Hello, Fall is fast approaching and it's this time of year that I desperately desire indoor plants as the outdoor growing season comes to an end. Unfortunately every Spring I am convinced that plants are not meant for indoors (after some overwinter failures) and I say "never again". Well the monotony of the cycle begins again this fall. This years potential victims are some indoor (for my area anyway over winter) succulents. I found a nice variety of succulents at a local green house with no growing instructions or tags, and a nice pot to fit them into; so I figured I would make a container planting of a variety of contrasting colors and textures found in this assortment of individual succulents / cacti. My artistic attempt is probably the outdoor equivalent of mixing sun and shade plants together that need both dry and moist site conditions. Outside I have a vast assortment of rare and unusual plants that some consider hard to grow and I never have any losses. But something happens when it comes to indoor plants, I can't seem to keep them happy. Please take me to school on growing these beautiful plants (any advice, rules of thumbs, do's and don'ts are greatly appreciated) Help me bring my outdoor green thumb inside this winter. Your help and advice may keep these plants from being victims of another failed attempt at indoor gardening. Thank you!!!
I hope your pot has drainage, these lovely succulents NEED to dry out between watering. Too much TLC usually hurts them. Less is best. Love them telepathically (lol) - Wait til spring to feed them - and then at 1/4 the recommended strength. Water once a week in heat of summer, once a month during winter. Put them in a spot with bright morning sun and they will be happy.
Thank you very much! They have excellent drainage and the soil will not compact either, so I guess that I have that working for me. Do I want to avoid getting the foliage wet when watering? Also when a single leaf starts to wilt, am I better off pulling it off or is it better to let nature take it's course?
One thing to add to girlie's excellent advice: The winter watering schedule will be directly related to the humidity and temperature of the room and the type of heating employed therein. In some homes the plants can need watering [almost] as often in winter as in summer, due to a very dry, warm environment. In a cool conservatory, on the other hand, it might be necessary to withhold water entirely for the coldest three months. Just use common sense to evaluate the water requirements and you will be ok. The only time to worry about getting the foliage wet is if it is not going to dry out for an extended period of time (unlikely in a reasonably warm/dry room). With wilting leaves, I prefer to wait until they have dried out completely before removing them, or more likely, indolently wait till they fall off by themselves. You have a nice looking mixed planting there, but be aware it will most likely need dividing and replanting annually; otherwise some of the plants will outcompete and kill the others. Any thugs that need solitary confinement will soon reveal themselves. More generally, I find these types of succulents thrive on a diet of benign neglect.
Thank you very much for all the great advice! So true about dividing, they have filled in so much in the two weeks since I planted them.
