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The Gardener’s Corner: succulents simplified If you've ever had hens and chicks in your garden, you know how easy they are to grow and multiply. They're one of the many varieties of plants described in the book ‘Succulents Simplified' by Debra Lee Baldwin. She feels succulents are seductive in their easy care maintenance and by switching to them for houseplants, one can go away for two weeks at a time without worrying about having a neighbour water. The fleshier a succulent, the longer it can, and should go between waterings. Outdoors, succulents grow well in containers and can therefore be moved to shelter if needed. Many succulents such as echeverias, sermpervivums, aeoniums and graptopetalums have rosette shapes resembling flowers but there is a whole host of shapes, textures and patterns available. Some plants have edible or herbal properties such as the gel of aloe vera which has been used to soothe sunburn, prickly pear cactus pads that can be eaten raw or cooked and dragon fruit, a tropical vining cactus. Tequila agave is important to Mexico for when the plants are about to bloom, they're cut back so sugars will concentrate to be extracted as a liquid to ferment and be distilled to produce tequila. Baldwin is passionate about succulents and the many coloured photos show rainbows of hues and bizarre shapes that inspire a gardener to collect them. The author lives just outside of San Diego with a climate suited to growing succulents but the sections in the book on growing them as houseplants will give plenty of ideas for us with snow covered winters to grow them in our homes. A large glass trifle bowl can look magnificent with different colours of sand layers topped by gravel and rock amid a few select succulents. Containers that don't have a drainage hole should be watered sparingly with distilled water so salts don't build up in the soil. Those with holes, need the salt leached through by thoroughly running water through the pot and out the bottom, as you would do with any houseplant. Recommendations for potting, including soil mix, propagating and refreshing tired looking, overgrown containers are covered with easy to follow directions. As is troubleshooting for pests and diseases. The section on repurposed containers and collectibles offers concepts as brilliant as using mint tins for a mini garden. The projects showcasing succulents include a cakestand centrepiece, living picture vertical gardens, dish gardens and hanging baskets. A topiary sphere shows how to glue a hundred hens and chicks into a masterpiece. Lastly, directions to make a bridal bouquet and corsage or boutonniere are given, and they are awesome. The last chapter lists 100 easy-care succulents with photos and care for each. Baldwin has written two other books on succulents and shares more about the plants and events she is attending on her Facebook page also called Succulents Simplified. If you want to go beyond growing hens and chicks, this book is a must for exciting creativity. By Judith Rogers |
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Post date: 2013-12-04 16:08:01 Post date GMT: 2013-12-04 21:08:01 Post modified date: 2013-12-11 14:39:18 Post modified date GMT: 2013-12-11 19:39:18 |
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