Succulents
What Defines a Succulent?
The name succulent comes from Latin for juice or sap, sucus. Succulents are drought resistent plants with usually fleshy leaves, stems or roots due to water-storing tissue. There are soft succulents and hardy succulents. Soft succulents are resistant to drought but less cold tolerant than hardy succulents. Although, be warned, many botanists don't agree on the what defines a succulent. All cacti are succulents but not all succulents are cacti.
Why Choose a Succulent?
There are numerous benefits to succulents that other plants don't have. Firstly and superficially, succulents come in a variety of colors.They can be found in every shade and tint from lusty purple to vivacious yellow. They also are found in a myriad of shapes, sizes, and textures. Some are as small as your phone, while others would rival a horse. In fact, the world's largest cactus is 63 feet high. Succulents are a sturdy breed, and can be placed indoors or in your yard. And if you're only a novice pet owner, have no fear. Most varieties can go weeks or in some cases months without being watered. Furthermore, succulents are really cute.
Types of Succulents
There is nearly an unspeakable amount of succulents, so
here
we'll only review some of the more popular types. One highly recomended
succulent is the Jade plant, or the Crassula ovata. The Jade plant is a
classic, and easy to grow. Two similarly loved succulents are the
Eurphorbia tirucalli and aloes like the Aloe vera. Regularly seen
outdoor varieties are yucca, opuntia, and agave. Additionally, the
pancake plant, Kalanchoe thyrsiflora.
Tips on Growing Succulents
- Don't overwater; Succulents like it dry. As plants native to desert climates, they retain water.
- Give them as much light as possible.
- If you're a bigger, start with the green succulents instead of the more uncommon colored ones. The green ones survive better indoors than their rainbow counterparts.
- Outdoors they can be crowded together, but if you're growing indoors, give them plenty of space.
