Succulents are one of the easiest plants to care for, and they generally grow best in containers. Planting your succulents in containers will allow you to move your succulents around, as well as adjust their surrounding conditions.
Gardening Succulents in Containers: Succulent Types
Succulents come in many shapes and colors, and are known to be able to survive in the harshest growing conditions. Here are several of the different types of succulents and species best for container gardening.
Sempervivums
Sempervivums are known for creating miniature versions of themselves every year.
- Round and sculptural shape
- Sempervivum tectorum has an open face and is larger in size
- Sempervivum arachnoideum has a silvery webbing over its leaves, and is smaller and rounder
Sedums
Sedums can often be treated as annuals, and can be used to complement to sempervivums.
- Has a finer texture and generally has a cascading structure
- Sedum “Autumn Joy” has larger leaves and has pink blooms
- Sedum kamtschaticum is a daintier plant with small yellow blooms
Echeveria
Echeverias are polycarpic and are easily propagated through separated offsets or leaf cuttings.
- Have a more compact structure of blue-green fleshy leaves, and sometimes a section with another color
- Echeveria shaviana is a ruffle-leaved Mexican plant that has a blue-green and dark purple color
- Echeveria “Blue Curl” has a pink stalk of leaves that turns blue as it curls
- Echeveria elegans is one of the most commonly planted succulents, and if maintained can grow quite large
Gardening Succulents in Containers: Best Containers
Since succulents have such shallow roots, they prefer being a shallower container. Even a bowl or dish is sufficient, though you may want a larger container to hold a group of succulents together.
- Use ceramic containers that will last as long as your succulents (possibly many years)
- Hypertufa troughs or pots are also a durable choice that will contrast the color of your succulents
- Make ½” drainage holes in your containers, and use a paper towel or coffee filter to cover the hole and prevent soil loss
- Succulents are healthier when planted in a slightly undersized pot
- Only repot your succulents when they have reached the edge of the pot and have stopped growing
Gardening Succulents in Containers: Best Soil Conditions
Succulents thrive in well-drained, poorer soil, and do not need additional fertilizer to do well.
- Succulents will suffer if there is too much organic matter in soil; for any good soilless mix, add about 25% of builder’s sand to dilute the soil
- Fill the pot so that your succulents will sit below the rim of your pot, but leave ½” of space on top to prevent water overflow
- Your succulents should be regularly watered every week or so, though newly potted plants will benefit from more frequent watering
- Allow established plants to dry out between watering, otherwise they may lose their roots
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