Growing Succulents Successfully in Northern California

Use these growing tips for healthy, colorful succulents in your garden and containers

Succulentsare remarkable plants that have evolved the ability to store and hold water within their plump and overweight leave-taking and stems . This permit them to remain hydrated during times of water scarcity and to thrive in waterless regions that would otherwise be uninhabitable . This adaptation led to the evolution of a diverse group of engrossing , drouth - kind plantsfound in a encompassing range of sizes , colors , textures , and shapes , often with every bit stunning blooms . Though succulent are indigenous to a wide range of habitats and can be found all over the world — from the rainforests of Brazil to the rocky land of Eastern Siberia — most of the varieties available to northerly California nurseryman hail from the warm , dry deserts and rig - deserts of South Africa , North and South America , Europe , and Mexico .

Learn more : Cacti and Succulents for Cold clime

It ’s exceedingly rewarding to integrate these intriguing plants into your garden ’s design . Whether you ’re contend the merits of xeriscaping your intact front thousand using only succulents , consider incorporating a few earth - cover song beauty into your drought - resistant repeated border , or just begin to delve into the world of succulents with your first container garden , the pursue tips will manoeuvre you toward success and help your succulents flourish .

Sun or shade?

essential variegate , but most succulent prefer sun or part sun . In hotter orbit , they fare better if shielded from the hottest afternoon sun , but too much subtlety can cause some diverseness to get tall-growing and lose color intensity . However , succulents such as ‘ kiwi vine ’ aeonium ( Aeonium‘Kiwi ’ , Zones 10–11 ) really prefer shade . arrest with your local nursery for their recommendation , but more significantly , observe how your succulents react to your own microclimate , and move them if necessitate .

succulent can live extreme drouth and will tolerate neglect , but they actually do comfortably with regular irrigation during the summer months ; once a calendar week is ideal for most of Northern California . Allow the grime to dry out almost completely before watering again . Container - grown succulents and younger succulents whose roots are not yet fully establish may require less water system . In wintertime , water needs drastically diminish . Withhold water , and shelter your container - grown plants from wintertime rain if necessary .

Excellent drainage is vital

There are many especially formulated , tight - drain cactus and succulent soil mixes uncommitted that are ideal for container - grown succulents . I use E. B. Stone Cactus Mix . Mixes like these can also be used for improve your garden ’s soil in training for planting in the landscape painting . you could also mix your own using 50 % garden or pot soil and 50 % spirited stuff such as vermiculite , common perlite , lava tilt , or pumice . sporadically check out the ground down around the root level of your set succulents to make certain the drainage remains optimum even in the soused winter month .

fertilise your succulents once or twice during the develop season with half - strength , low-pitched - nitrogen fluid fertilizer such as Maxsea Bloom Formula , or lowly doses of a farinaceous fertiliser such as E. B. Stone Ultra Bloom . supererogatory nitrogen can burn succulent and induce them to become leafy , tall-growing cuss attractive feature ; it can even cause color loss in some motley .

Aphids and mealy bug are the most vulgar blighter witness on succulents . Insecticidal grievous bodily harm is the first line of defense against aphids , with pyrethrin - found or neem - crude insect powder in force for more severe infestations . mealybug can be more hard to oversee , but a Q - tip dip in chafe alcohol and swabbed across all seeable insects will toss off them . Fungal problem can occur in high - wet situations , so avoid overwatering , shelter your succulent from the bad seasonal rain ( if possible ) , and ensure excellent airwave circulation in their growing environment . Thinking about succulent in a terrarium ? It may see appealing , but with no melodic phrase circulation and zero drain , the charm is fleeting and you ’re setting yourself up for disappointment .

succulent vary quite a bit in their allowance for cold temperature , and get it on the insensate tolerance of each works can be perplexing when you ’re just starting out . Established plants hold out parky temperature better than younger plants . Container - grown succulents are more vulnerable than those plant in the ground . Some — for representative , a number of sedum ( Sedumspp . and cvs . , zone 3–11 ) form — go completely abeyant in wintertime and call for no protective covering from frost . Others are considered hardy — most sempervivums ( Sempervivumspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–10 ) and agave ( Agavespp . and cvs . , Zones 5–10 ) such as ‘ Blue Glow ’ agave — and can address temperature dipping down to 15 ° atomic number 9 . Quite a few succulents , however , are hoar tender , mean that temperature lower than 32 ° F can have tissue wound and even end . So require your greenhouse or do your own research to find out the specific cold tolerances of the plants you buy , and if you have any doubtfulness , be ready to protect your succulents when icing is predicted . convey your containers indoors , or shelter them under the eaves of your nursing home . mantle insulating frost fabric over your in - ground succulents , build a supportive frame or using simple garden stakes to prevent the protective material from stir the plants . Be certain to take away the rime fabric in the daytime hours and after all peril of frost has transcend .

— Fionuala Campion is the owner and manager of Cottage Gardens of Petaluma in Petaluma , California .

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succulent pot

‘Lipstick’ echeveria (Echeveria agavoidea’Lipstick', Zones 9–11; back) and peacock echeveria (Echeveria subsessilis, Zones 9–11). Photo: Fionuala Campion.

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succulent fountain

Burro’s tail sedum (Sedum morganianum‘Burrito’, Zones 10–11; top and bottom) and ‘Blue Rose’ echeveria (Echeveria imbricata‘Blue Rose’, Zones 10–11; bottom).Photo: Fionuala Campion

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