Although it's been a mixed summer weather-wise, I've still given my collection of succulent plants a 'holiday' outside...
Although it's been a mixed summer weather-wise, I've still given my collection of succulent plants a 'holiday' outside, lining them up along a path to create a simple display.
These tender succulents - aeonium, sedum and echeveria - spend autumn through to late-spring under cover, whether in the greenhouse or on a windowsill. All of them appreciate the extra light outside in the summer garden. For stability, all are potted into terracotta pots, as plants in plastic ones blow over far too easily and get damaged.
The nice thing about succulents is that any bits that do get broken off can usually be used as cuttings, rooting quickly in gritty, free-draining compost. Once established they can join the main display to extend the line.
Aeoniums are particular favourites of mine. Their origins in the baking conditions of the Canary Islands provide a clue to their care requirements: warm, bright conditions are key, and they need very little water to flourish. My aeoniums get an occasional swish of water when I pass, and thankfully don't need the regular doses that most summer bedding plants demand.
Temporary displays like this are fun to create, and can be moved around at a moment's notice to ring the changes. There's nothing permanent here, and no master plan that will dictate the garden design for years to come. Plants in pots are mobile, and can be shifted around, enjoyed in a variety of locations where they can fill gaps, and at the end of summer move back under cover for winter. Tender succulents might not be the most floriferous of plants, although most do bloom. Their appeal is in colour, form and structure, plus their ability to survive with little attention from me!
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