A Succulent Love Affair: Five Tips for a Successful Relationship

September 17, 2020 / Nora Allen

Five Tips for a Successful Relationship… with Succulents. Photo by Orlova Maria — Five Tips for a Successful Relationship… with Succulents. *Photo by Orlova Maria*

LIFESTYLE TIPS FOR THE HOME

Post contributed by Nora Allen

Where do I begin with my love affair of succulents? They are one of the best relationships to have. It’s a low maintenance relationship, requiring very little attention. It doesn’t complain about my busy schedule, in fact, they fit right in with it! And they come in options; you don’t have to settle on just one. Most importantly, like me, they prove big things can come in small packages! I love what an impact they make no matter what the size. The list of reasons goes on and on.

If you are new to a relationship with succulents, here are some pointers to help ease you into your newfound love. The beginning of what promises to be a great relationship!

Our cup runneth over with love. Photo by Jennifer Burk

Look at these cuties. We wouldn’t mind bringing them home to meet our parents. Photo by Annie Spratt (Unsplash)

BUILD A STRONG FOUNDATION

Look for a container with drainage if you want to really establish your succulents. You can plant a selection of them together or go for the statement or just do one. But the key is giving them room to grow. Feel free to get creative with you placement but make sure to space them out as many succulents not only grow larger but also can multiply.

SHOW YOUR LOVE

There is really no wrong way to showcase your succulents. My favorite ways to showcase my succulents are in either glazed ceramic planters or terra cotta planters. If you are lucky like me, to have a gardener for a mom, you get most of the pots from her stash! But you can find a great selection in the garden department of your local hardware store. Once planted, make this display as unique as you want. I like to add a few special touches to mine by using seashells, river rocks, marbles, sea glass or whatever California treasures I’ve collected.

Between us, this is a great place to add that broken dish you once loved in the dirt for some added color. Or if you want a little more pop, I love the look of adding neon aquarium rocks on top of the dirt.

CONSIDER ONLINE DATING

Some of my favorite succulents are from Home Depot (For real! And a great price)! You can also always find great options at local nurseries. My favorite for specialty gardens is Cali’s own Succulent Gardens! What a lot of people don’t realize is this is similar to online dating, you can digitally find your match! Head to Etsy, you can order bags of the clippings. And just like most relationships, you can always go back; clip from an existing succulent and re-plant. But ask if it’s not yours! :)

RELATIONSHIPS NEED WORK

Now how do you care for your succulent you ask? So easy! I like to plant mine in a cactus mix for good drainage and I water them once a week (Sundays, that’s my watering day if you are curious). And that’s it, I told you this relationship would be the easiest you’ve had! But keep in mind Succulents like Vitamin D (just like me)! So you can keep your succulents inside but make sure to let them get weekly sunlight at the least or leave them outside all the time and they will THRIVE.

IT’S NOT YOU, IT’S ME

Don’t cry if your succulent breaks off! You can re-plant it. Just stick it in the dirt and water like normal (once a week) and in about 2-3 weeks it will have re rooted itself. You will have a whole new succulent in your planter. But like any relationship that doesn’t work out, consider noting what you could do differently next time.