The spherical Queen Victoria Century Plant, Agave victoriae-reginae, is a striking plant with precise symmetry and plump, variegated leaves. In cold climates, this succulent should be grown indoors.
Have you ever encountered people who claim to have a brown thumb? I have.
Just as Virginia doubted the existence of Santa Claus, I doubt the existence of brown thumbers. I’m convinced that, given the appropriate plant and adequate instruction, anyone can grow a plant successfully.
What better time is there than the holidays to bestow a gift of horticultural happiness on a self-proclaimed brown thumber?
“How?” you might ask. By giving him or her a juicy succulent.
Succulents are ideal starter plants because they’re the very definition of low maintenance and water wise. Before you shout “Boring!” and envision a plethora of prickly pears, be aware that succulents encompass a broad range of plants, including agave, euphorbia, cactus, echeveria, kalanchoe and sedum, to name just a few. These plants come in exotic shapes, colors and sizes that render them great conversation starters. Many of these spunky organisms also beget delightful blooms when you least expect it.
The leaves of the tropical paddle plant, Kalanchoe thyrsiflora, become tinged with red when grown in bright light. This plant does not tolerate frost so it must be grown indoors in cold winter months.
If you’re on a tight budget, you can buy a succulent, propagate baby plants from fleshy leaf cuttings, and give them as gifts. The process is easy. You simply slice off a leaf when the plant begins its active growth phase, usually in the spring. Dust the sliced end lightly with rooting hormone. Then wait for a callous to form, and insert the calloused end into potting mix (described below). Before long, roots will begin to grow. Please note: If you propagate a patent-protected plant and sell it for commercial gain, you’re required to pay royalties to the patent holder.
The key to success is making sure your succulents have good drainage. Standard potting mixes are generally too rich and dense for succulents so you’ll need to buy cactus potting mix. Or you can concoct your own potting mix for transplanting container plants. There are countless recipes. One of the simplest involves mixing equal parts of low-peat potting soil and crushed granite.
Succulents’ often thick, fleshy leaves store water. Typically, the thicker the leaves, the less frequently you need to water. To determine whether a succulent needs to be watered, stick your finger or a screwdriver in the soil. It the soil is almost or completely dry, it’s time to water. When watering, soak the plant thoroughly and let water run out of the pot’s drainage holes. Once all of the water has drained, put the pot back on its saucer. Never leave the plant sitting in a saucer of water because it will lead to root rot.
If you’re more of an outdoor plant person, there are many winter-hardy succulents that can be grown outside in Colorado and other areas with cold winters.
This winter-hardy Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’ is an eye-catching evergreen groundcover that changes colors with the seasons. In fall and winter, it turns reddish-orange.
To learn more about these fascinating plants first-hand, consider attending a meeting of a Cactus and Succulent Society of America chapter in your area.
Have you or a tomato-loving friend ever wanted a calendar that would tell you what to do at the right time to successfully grow tomatoes? If so, then Laura Taylor at tomatomatters.com has developed just the gift for you. Her beautifully illustrated wall calendar, 2013 Tomatoes: A Month-by-Month Guide to Growing Tomatoes, provides tips (color-coded by region) for preparing beds, buying plants, staking and other tomato-related activities. So no matter where you live in the US, you’ll know what to do when. In addition, the calendar features tempting recipes, such as one for Tomato and Sweet Onion Crisp.
Blossoms & Blueprints 