th Jul 2018

Succulent Origins

Succulents survive in hot arid regions. They can be found naturally from northern Europe to southern and eastern Africa, and to the Far East. Early 15th century expeditions allowed explorers like Columbus to bring these unusual plants, cacti and succulents, back from the Americas, Africa and India.

Succulent Care

  • Light: In general, the area should have 10-12 hours of bright, indirect sunlight, with periods of shade to prevent sunburns.
    • Colorful succulents require at least 6 hours of bright sunlight to maintain their vibrancy.
  • Soil: Provide well-draining soil.
    • Potting soil is too dense to properly oxygenate succulent roots, but can be loosened with coarse sand, perlite, or pumice.
      • Rock is not suggested because it doesn't retain any moisture.
  • Temperature: Indoor succulents do not like extreme temperature changes.
    • Keeping a mild temperature will decrease your amount of watering.
  • Water: Only water succulents when they need it.
    • Succulents should only be watered when the potting materials, usually soil, is completely dry. When in doubt, go without. Your succulents can survive with being under-watered, but there is little that can be done once a succulent is over-watered

Planting Succulents: A Few Tips

  • Keep your succulents in the soil they came in.
    • Succulents have a fragile root system and repeated transfers to new mediums can damage the roots and affect plant longevity.
  • Leave air gaps--don't backfill
    • Tucking or packing soil around your succulent will suffocate its roots
    • Air pockets stimulate healthy root growth
  • Fertilize monthly
    • Succulents have shallow roots and require nearby nutrient sources
    • Using a low-key liquid fertilizer will prevent foliage from yellowing and maintain their vibrant colors

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is a succulent?
A succulent is a type of plant with a thick, fleshy stem and leaves that store moisture. "Succulent" comes from the Latin word sucus, meaning juice or sap.

Where do succulents come from? Succulents tend to come from dry, arid climates where rainfall is sporadic and very scarce.

Why are succulents popular?Succulents are popular because they require very little water, little maintenance or pruning, have unique and unusual structures and do not attract pests. They are also slow-growing and come in almost every color of the rainbow.

What is the difference between a succulent and a cactus?

All cacti are succulents. However, not all succulents are cacti. Succulents and cacti retain moisture the same way: in large juicy stems and/or leaves. Because they originate from harsh, dry environments, cacti and succulents have adapted these fleshy bits to reduce water loss during droughts or long dry periods. Unlike succulents, cacti generally, but not always, tend to have spines or prickly hairs protruding from enlarged bulbous structures to prevent predators from drinking their stored water.
How do succulents store water?All plants have stomates, or tiny pores for gasses to pass through for photosynthesis. Succulents close their stomates to reduce the amount of water that will evaporate during hot days. They open them during the cool night to store carbon dioxide for the following day.

Are succulents safe?

Many succulents have medicinal properties to them, such as Aloe, which is known for soothing burns and is used commercially in facial creams. Other succulents you can ingest, such as the Prickly Pear. While most succulents are not poisonous, allergic reactions can occur. Some succulents produce a sap with a similar composition to latex, such as the Euphorbia genus, which can cause skin irritation. Other succulents can have sharply pointed leaves that could injure children and pets.

Always err on the side of caution. It is highly recommended to properly identify succulents before using their sap in any way, and always call poison control if you have ingested an unknown, potentially harmful plant.