How to Water Succulents

BY LEAH CHESTER-DAVIS | Better Homes and Gardens

Succulents are marvels of nature that store extra water in their leaves, stems, or roots. Because they have the reputation for growing in arid conditions, many people fail to realize that when we bring them into our home and garden environments, they do need to be watered regularly. We share what you need to know on how to water succulents and keep them thriving.

How to Water Succulents Indoors

Rather than giving your succulents sips of water here and there, give them a good soaking — to the point the water runs out the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. Be sure to empty the water that runs into the saucer beneath the plant pot. Then let the soil dry out completely before watering again. Horticulturist Bryce Lane with North Carolina State University recommends checking the soil a week after watering; if it’s still moist, wait another week.

Sedums, sempervivum (commonly called hens-and-chicks), jade plants, kalanchoe, aloe vera, and sansevieria (also known as snake plant or mother-in-law’s tongue) are popular choices for indoor plants. Succulents also include cacti, which, generally, may need less water than other succulents.

Succulents like well-drained soil. According to Lane, a good quality potting soil mixed with either a material such as perlite or PermaTill will help ensure good drainage. He recommends two parts soil to one part drainage material. In addition to quality potting media, make sure your containers have drainage holes, because too much moisture can result in rotten roots.

Succulents require more water in the early spring when the plant is growing. Water needs may lessen in the summer and even more so during the winter. When the light decreases during the winter months and most succulents are in a dormant period, their water requirements also decrease. During winter, water your succulents when the soil is dry. This could be as infrequently as once per month but will depend on your conditions.

The frequency of watering will also depend on the light and growing conditions in your area, as well as the size of the container. The larger the container, the more moisture it can hold. Small, shallow pots may need to be watered more frequently.

How to Water Succulents in Outdoor Containers

Summer is a good time to move potted succulents outdoors. Though they love sun, give them a chance to acclimate to outdoor conditions by placing them in a partially shaded area before moving to a sunnier location. Keep them out of intense sunlight from late morning to midafternoon. Outdoor plants generally require more water than indoor plants. Again, your conditions will dictate how often succulents will need water. Start by checking on a weekly basis, paying attention to the condition of the potting media and whether it’s bone dry or moist.

Succulents, including cacti, which are grown in shallow containers, may need water every few days.

How to Water Succulents in the Ground

Succulents, particularly sedums, grow quite well in the ground. They, too, may need to be watered weekly, depending on conditions. Established plants will have a stronger root system and tolerate dry conditions much better than new plants.

Whether you grow hardy or annual succulents, they need to be in well-drained soil. “Standing water is a prescription for disaster,” Lane says. As with houseplants, soil conditions and water needs go hand-in-hand. Lane recommends replacing existing soil and making sure the subsoil drains well. Or, perhaps an easier approach is to raise the bed or mound the soil in the areas where you plant succulents. One- to 2-foot mounds with organic based compost mixed with perlite or PermaTill will help ensure plants thrive even if they are in conditions that are different from their native areas.

Good soil, a good soaking, and good drainage equals happy plants.

Get our complete guide to growing succulents.

Video: How to Grow Succulents in Container

LATE SUMMER LAWN CARE TIPS #5

Weed it!!! While one should be doing this throughout the growing season, it is important to keep weeds, often referred to as broad leaf plants, from growing in your lawns. While there are a variety of broad leaf killers on the market, sometimes you just need to bend over and pull them out by hand. Removing the plants down to the root is the best way to permanently stop its growth. There are a variety of plant/root removal tools on the market that are great aids for helping achieve this. You’ll appreciate the time you invest this late summer to remove these weeds as there will be less of them to deal with in the spring. Where a weed is removed, what you plant has room to grow. – Steve Baker, The Baker Way

LATE SUMMER LAWN CARE TIPS #5

LATE SUMMER LAWN CARE TIPS #4

Throughout the mowing season dead grass will accumulate between the
blades of grass. What doesn’t decompose naturally and quickly will begin
to smother your lawn. If this becomes the case with your lawn, you will
need to consider dethatching or raking to remove
the accrued debris. This process will allow air
and water to reach and circulate between
the plants and promote lawn health
and growth. – Steve Baker, The Baker Way

LATE SUMMER LAWN CARE TIPS #4

LATE SUMMER LAWN CARE TIPS #3

Regardless of the time of year, it is important to cut grass when it is dry to minimize clumping of wet grass that can smother underlying plants. This is especially important if using riding lawnmowers whose wheels, with the weight of the mower, will smash/compact wet grass stunting growth or actually killing areas in your precious lawn.

LATE SUMMER LAWN CARE TIPS #3

LATE SUMMER LAWN CARE TIPS #2

Don’t cut your grass too short!! People that hate to mow are especially guilty of this as they try to extend the time between mowings as long as possible. Others simply like the short cut look but this is very unhealthy for your grass. Very short grass loses the natural root shading that a bit taller grass enjoys. Aside from helping lawns retain moisture, higher grass prevents too much sun from reaching the root systems which can actually cause burning. Compare this to human scalp that becomes sunburned with balding or short hair. In hotter, drier climates, cutting your grass is a sure fire way to destroy an otherwise healthy lawn. And never, never, ever, ever, cut grass short during times of drought.

LATE SUMMER LAWN CARE TIPS #2

The Best Countertops for Busy Kitchens

By Mary Farrell August 27, 2014 10:02 PM with Consumer Reports
Replacing a scratched, scorched, stained, or just plain unattractive countertop can transform any kitchen. Happily, there are lots of options in a wide range of prices. A new laminate countertop can cost as little as $10 per square foot. Or you could easily spend 10 times that on quartz, granite, or recycled glass. Consumer Reports tested more than a dozen popular types of countertops to see how well they resisted stains, heat damage, cuts, abrasion, and impact, and found seven that passed muster. Here are the details.

