Succulents

Wouldn't it be fun if we could all get together and show them off. <sigh>

I want a t-shirt..... "Succulents don't suck"

 

Well, get out your fabric pens and glitter ...

And for Ms Daisy ...

 

Okay, been thinking about your plant.

The shape of the plant and general coloring made me immediately think of a paddle plant aka kalanchoe thryisflora. But the leaves are quite glossy, which made me think some fancy hoya.
But I couldn't get past the leaf shape, and then it came to me.

It wasn't thyrsiflora, it's got to be kalanchoe luciae aka flapjacks:

these two kalanchoes are easily, and often, confused.
here is a large K thyrsiflora nearing its bloom cycle:

You can see how easily they can be confused; where luciae's leaves are glossy, thyrsiflora's leaves are glaucus....and of course, the difference in blooms.

Very nice find! I've had several thyrsiflora but never a luciae; I had to content myself that I got the better deal, scent-wise at least. LOL

This plant will not tolerate a freeze, be prepared to bring it in when temps fall below about 40. It will need plenty of light through the winter, but little water. Be sure to rotate the plant each week so that it does not get leggy trying to get to the sunlight. You'll want it to remain nice and compact.

 

Aren't succulents amazing. Here is a picture of a cactus that I found growing in the desert near Ernst Tinaja. It was all alone growing and blooming. That is one thing I love about visiting the desert you see the most amazing things if you take time to look. Like the Ocotillo it is an absolutely gorgeous plant growing in the desert. I think that is one of the pictures Gypzy posted above..

 

Yes, the desert holds many beautiful secrets. Like Falena, I wouldn't want to live in the desert, but I have been shown many of the surprising delights that can be found there.

Because cactus only flower at certain times, and some of those only at night, people don't think of them as they would roses, daisies, gardenia or lavender, but in fact, for the size of plant to flower, brilliance of hue, often length of bloom time, cactus flowers simply cannot be beaten.

Monkey Tail Cactus bloom:

another lovely NoId cactus bloom:

 

Cactus flowers remind me of silk..they are so delicate and fragile.

I don't think I would mind living in the desert for awhile. Not all the time; but for a portion of the year it would be ok.

 

Gypzy, we have a clay deposit on our property would it make a good soil for the succulents? I know it will have to be mixed with other soil. What would you suggest?

 

Definitely not...unless you fire it first and use it for your grit mix...cheaper and easier to buy grit, imho.

 

Don't have a kiln so ......I will leave the clay alone.

 

Love your avatar...did you snap that?

 

Yep, I sure did in Colorado. I caught him with straw hanging out of his mouth. He was handsome.

 

He's a beaut, alright! His horns are outstanding...but look at the bulk of that neck. Amazing. Nice shot!

 

Wuz thinking about you Gypzy, when I stood at Aldi's cash register, looking at the succulents for sale.
Would love to send you some to make up for the loss, if only in spirit.

 

((Shang!)) how sweet was that?!

We finally got some rain, it was blissful. Nowhere enough to rectify matters. In fact, the winds are up, a cool front expected (to bring rain/lightening) and they've issued another red alert to be on the lookout for wildfires. gak! give with one hand, take with the other.

Night temps are expected to drop to mid-50s! Woohoo! >see me dancin' a jig< Yeehaw!

Of course, night temps in the 50s means its time for the plumeria and the adenium to began getting sleepy for the winter. They'll start dropping their leaves and will have to come in soon.

Everything else out there are proven hardies that apparently cannot be killed with heat or cold, only too much water. Mostly grapto Xs, btw.

BTW -- did you find a cartjumper for yourself at Aldi's?
see ya over at the bar in a bit...

 

Succulents are fun..and easy to grow. Like Gypzy says ignore them and they do great. Pity some people aren't this easy to deal with...lol.

 

I made my first purchases of the new year.
This is the one I'm most proud of: Aloe Orange Marmalade
Amazingly, my first K Griffin hybrid evah! woot!!

​

I also picked up a tricolor sedum, a cryptanthus, and a variegated paddle plant which I intend for a new combo container. Will load a pic when I get it planted

 

We had a below freezing cold snap a month or so ago and I put polar cloth over my succulents to keep them nice. I looked out the window and what do I see snuggled down on top of one of the largest pots..Theodore my 20 pound bundle of cat.. He found a nice spot to snuggle. When I took the polar cloth off my poor succulent was crushed down in the center. Not too much damage was done it is recovering although it is still smashed in the center.

 

cryptanthus "starbright" -

sedum spurium "tricolor" -

Kalanchoe luciae "fantastic" -

these will be the plants that make up my new combo pot. still trying to decide if I want to put one of the Aloe Orange Marmalade pups in with it - but probably not as it has strong orange hues where all of these plants tend to pinks/reds.

Cryptanthus is not a true succulent but rather a bromeliad. However, I think that I will be able to manage the water for all these while together....I may learn differently. LOL.


Peaches...I shoulda warned ya....It's better to set up a teepee ... cuz animals love the warm spot in the winter. I once had a blasted possum that lived in the pots under one blankie for the entire winter...smashed everything flat as pancakes! Ya live ya learn.

if setting up a teepee...you can use Xmas twinklers under the blankie too...it is amazing how much heat they will put off. I've used them to keep plants safe during hard freezes and days-long ice storms.