Hardy, hearty heroes: Succulents will seldom let you down — and even bloom in spring

  • Nigel Colborn believes beautiful succulent plants can enhance a garden 
  • He advises starting a collection now as they don't require much attention 
  • Succulent species can be found in every continent except Antarctica

By NIGEL COLBORN FOR THE DAILY MAIL

Published: | Updated:

Cacti and succulent plants are often overlooked, which is a pity. The best of them have massive garden value and they can also be spectacularly beautiful.

Most are easy to look after and, above all, they almost always forgive neglect. These are rugged plants, adapted to survive desert or semi-desert conditions. They've evolved ingenious methods of storing water. Some use thick, fleshy leaves for that, others store moisture in their stems.

For gardeners, cacti and succulent plants have stark beauty. Many make outstanding houseplants, often flowering ian spring. Others have subtly coloured leaves or rather distinctive outlines.

Few are winter hardy and almost all prefer pot culture to growing in the ground. Cacti and succulents are fun for children to grow. And if they forget to water them, no harm is done.

Hardy houseplant: Flowering cacti, such as rebutias, are ideal for beginners

Hardy houseplant: Flowering cacti, such as rebutias, are ideal for beginners

This is an excellent moment for starting a succulent collection. Plants are widely available online and in garden centres. Even when dormant, many are surprisingly beautiful as houseplants.

They'll need barely any attention before spring. When they begin to grow for summer, they'll make lovely outdoor features.

TOUGH LOVE 

Succulent plants come from the world's arid landscapes. Apart from cacti, which are almost exclusively from the Americas, there are succulent species in every continent except Antarctica.

For beginners, the easiest and best known is the jade or money plant, Crassula ovata. The shiny oval leaves are often bronzed on their margins and, as they mature, these plants resemble tiny trees.

When stressed, umbels of white flowers appear. To propagate jade plants, break off little branches and pot those up.

Other easy succulents include echeverias whose leaves are often tipped with blue-green, pink or purple suffusions.

For bigger spaces there are aloes. You could even grow your own Aloe vera, for the soothing, balm-like sap. Dark-leaved Aeonium Zwartkop is tall and impressive for outside.

All the above are fine for beginners. They will tolerate neglect and between May and November can be kept outside.

FLOWERING CACTI 

True cacti are interesting to grow. Personally, I'm a bit chicken about raising such viciously armed vegetation. Their dumpy shapes may seem grotesque but the intricate patterns of spines, hairs and bumps are interesting and beautiful.

The prettiest redeem their sausage-like outlines in spring or early summer by flowering. Mammillarias are great for those and flower in pink, cerise, yellow and orange tones.

Mammillaria, rebutia and night-flowering echinopsis are manageable for beginners.

In winter, succulents and cacti need little or no water. Keep them dry. They must be frostfree but are fine with temperatures as low as 5c. They must have full light.

From March, water them regularly. Make sure every drop drains away. When the plants are growing, feed occasionally with dilute, high potash liquid.

For potting, you can buy special cactus compost but you can also make your own. Blend two-thirds by volume of good quality, general purpose potting compost with one-part coarse grit. It's as simple as that. 

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