In our countertop tests, performance varied from one material to the next but there was little difference among competing brands of each type, so be sure to shop around for the best deal on your countertop of choice. The prices below are for a typical kitchen with 56 square feet of counters and include installation. For the pros and cons of each type, see the numbered entries below.
1. Quartz
Cost. $2,240 to $5,600
Pros. It mimics the look of stone yet needs less maintenance. Hot pots, serrated knives, abrasive pads, and most stains were no match for quartz, which is a combination of mineral, color, and resin. It comes in vibrant colors in addition to patterns that look like granite and marble.
Cons. Edges and corners can chip, and you’ll need a pro to repair them. Rounded edges help.
2. Granite
Cost. $2,240 to $5,600
Pros. Each slab of this natural material is unique; rare colors and veining cost more. Heat, cuts, and scratches didn’t harm granite in our tests. Polished and matte finishes resisted most stains when properly sealed, so pick the look you prefer.
Cons. Periodic resealing is needed to fend off stains. Like quartz, edges and corners can chip and must be professionally repaired.

3. Soapstone, limestone, and marble
Cost. $2,800 to $5,600 (soapstone or limestone), $2,800 to $8,400 (marble)
Pros. Soapstone isn’t as common as granite, and it’s superb at resisting heat damage. Small scratches can be repaired by sanding finely and applying mineral oil. Limestone (pictured) and marble are classic materials. Limestone also has a natural-stone look without heavy veining or graining and it resists heat.
Cons. Soapstone nicks, cuts, and scratches easily, and some stains are too tough to be washed away. Limestone and marble also have those drawbacks, and heat damaged our marble.
4. Laminate
Cost. $560 to $2,240
Pros. Inexpensive, easy to install, and so much better-looking than you probably remember, thanks to new printing technology and decorative edges. Stains and heat didn’t damage the laminates we tested.
Cons. Cutting directly on it easily and permanently damages laminate, so use a cutting board.

5. Solid surfacing
Cost. $1,960 to $5,600
Pros. Available in a variety of colors and patterns, it can be used for counters, sink, and backsplash, creating a seamless look because joints are almost invisible. And like quartz, its color won’t vary much from the store sample. Solid surfacing is resistant to most stains, and small nicks and scratches can be repaired.
Cons. It scratches and cuts easily, so a cutting board is a must.
6. Recycled glass
Cost. $3,360 to $6,720
Pros. Large shards give it a fun, contemporary look; finely ground glass makes it less busy. Most glass counters we tested resisted stains, cuts, scratches, and heat.
Cons. It’s the only material for which we found a difference among brands. Cosentino’s Eco counters were the only ones that developed a thin crack during our heat tests.

7. Butcher block
Cost. $2,240 to $5,600
Pros. It adds warmth and is easy to install and repair, but the finish makes a difference. Varnish improved stain resistance, but penetrating oils diminished it.
Cons. Nicks and scratches can easily happen, though they can be sanded out.

LATE SUMMER LAWN CARE TIPS #1

Sharpen your blades!!! All that mowing throughout the spring and summer
will have undoubtedly dulled your mower blades. A sharpened blade is crucial
(see that word there – crucial) to keeping your lawn healthy and looking it’s best.
A dull blade will basically rip the tops of your grass leading to
browning tops, uneven cuts, and an
unkempt appearance.

LATE SUMMER LAWN CARE TIPS

CARING FOR POTTED MUMS

One of the best things about the approaching fall weather is that it brings with it beautiful environmental color changes especially with the addition of flowering mums.   This flower will come to grace front porches and curbs across the nation as the temperatures begin to cool. They herald the approaching fall festivities and provide a colorful salute to the passing of summer.

It’s important to understand the proper care for potted mums to extend their colorful flora and keep them looking their best through winter.

Instructions:

1. Water regularly! So what is regularly you ask? This depends on the location of your potted mums. If your plants are placed in direct sunlight it is recommended that you water them daily. Pots placed in shaded areas may just need watered every other day. Water thoroughly until it begins to run through the holes in the bottom of your container. If in doubt, prior to watering place your finger in the dirt, if moist dirty sticks to your finger you can probably skip the watering until the next day. It is important that the soil does not dry out.

 

2. Proper lighting! Mums like plenty of light. Keep them in the direct sun or where they can get plenty of light throughout the day. Very shady areas will delay or cause blooming to cease.

 

3. Don’t be a deadhead! When blooms are spent, it is important to cut away the wilted or dead flowers. This encourages future bloom, provides better room for new blooms, and simply makes your blooming plants look more attractive.

by:  Steve Baker, The Baker Way

CARING FOR POTTED MUMS

PalettePIC #12 – Urban Decay Inspired

Our PalettePIC are whole-room color solutions!
We’ve made the difficult choices for you.
Simply match the colors from our palettes to the
paints, furniture, items, and accents you select
for your room! -Steve Baker, The Baker Way

PalettePIC #12

Porch Picker-uppers!

While not suitable for every porch style,
porch curtains (yes, there is such a
thing!), can add a splash of character
and style. Be a little audacious with
bold color choices or more subtle
with white or shear fabrics. Aside from
the obvious stylistic advantages, porch
curtains can provide privacy and are
wonderful accent pieces when
entertaining. Using rod mounting they
can be easily removed, stored and
changed as needed.
– Steve Baker, The Baker Way

HOME INSPIRATIONS PORCH PICKER UPPERS