planting

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Successfully Growing Succulents From Seeds Using These Easy Methods

by Giancarlo Perlas

Growing succulents from seeds are no different from other plants. The only problem is succulent seedlings are very tiny that they can easily be missed. There are also a number of things you have to remember when growing succulents from seeds to ensure that your plants will grow healthy like CAL Farms 2″ Beautiful Assorted Variety Succulents.

The first step towards the successful planting of succulents is to buy quality seeds from reputable sellers. It will make a huge difference if you buy good or bad seeds. A lot of succulent seeds look just like dirt or dust so they can easily be mistaken for something else.

There are a number of stores that cater to those who love to grow succulents. There are also online shops and stores that sell different varieties of seeds, including some very rare ones. You must also ensure that the quality of seeds is topnotch by checking the reviews and recommendations of the other customers. Succulent seeds are not really expensive but it will take some time to realize what they actually are and what they will look like afterward.

Suppliers

There are a couple of supplies you need to plant and grow succulents. You will need some sort of container that has holes below for proper draining. You must also choose the proper material—ceramic, glass, reclaimed wood, or terra cotta—for the container or pot. Each material has its advantages and disadvantages in terms of stability, the presence of draining holes, and aesthetics. It is up to you to determine the kind of material that would work best in your household and the climate in your area.

We recommend getting a planter and a seed tray. It would also be best if these came with built-in grow lights. Otherwise, you would have to buy the lights separately.

The soil is another major consideration. You should use a kind of soil that would be great with the plants even if they are already fully grown.

Planting the Seeds

The succulent seeds are very tiny that they almost look like a speck of dust. Make sure you have a clean working space and clean hands when planting the seeds. This would ensure that you won’t misplace the seeds or mistake them for dirt.

Carefully place the soil in your container and clean the surroundings of the tray or the container. Again, wash your hands before handling the seeds. Peel off the package where the seeds are placed and put them directly on the soil. You should not place then on another container (a petri dish, for example) before planting them. There’s a big chance they could be blown out by a gust of the wind. Since the seeds are very tiny, it is hard to tell whether they are placed rightly so better put the seeds directly from the package.

Taking Care of the Seeds

Once the seeds are planted, you have to make sure that they have plenty of access to light and water. If you purchased a planting tray, the best way to ensure there’s enough water is to flood the container from below. Simply put the first container inside another container that can hold water. Pour enough water to coat the bottom of the first container (assuming it has draining holes) and refill the water every time it gets absorbed by the plants.

5 Tips For Planting Succulents In Small Containers

by Giancarlo Perlas

If you are living in a small place, like in a dormitory or a condominium unit, but you want to have a little bit of nature to surround you, your best bet is to make an indoor succulent garden. Planting succulents like the CAL Farms Beautiful 36 of 2″ Assorted Succulents are not only great because they provide the fresh air that we need indoors, but they are also easy to maintain and such a breeze to look at.

Most people simply put the succulents in mini containers (that they either bought from a hardware or gardening store or a container they have at home). However, transferring the succulents from the pots that they came from and to a container of your own choosing takes a little bit of practice and know-how.

1. Plant Above the Rim of the Container

The succulent needs to be above the rim of the container. If the soil is way below the rim, the chance is that the water will pool and will not flow out from the sides (just in case you put too much). This can cause the succulent to wither and die. The leaves inside the container will rot and that can cause problem to the whole plant in the long run. When putting soil into the container, don’t just put the roots and then the soil into it. Give the roots a shallow base of soil.

2. Pack Them Tight

One of the most usual questions about planting succulents is if they need to be packed tightly when they are planted. You can pack them tight, meaning there is minimal space in between the succulents, but they grow slower this way. On the other hand, they will look better and they will maintain the original form of the arrangement. You can pack them farther apart as well if you want them to grow faster. But in this arrangement, they won’t look as nice as the plants tightly packed together.

3. Let the Succulents Hang Over the Rim

This is not really something you need to do for the health of the succulents. It’s more for aesthetic reasons. To make your arrangement a little more interesting, let the succulents hang over the rim of the container. To achieve the right look, you can use trailing succulents like String of Pearls. They actually hang over the side of the pot, or you can simply let the rosettes cover the edges.

4. Add Some Height

Add tall succulents that will give more dimension to your arrangement. That doesn’t mean you only need to buy succulents that will grow tall though. You need the smaller ones, too, to accentuate the height of the tall succulents. Though succulents of the same height look neat inside a pot, they don’t add any interesting style to the room. When you’ve got dimensions in your succulent container, that could boost the overall look of the garden.

5. Use Top Dressing

Don’t simply plant the succulent in the soil and leave it be. Add some dressing to the soil. You can use stones and pebbles to do this. The plant will look better with the top dressing. You need to make sure the container has proper drainage, too, so that your plant will stay healthy.

5 Easy Steps to Follow When Planting Succulent Plant Seeds

by Giancarlo Perlas

Succulent plants are a nice addition to every home, workspace or study room. They have a very primitive appeal that never fail to put a fresh touch to any area.

If you happen to be a true fan of succulent plants with enough spare time, you can actually grow them yourself. A few days ago, we discussed growing a Jade Plant from branch or leaf cuttings. This time, we will tackle how to grow succulents from seeds.

