Wednesday 8 April 2015

Sensational Succulents

Years ago when we were going through a very dry time prior to our 2011 floods, we had very strict water restrictions and were banned from using town water for our gardens for what I think were a couple of years. We had to pump or bucket water from tanks if we wanted to have a garden so we let most of our flowering plants die and concentrated on just using the water for our vegetables. The CEO replaced the plants with succulents which have proven to be very hardy in dry times and some of them produce beautiful flowers as well.


When my daughter and her husband bought their first house from friends last year they inherited a very beautiful cottage garden which was unusual to have in the harsh climate of NW Queensland where the summer temperatures are often over 40C (104F). While beautiful it is also very time consuming to maintain for a family with small children not to mention water guzzling in such a dry area.  I suggested that they replace some of the roses etc. with succulents like we have growing here. So I took some photos of them today and they can have a look and see if they like any of the varieties we have. I have no idea what the names of the majority of these plants are by the way. They have just 'appeared' over the years :-)





 


 I do know this is a Kalanchoe which in the not too distant future will hopefully look.... 


...like this once again. This was a Mother's Day gift from last year. 




 

This succulent is actually a yellow colour and is like a larger version of the Jelly Bean plant...
 

...which features in this photo. It grow likes topsy here. 


As you can see these succulents are growing prolifically and most of them survive the winter frosts.


I rarely water them and they survive quite well in our cool temperate climate. A couple of them that are frost tender are grown in pots and put under cover in winter and that keeps them happy. I think they would be well suited to the harsh dry conditions of the North West of our state. What do you think?


10 comments:

  1. They are beautiful. One of my mentor ladies gave me some in a planter one year. They are such a delight! My email is gotjoy4@hotmail.com!

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    Replies
    1. They are so easy to grow and maintain, Chrissy. Just my kind of plant.

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  2. Replies
    1. You don't even need a green thumb to grow them, J. :-)

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  3. What a good variety Nanna Chel. I am thinking with your daughters roses... One they are established they are very tough and don't really need watering. Well many people in Adelaide which gets to 44 or so don't water them and they are ok. But I would add succulents in the gaps and instead of more thirsty plants as they are a great solution and look pretty.
    I am gradually building up my collection. I love the ones that look like flowers/rosettes. They are my favourite. My little succulent garden is in a patch that is hard to water and it's looking good! I have spend $0 on it too! Xxx

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  4. The roses are established, Annabel but there are a lot of them. I think the succulents would be a good addition. It doesn't take too long to build up a collection, does it? When you see how easy it is to grow them you wonder why anyone ever buys them. Most gardeners are more than happy to share their succulents we have found.

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  5. Being tough plants and easy to grow they are a great choice of plants for children who are wanting to have a bit of a garden of their own. Your plants look lovely.

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    1. They are great plants for children, Sherri. The only problem with my granddaughters being in the garden is the lead in the soil as they live in a mining town.

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  6. They are all very nice plants. However I think I am the only person I know who can kill a cactus plant. I think I will stick with my regular perennials. :)

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