Enjoy For Years To Come.

Here is the Valley of The Sun, October still tends to be quite hot for most flowers. Many of us are anxious to get started with some

planting, making our community yards the beautiful, colorful works of art for which our area is known.

Now is a good time start succulents so they can establish themselves and get rooted before the cold temps

come in late December.

Succulents are perennial and will last for years, as long as they are consistently covered when temps drop

to 32 degrees or lower. Succulents come in very small species; good for pots or table top succulent bowls

and they come in very large varietals as well. October is typically rain-free so succulents need to be

pampered with watering weekly to start; but only in short or small amounts. Water only the ground

surrounding and not directly on the plant. If damp, they will burn in the direct sun thus turning black and

squishy. Add specific succulent amended soil to the area you’ll be planting in. Succulents like a gritty

environment but it must be well-draining.

They love sand and small gravel, similar to that used in aquariums. Good

succulent starters are Jade, Moonstone, Silver Star, Sand Rose, Blue ChalkSticks, Kitten Ears for small

planters and Aloe and Agave to start in the yard. All are readily available throughout the valley. In fact,

there is usually a table of small succulents behind the cash register in the garden section of the Home

Depot.

Plant your new succulents in areas or pots that won’t get the grueling afternoon sun.

The succulents should be lightly fertilized 1-2 times a year during Spring and Fall; their growing seasons.

Don’t fertilize initially when potting or repotting; wait 2 months. Fertilizer comes in liquid or powder

consisting of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Perlite and peat moss are also good for succulents.

You’ll notice the plants go dormant often through the year. This is natural. If the plants are potted plants,

you’ll want to re-pot approximately every 2 years, so they can spread their little feet and find more

nutrients in the ground. Future propagation is easy with most of the above mentioned plants through stem

cutting; meaning for a small investment, you’ll enjoy your succulents for years to come and have a few to

give away to friends and family.