Succulents

Succulents - original and unpretentious plants that are ideal for growing in the walls of the apartment. They are notable for the fact that their group includes representatives of a wide variety of families, and this opens up broad opportunities for floral design.

Succulents differ in appearance, although they are combined according to one feature - a method of adaptation to drought conditions. The plants include about 70 genera and more than 800 species. You can create wonderful compositions from succulents, and they are not particularly capricious in their care.

Succulents: species with photos

There are quite a few varieties of succulents today. Among them you will find: agave, aloe, cacti, bryophyllum, glossy, aizo, glotiphillum, wild, kalanchoe, groundflower, spurge and many more. other types. The most famous and common types of succulents are cacti.

Depending on the mechanism of accumulation of liquid, conditionally distinguish 2 types of succulents:

1. Leafy - they have thickened leaves that accumulate fluid. The leaves are most often round with a dense cuticle. In many leaf succulents they are collected in sockets, it also contributes to water saving. The most famous leaf succulents are aloe, Haworthia, Gaster, agave. These plants are often used in traditional medicine.
2. Stem succulents - store water in thickened trunks and stems. The leaves of these plants can be reduced to the spines, the root system allows you to accumulate moisture from the groundwater and from the surface. The stems can be ribbed, which prevents the formation of cracks with an excess of moisture. Many types of stem succulents have the so-called assimilation shoots. They are formed in the rainy season, they are located leaves, flowers and fruits.

Succulents: care

Succulents are not demanding to care, but still need to care for them properly. All types are similar in terms of content. So, succulents need good lighting, so they are often placed on window sills, and in summer and late spring they endure a balcony.

You will need to provide them with moderate watering - during the warm seasons of the year 1 time per week, in winter once in 4 weeks. Water for irrigation should be separated at room temperature.

To ensure a comfortable wintering temperature should be maintained in the region of 13 - 15 degrees. For their cultivation, flat pots will be the best option. Do not forget about good soil drainage.

As for the soil, succulents need options with a moderate level of humidity. It should be noted that the ready-made mixtures for succulents often contain peat, which is absolutely not suitable for these plants. It is recommended to use a mixture of coarse sand, sheet and sod land.

Also worth taking care of fertilizers. In winter, succulents do not need fertilizing. Fertilize plants during the spring growing season no more than 1 time per month. Fertilizers can be purchased at specialized flower shops.

Transplantation of plants does not have to be annual. If the succulent feels fine, blooms and does not get sick, there is no need for it. If growth is not observed, the epidermis has lost its elasticity or normal color, and the plant has wrinkled during the growing season, immediately transplant it. It is necessary to replant in dry soil and water only in a few days.

Compositions of succulents: description and photo

Succulents look beautiful in compositions. It is in them that all the uniqueness of these unusual plants manifests To create compositions, miniature succulents are taken, quite a lot can be placed on one sill, up to 60-70 species.

Some craftsmen create so-called "corners of the desert" on their windowsill, planting plants in ceramic or plastic dishes, arranging specimens depending on the color, complementing them with one or more uneven stones.

For compositions, the surface of the earth is often sprinkled with fine sand or gravel. The height of the pot should not exceed 1/3 or 1/4 of the height of the tallest plant.

For example, you can create a composition in flat ceramic dishes made from cactus, equive, lithops, gasteria and havortiya. In addition, you can dilute it with pachyphytum with thick rounded bluish leaves, resembling grapes, as well as low plants with creeping stems —sedum, monantes, and bastard plumed — that hang their shoots from the edge of the plate. Succulents are beautiful and original plants behind which anyone can take care. Often they are grown compositionally, complementing each other. Placing the succulents on the windowsill or on the balcony, you can brighten up your interior by adding to the currently fashionable eco-nuance.