Succulents: July Houseplant of the Month
The story of succulents
Highly decorative, eye-catching and extremely easy to care for: there’s a lot to be said for succulents such as Echeveria, Crassula, Kalanchoe, Aeonium, Aloe, Haworthia and Rhipsalis. They’re all succulents, which means that they are able to store water in their roots, stems and thick leaves. This enables them to effortlessly cope with dry periods, so a relief for when you go on holiday. Succulents are particular popular because their unusual, sometimes freakish shapes, fit perfectly with the current trend to give botanicals a role in shaping the style in interiors.
Origin
Most succulents come from the tropics and subtropics, and originally developed in dry areas such as steppes, mountainous regions and semi-deserts in Africa and South and Central America. They are tough guys that can also survive in a warm, arid maritime climate in the wild.
What to look for when buying succulents
- Black spots on the leaves can be a sign of cold damage during shipping and storage. The ideal storage temperature is between 8-15°C.
- It’s acceptable for the soil to be a little dry. Too wet can lead to botrytis or other fungal rot.
- Succulents are not particularly prone to pests and diseases, but if leaves discolour or wilt the plant may have red spider mite.
The range of succulents consists primarily of decorative foliage plants, although it also includes flowering specimens such as Kalanchoe. The plants particularly stand out with their unique shapes: Haworthia and Aloë have a strong primaeval feel, Echeveria is a feast of elegant rosettes, Rhipsalis resembles coral, Sansevieria is proud and indestructible, Crassula is a stylised mini-tree. They mix brilliantly together and are offered both mixed and by type.
Care tips for customers
- Succulents like a warm and light spot.
- It’s best to give a succulent a large amount of water in one go, and then leave it to dry out for a couple of weeks.
- Be restrained with plant food: a little bit once a month is enough.
- Succulents can also be used on the garden table in the summer months.
Sales and display tips for succulents
Preferably display succulents mixed and together to give them a greater impact. Stones, sand, some palms and a couple of toy dinosaurs can create an adventurous setting for succulents that reinforces their Jurassic Park element. If your target group is slightly more conservative, a Mediterranean patio mood with terracotta bowls, Portuguese tiles and a couple of sizeable agaves will boost sales.
Images of succulents
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Succulents poster
You can download the poster using the link below.
