'Succulents' are the plants that has got extreme popularity in plant community due to less maintenance and amazing looks. Even plant beginners reach out to them for less maintenance part. Get a succulent and water them once a week. This sounds pretty easy to start with. However, there are a few other basic things that needs to be known to keep your efforts lower. Here I am sharing five such things.
1. Succulents are indoor plants-
Whenever it comes to indoor plants, we reach out to succulents and this gave birth to the myth of succulents being Indoor Plants. Excuse Me! Succulents are just low maintenance and forgiving plants, and this doesn’t make them an Indoor Plant. In fact, succulents are semi-outdoor plants. Providing them water once a week and partial light would make them thrive nicely.
2. Succulents are same as cactus-
A lot of people assume succulents to be coming from arid regions, just because they need less water. But No! Even though succulents require very less water to thrive, they are not like cactus. Succulent is a big group, and includes Cactus. Simplifying, all cactus are succulents but all succulents are NOT cactus.
3. Succulents are perennial-
Until few weeks back I had this myth. I thought succulents are perennial, they didn’t have flower anyway. I got a lot of succulents because of this myth. However, I researched a lot when I started seeing a few of my succulents shedding leaves. Now I know, succulents such as ‘Green Pinwheel’ (common name) are not perennial. This one grows only in winters, and we need to make them survive in summers.
4. Succulents are great for Terrariums-
Gosh! Terrarium are decorative, closed glass containers having soils, plants, etc. The fact that there is no drainage of excess water, and no evaporation, these are highly moisturizing in nature. Succulents hate moisture, which is one reason why they are called low maintenance plants. Now, why put succulents in terrariums, when they hate moisturize? This not only makes terrariums difficult to take care of, but reduce the chances of growth of succulents.
5. Succulents should be misted-
This is one of the myths with succulent that can lead to bigger problems. If you mist the succulents regularly, the problem that will arise is of watering. You mist them today, and its only the top soil that gets water. It evaporates soon, and when next day you mist the same plant, it’s the same top layer of soil that will continue to get water throughout all days/misting sessions. This will cause under-watering problem which your plant may survive in short run. However, in long run, when you see it falling and watering well will help it, you can possibly cause over-watering to rot it. Right way is to water succulents thoroughly once a week (generally), until the water from the drainage hole comes out. This will ensure that roots and all the particles of soil has got enough water to survive next few days.
Yes, succulents are really easy to grow. A good potting mix (soil), irregular (yet regular) water, and a bit of light (natural/artificial) is what they ask, just a bit!
Until next time,
Priya
XoXo
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