The pink-tinged plant has sprouted a "chick" and receives sun in the morning. Like most succulents, the plants require quickly draining soil that will not become water logged.
Scientific Names - More Info
- Echeveria: Echeveria genus - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echeveria
- Fish Hooks Plant: Senecio radicans - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senecio_radicans
- Senecio Mini Blue: Senecio hybrid - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senecio
- Crassula Burgundy: Crassula platyphylla - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crassula
- Sedum Pork and Beans: Sedum rubrotinctum - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedum_rubrotinctum
do you have any tips on how to start a succulents box planter? or do you know of any resources that give you a how-to guide? and also, do you find these at local green houses?
ReplyDeleteThe most important thing to consider for succulents is excellent drainage. I have found that succulents in my box planters have done better when the planter material is airier, such as a coco liner or terracotta. Make sure that your container has drainage holes of some sort.
DeleteIdeals for box planters are pretty much in line with those for any planter. Consider that succulents generally grow more slowly than other plants, so take that into consideration when putting the planter together. If you get too few plants, the planter may look somewhat empty for a while.
Create a potting mix that is 50% potting soil and 50% pumice stone or perlite. This will ensure that water drains quickly. Nothing kills succulents more quickly than overwatering or constantly wet soil.
Most succulents cannot stand an entire day in the hot sun, so place them where they will receive morning sun or in dappled shade. My porch receives full to partial shade in the morning, so plants are in full shade in the hottest part of the day, the late afternoon. Even small cacti may shrivel in the searing sun.
Consider adding a top dressing to the planter, such as decorative stones. This protects stems, lifts leaves above the wet soil, and keeps the top layer of your compost mix moist longer, keeping it more in line with lower levels of the soil.
For design tips such as mixing and matching plants with containers, I have found the books by Debra Lee Baldwin very helpful, "Succulent Container Gardens" and "Succulents Simplified." You can find them on eBay or Amazon at decent prices. (http://www.debraleebaldwin.com/)
In general, contrast complimentary colors (red with green, orange with blue, purple with yellow), and repeat similar colors throughout the planter. Also, consider that "stressed" succulents may change color, such as paddle plants in the sun.
It's good to know how large a plant will get as it grows. If you're comfortable with transplanting succulents later on into larger containers, then you can practically get any plants you like. But if you'd rather leave succulents in the same container for a long time, get plants that stay small and whose roots will not overwhelm the container. Pruning may also be an option.
I will post pictures of some of my coco liner box planters later today.
I've purchased most of my succulents at Lowe's, Walmart, and Kmart, though a few have been found at local nurseries. My best find was two sizable Echeverias at Albertson's for $2.99 each, but that was in early spring.
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