Before and After: Large Echeveria Planter

Here are some progress photos from a large planter I put together in early March of 2014. It is filled with echeverias, pachyverias, graptoverias, sedeverias, and graptosedum.

Protecting My Succulents in Winter

El Paso is not normally subjected to bitter cold temperatures, but the thermometer does dip below freezing on many nights throughout the winter, posing a real threat to frost-tender succulents. This season, to protect my collection, I built a simple lean-to greenhouse made of PVC pipes, plastic sheeting, and duct tape, with inexpensive clamp lamps providing light and warmth.

The plastic sheeting has some slits and windows cut into it, reinforced with the tape to prevent rips from occurring and to help with air circulation on relatively mild days. In the picture below, a large Kalanchoe luciae (Paddle Plant) can be seen through the translucent plastic. A cold hardy Echinopsis sits outside of the greenhouse.

In My Garden: Crazy Bunny Opuntia

The Crazy Bunny cactus is in the same genus as the well known Prickly Pear. This one is new to the container garden this spring but has clearly grown in the two months since it was planted.

Echeverias Grace Two Box Planters

Two gorgeous Echeveria plants take center stage in box planters that surround a small balcony. Freshly watered, the succulent leaves form natural cups which hold the water.

'Donkey's Tail' Peaks Over a Container's Edge

A Donkey's Tail sedum starts to make its way over the side of a burgundy container. Behind the sedum sit several other succulents, including a Silver Dollar Plant, Tiger Tooth Aloe, and Aeonium Zwartkop.

'Red Apple' Plant and Cactus Share a Container

An Aptenia "Red Apple" hybrid mingles with a cactus in a central El Paso garden. The cactus is an unknown Echinopsis variety. The Aptenia succulent, which produces bright red miniature flowers, grows quickly and is well adapted to El Paso summers.

More Info
Aptenia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aptenia
Echinopsis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echinopsis