The Echeverias and the Sedum cuttings have rooted, but not quite filled in and covered the screen on the vertical planter I made back in November. What I've discovered is: Sedum cuttings grow very slooooowly in the winter, and Echeveria imbricata is a heck of a reliable Echeveria. They were well rooted before the Sedum even thought about it. Hybrid vigor!
The little planter needs daily watering, even in mostly shade in winter, but that's fine; I'm willing to attend to it. I'm looking forward to the Sedum filling in. I have another vertical planter to fill, and with spring weather it will probably catch up to the first one quickly. I could have held off on the first one for warmer weather--but in Southern California, you never know. We might just as well have had two months of 80 degree weather, instead of one month of cold rain and one month of 80 degree sunshine.
It doesn't look much different than it did back in November, but all those little plants have roots now.
Back in November, rootless:
I spent some time beheading a few Echeveria/Graptoveria. The stems were getting long and bare, there were some mealy bugs to smash or poison, and 'Fred Ives' stem had a rotten spot--probably from that month of rain we had in December. He was exposed to a lot of cold moisture. I've ascertained that "real" gardeners repot their succulents at least once a year, and since I am trying to become a Real Gardener, over the past week or so I've repotted a lot of succulents. New potting media will contain some nutrients, and it's wise to check for mealy bugs--they are not always apparent until the plant suddenly dies. The next step in my Becoming A Real Gardener agenda is displaying them in the manner they deserve, with respect for their beauty. Not there yet. Soon.
Decapitated: clockwise from top left, Graptoveria 'Fred Ives', E. runyonii, and an unknown.
The little planter needs daily watering, even in mostly shade in winter, but that's fine; I'm willing to attend to it. I'm looking forward to the Sedum filling in. I have another vertical planter to fill, and with spring weather it will probably catch up to the first one quickly. I could have held off on the first one for warmer weather--but in Southern California, you never know. We might just as well have had two months of 80 degree weather, instead of one month of cold rain and one month of 80 degree sunshine.
It doesn't look much different than it did back in November, but all those little plants have roots now.
Back in November, rootless:
I spent some time beheading a few Echeveria/Graptoveria. The stems were getting long and bare, there were some mealy bugs to smash or poison, and 'Fred Ives' stem had a rotten spot--probably from that month of rain we had in December. He was exposed to a lot of cold moisture. I've ascertained that "real" gardeners repot their succulents at least once a year, and since I am trying to become a Real Gardener, over the past week or so I've repotted a lot of succulents. New potting media will contain some nutrients, and it's wise to check for mealy bugs--they are not always apparent until the plant suddenly dies. The next step in my Becoming A Real Gardener agenda is displaying them in the manner they deserve, with respect for their beauty. Not there yet. Soon.
Decapitated: clockwise from top left, Graptoveria 'Fred Ives', E. runyonii, and an unknown.
I think that has filled out a lot given it was over winter. It will only take a month or so to fill out now things have warmed up for you.
ReplyDeleteAnd the other succulents look in perfect condition, so even if you are not re-potting every year it is not hurting them.
Nice layout, and glad to see it growing in well. I just keep reminding myself about So Cal's cost of living, traffic, etc...as I stare at all the freeze-killed palms, etc here in NM.
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