Succulents in the Greenhouse
Among my favorite plants are the exotic forms of succulents - they make excellent container specimens.
If you like growing plants, but don’t really have the time to care for them properly, I encourage you to consider growing succulents. Succulents are so easy to maintain and are able to survive prolonged drought because they store moisture in their fleshy stems, roots, and leaves. Some succulents look like smooth stones, while others display perfect rosettes or resemble strings of bold, green beads.
Here are some of the many succulents in my greenhouse - enjoy these photos.
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- Many of my smaller potted succulents are stored along one side of my main greenhouse where they can get lots of light. Most varieties need at least half a day to a full day of sunlight. In extremely hot areas some afternoon shade is recommended.
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- Succulents are often grown as ornamental plants because of their striking shapes. They are best planted in clay or terra cotta pots with proper drainage holes because the vessels dry quickly, and prevent water from building up.
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- As many of you know, I love these pots made by master potter, Guy Wolff. They are so beautiful and so well made. I have hundreds of his vessels. In fact, during Guy’s visit to my farm last year, he said my collection is the largest one he has ever seen of his pottery.
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- This is Haworthia coarctata. It is a succulent plant that grows up to eight-inches tall with long stems packed with robust succulent leaves. It is normally dark green but sometimes acquires a rich purple-red when in full sunlight.
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- Sedum morganianum, also known as burro’s tail or donkey’s tail is a spectacular hanging basket plant. It has wiry stems densely covered with short thick leaves.
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- Here is another burro’s tail. These hanging baskets are from Kinsman Company, a family owned business in eastern Pennsylvania. Kinsman offers a wide assortment of heavy-duty hanging baskets in different sizes and shapes, inspired by traditional hanging planters made in England. https://www.kinsmangarden.com/
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- This is another type of sedum. Sedum is a large genus of flowering plants, commonly known as stonecrops. They spread rapidly.
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- If you recall, I planted many succulents in my new Martha Stewart faux bois planter boxes available at QVC. I designed the planters with realistic bark texture. Each has three drainage holes in the base to release excess water and measures approximately 30-inches long by 15-inches wide. It also comes with its own stand. Be sure to take a look at it on the QVC web site. goo.gl/QZe4zc
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- The planters contain mostly echeveria. Echeveria is a large genus of flowering plants in the stonecrop family Crassulaceae, native to semi-desert areas of Central America, Mexico and northwestern South America. I have echeveria in shades of green and purple.
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- This is Echevaria runyonii ‘Topsy Turvy’, which has pale leaves that curve upwards and are strongly inversely keeled on the lower surface with leaf tips pointing inwards towards the center of the plant.
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- This is Haworthiopsis fasciata, formerly known as Haworthia fasciata. It is a low growing heavily suckering succulent that forms crowded clusters. It has silvery white raised pearly tubercles that connect to form bands that give the impression of “zebra stripes” but only on the underside of its leaves.
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- Agave is a genus of succulents in the subfamily Agavoideae of the broadly circumscribed family Asparagaceae. This is Agave ‘Queen Victoria’. This elegant, domed plant has deep green leaves that are strikingly edged and patterned in white. Many of you know my giant agaves, which I store in my tropical greenhouse and display around the farm, and up at Skylands, during summer.
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- This is Aeonium ‘Kiwi’. This succulent forms rosettes of brilliantly colored fleshy, spoon-shaped leaves.
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- Senecio is another succulent grown for its decorative foliage. Senecio haworthii, or cocoon plant, has cocoon-shaped leaves thickly covered with silvery white hairs.
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- This is Senecio radicans or fish hook plant or string of bananas. It is a great plant for trailing over a planter.
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- Succulents grow in so many different and interesting formations. I often bring succulents into my home when I entertain – guests love seeing and learning about the different varieties.
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- These look like strings of pearls. Senecio rowleyanus, commonly known as string-of-pearls or string-of-beads, is a creeping, perennial, succulent vine belonging to the family Asteraceae.
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- Rhipsalis is a cacti genus with approximately 35 distinct species. I have many types of rhipsalis growing in my greenhouse.
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- This ric rac cactus is one of the most exotic cactus houseplants. It shows off distinctive foliage – the stems are serrated and lobed, like a backbone and has a thick, leathery texture that perfectly suits the dark green color. If it gets enough light, ric rac cactus will bloom with stunning pink and white orchid-like flowers.
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- I bought this most interesting cactus during a business trip to Phoenix last year.
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- I also purchased this one during the same trip – this cactus looks like a smooth stone formation.
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- I will show you more of my interesting cacti collection in a future blog. What are your favorite succulents. Let me know in the comments section. I always make time to read all your comments and stories.
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