Step 1: Prepare the Materials

You can easily acquire the materials you need from shops that sell gardening supplies or in some DIY shops. For convenience, you can just order them from reliable sellers online.

Of course, the first thing you need are the succulent plant seeds. Make sure that they are healthy and have no sign of decay or parasite infestation.

Then, buy a shallow planting tray. See to it that the tray has little holes in it. The holes will allow water to drain quickly and these will prevent excess water from stagnating at the base of the container. Succulent plant seeds are very fragile, so ensure that they will not drown from overwatering.

Next is the sand where you will plant the succulent seeds. The sand should be free-draining and not treated with any chemical solution like pesticides or perfume.

We suggest that you get a kitty litter or horticultural sand. You can even use builder’s sand, which is usually mixed with cement in construction works. The gaps in the small rocks allow the water to drain faster and they let the plant breathe air easily. In addition, the air pockets will let the roots of the plant creep and grow freely.

After that, get a shower cap or any thin plastic with little holes. This will serve as a humidity dome for your plant. Succulent seeds will not sprout roots when there is lack of humidity in the air.

Lastly, you will need a small clay pot if you want to grow your succulents separately.

Step 2: Put the Sand Into the Tray

 Spread the sand evenly into the tray. It is strongly advised that you place a thin plastic or use a smooth surface as a base when doing this to prevent the sand from seeping into the holes.

Sprinkle water into the sand so that its particles will be held together. You can now remove the plastic base to make the excess water drip.

Step 3: Sprinkle the Seeds

Bring out the succulent plant seeds. Be careful when pouring the seeds into your palm as these are very tiny and the wind may blow and scatter them.

Distribute the succulent seeds evenly in the wet sand. Gently tap the seeds into the sand and water mixture. The wet surface will let the seeds stick and prevent the wind from blowing them away.

Step 4: Put the Humidity Dome

Cover the tray with the thin layer of plastic with little holes. As mentioned earlier, this will help keep the humidity in the atmosphere of the seeds.

After a few days or a couple of weeks, you will notice that tiny plants will begin to grow. That’s an indication for you to remove the humidity dome.

Step 5: Water It

Water your plants as they grow. However, be careful not to submerge them. Just keep the sand around them moist. Drain the extra water on the sides of the tray by slightly tilting it until the excess liquid is disposed.

Optional: Put Them Into a Pot

This may take months depending on the kind of succulent plant that you have, but once they grow a couple of inches, you may replant them into small clay pots so you can decorate your place with them.

Bonus Tip: Save Yourself the Trouble

Some of you readers might be too busy with work, studies or other personal stuff. If that’s the case, you can just buy succulent plants from known sellers like Cal Farms. For as low as $37.97, you can get yourself a 20-piece assorted variety of succulents. This is highly recommended especially when you need decorations or party favors in your upcoming special events.

Properly Planting Succulents In Containers

by Giancarlo Perlas

 

Succulent plants practically take care of themselves, making them the perfect indoor plants that you and even your little ones can easily take care of. These plants are foolproof picks when it comes to beautifying your gardens and even the inside of your homes. However, to ensure that these will live long, you should know the proper planting of succulents in containers.

Succulents like CAL Farms Beautiful 36 of 2″ Assorted Succulents comes in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and colors. If you want a particular theme for your homes, you can choose from these succulent plants and hopefully, even the young ones can be planted already.

Planting succulents is the best thing to happen to people who are always on-the-go. It is the easiest plant to take care of, especially because it needs very little sunlight and watering. There is, however, a strict schedule to follow when it comes to maintaining succulents but as long as you don’t put too much water in it or you don’t expose it to too much heat, then you’re good to go.

To plant it in containers, here are some pointers you can follow:

  1. The first step is to go to the garden store and purchase what you need. Buy succulents in different colors and sizes. Make sure you can combine the types of succulents you will buy because having them in one container is what’s going to make them unique gorgeous. You should also purchase soil, gravel, and container there. Once you get back to your home, head to your garden and begin planting the succulents. Fill the wide shallow dish with three quarters of potting mix and then cover the top with gravel. Unlike other plants, succulents don’t need too much room for its roots because they store most of their water and nutrients in their leaves.
  2. Mix the soil and gravel well and moisten it with water. Make sure not to overwater the mixture because succulents can die with too much water. Succulents store water in their leaves and if you overwater them, the tissues can get damaged. You will know if your succulents are overwatered when the stems and leaves look puffy. There is also a general look of unhealthiness.
  3. When you purchase the succulents, they are placed in a “nursery container.” Remove them from their containers and plant the largest succulent on one side of the pot. Surround it with other plants, but make sure to cluster similar plants together. The common succulent types are Echveria, Sedum, and Aeonium. Other types that you might love are Agave, Dudleya, Aloe, Cotyldedon, Crassula, Sempervivum, Graptopetalum, Kalanchoe, and Senecio.
  4. Use a dark-colored aquarium gravel to surround the plants and make sure that the soil is covered. This will add to the aesthetic appeal of the succulent plants.

Make sure not to overwater the succulent plants and to expose them to the right level of sunlight. Let the soil dry out completely before watering them again. When the soil is still moist to the touch, this means that there is still stored water in the stems and leaves of the succulent plants. Remember also that during the winter season, most succulent plants enter a dormant stage. You may think the plants are dying, but they are actually just readying themselves for the next season—spring.

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