An Agave Americana, which we named "Big Blue", was my garden's largest succulent. It had six-foot long leaves with sharp teeth and looked capable of eating anyone who snapped a selfie with it. I loved watching the way the agave's gutted leaves directed water to the roots every spring as I was cleaning out the agave's centre. I videoed the agave's removal that October. That summer, the agave's 30-foot flower spike hummed with pollinators. Big Blue didn't want to lose its sailboat-mast mast spike. It was facing the street at a 45° angle. Big Blue broke the pipe below which it was impossible for them to fix. These pipes require fast-draining earth. Topdress soil with a topdressing. How much water is retained depends on the type of soil or medium in which succulents are planted. This was seven years prior to the publication of my first book on succulents. I still had much knowledge about agaves. My neighbors had to throw it out because they thought century plants would reproduce like feral dog dogs. Haworthias can be small or medium-sized succulents and look very much like aloe plants.

If the water appears cloudy or dirty, it is important to change the water frequently. Although some plants can be more fragile than others; they should still appear strong. There is no way to stop an Agave from dying after it flowers. You might enjoy the show. To identify your plant before it flowers, find it on my Agave page. Agave americana is often called the "century plant" as it takes so long to bloom and then dies. However, Big Blue lived only 20 years. It's a sign that you've been a great grower after all these years. Because it is slow growing, Crown of Thorns plants only need to be repotted every 2-3 years. The Crown of Thorns plant needs to be watered every 2 days before being brought inside. Terra cotta pots can absorb excess moisture from soil. This can be either a good thing or a bad thing depending on how you water them. Some little rascals were able to root through the pot holes. Sometimes potters can have large holes.

I have some succulents in pots without drain holes and they are doing well and thriving. You should notice such a thing in the mother plant and reevaluate your care routine to identify the problems. Am I doing something wrong? Cutting off the bloom stalk can slow down the process and you won't need to deal with a problem later. You can cause roots to rot by watering soil too wet. Avoid this. AGAVE SAP CAN CAUSE DERMATITIS. USE COMMON SENSE: The agave sap can cause contact dermatitis. This transition period allows the succulent to adapt without the risk of sunburn. 3. Occasionally plants, even succulents, suffer from sunburn. I'm not sentimental about succulents but I am grateful to have Big Blue Two... Big Blue grew as other ornamentals went.

They came with warnings so most were not adopted and remained in 1-gallon containers. You can start them in small pots in the nursery until they reach double size. Then transplant them to larger pots or into your garden. To correct this, simply move your cactus garden out of the sunlight into an area with lower light. Add enough potting soil (I amended mine 25% with pumice) to the new pot so that the crown of the plant rests about an inch lower than the rim. Check out how professionals removed mine. My article: How to make Tequila and Mezcal with Agaves Are agaves edible? Can I make tequila using mine? There are two options: Unbranched with flowers along the stalk or branching with clusters. How long will it take before an agave flowers? It turns the flowers into seedpods and bulbils, which are clones from the mother plant. It tried to take over the garden and produced pups (clones). It was in partial shade to encourage healthier roots. Crassula mésembryanthemoides should be planted outdoors, in an area with partial sun. Star Cactus plants are more successful in partial shade.

Make sure to use liquid fertilizer only when your cactus has just begun its growth process. She sells at Cactus & Succulent Society sales throughout Southern CA. Connect with her via Instagram and Facebook. This is just one example of the resilience that succulent plants can show. Consider the addition of filler plants, which can be in different shades. Graptoveria Bashful - A succulent sun-loving variety with stemless, cluster-forming rosettes full of dense, minty, green leaves. A flagstone patio was created in 2016 with Graptoveria Bashful's beautiful fan of azure green leaves. These leaves are water-holding, so succulents benefits can last for long periods without needing to drink. Why You Really Need Rocks (5.32). Succulent landscape designer Steve McDearmon uses warm-toned boulders, rubble and gravel. You may have to trim your plants from time to prevent them taking over your little paradise. It was dangerous and armed. At times, it snagged my skin and took blood. This can lead to headaches, joint and muscular pains, and other skin diseases. Be sure to treat any disease or pests in your plants before you put it next.