Succulents planted in large quantities are stunning. Like when you plant a sea of sempervivum in your landscaping, rolling through plant beds in waves of crimson and green. When you utilize a small number of plants, however, succulents are also noteworthy for their magnificent appearance.
Companion plants, which are non-succulent plants that coexist peacefully with succulents in containers, are best for bringing out the distinctive shapes and hues of the succulents. Your own preferences will strongly influence the types of companion plants you use.
Perennials and annuals Annual plants bloom for one year before dying. These include plants like Licorice plant, Straw Flowers, Gazanias, and Lobelia. Every year, perennials produce flowers. These include vegetation like Ajuga, Heuchera, and lavender plants. The main draw of both annuals and perennials are their flowers. These plants’ blossoms can give a container of succulents extra glitter, transforming it into an impressive arrangement.
Ground Cloth These are the kinds of plants that grow in a low mat. They provide a backdrop against which you can contrast taller succulents. Irish moss, creeping jenny, and verbena are all excellent ground covers with the added benefit of some of them being trailing plants in containers.
Black, blue, green, red, and yellow Grass Succulents and grasses both exhibit nearly identical color variations. Ornamental grasses can mimic or contrast the appearance of your succulents depending on their shape and color.
Shrubs The choice of this enormous group of plants mainly depends on your preferences and the specific planting conditions. Junipers, Hinoki Cypress, and barberry bushes are examples of small shrubs that provide a soft background that improves the appearance of your succulents.
You should keep an eye on how companion plants develop together when utilizing them. Make sure that larger or more aggressive types don’t completely encircle or shadow out your succulents.
You can enhance the otherworldly appearance of your succulents and make a striking arrangement by using companion plants. You may create a work of art with succulents whether you use 3 or 300 plants.
What vegetation complements succulents well?
The Best Plants to Grow with Your Succulent Garden
- African Daisy, number 1 of 11. Dedicated to Nguyen/EyeEm/Getty Images.
- Artemisia “Powis Castle,” number 2 of 11. Images by Joshua McCullough for Getty .
- Blue Fescue, number 3 of 11.
- 4. Blue Mist Spirea, number 11.
- 5. Euphorbia of 11.
- 11th from 06: lavender.
- Grevillea, number 7 of 11.
- Santa Barbara Daisy, number 8 of 11.
Can you pot succulents alongside other plants?
You can choose which succulents can be planted together by taking into account how comparable their requirements for water and light are. However, using succulents in combination is not the only option to differentiate your landscape or container from the others. To expand your possibilities for succulent arrangements, you can mix your succulents with different plants.
Cacti
Your succulent arrangements will look charming and prickly with the addition of a few little cacti. Consider choosing ones with little to medium-sized spikes. Then, your arrangement will look attractive and well-composed.
Watch the video below to learn how to make a beginner-friendly succulent arrangement, and be sure to follow us on YouTube for more awesome videos!
Share this article with your friends who enjoy succulents if you found it interesting.
Can annuals and succulents coexist?
When it comes to gardening, living in the low desert has both advantages and disadvantages, but one perk that we particularly like is being able to grow succulents all year round without having to bring them inside during the winter.
In Colorado, overwintering succulents was a fact of life. Sheila’s Denver guest room transformed into a Little Shop of Horrors every winter, with overwintering succulents and plants, cyclops-like lamp fixtures that provided just the right amount of light for her plants, and barely enough room to move to the back of the room to water. It is certainly a delight to live somewhere where that scenario is unthinkable.
Combining succulents, annuals, and perennials is a popular approach that we have always used on our own pots as well as those for clients. The succulents can be the primary attraction, like the “Sticks on Fire” pencil cactus (Euphorbia tirucalli “Sticks on Fire,” Zones 911), or they can have a subtle effect, like the elephant’s bush (Portulacaria afra, Zones 911), operating just as filler inside a larger picture. The nicest thing is that we are able to plant those containers with confidence that the succulents will be able to remain there all year. We can alter the appearance and feel of the pots without constantly removing them by adding new, fresh annuals or perennials for seasonal color and texture.
How to plant succulents and annuals together
When putting succulents and annuals in the same planting space, there are a few things to keep in mind. Make sure you first provide the right soil, one that will meet the requirements of both plants. We enjoy using two parts organic potting soil—our preferred brand is Black Gold Natural and Organic Potting Soil—and one part perlite or pumice. This can contribute to the drainage that all plants require to stay happy and healthy. Next, make sure the annuals’ sun needs are compatible with the succulents’. No matter how lovely they would look together, you might need to reconsider your choices if you’re trying to make a succulent that prefers full sun, such as the spineless prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ellisiana, Zones 610), and an annual that prefers partial to full shade, such as the “Alabama Sunset” coleus (Plectranthus scutellariodoes, Zones 1011). Finally, while mixing different plant varieties in a container or garden, remember to consider the watering requirements. Different plants require different amounts of water, so it’s usually best to spot-water the thirstier plants and ignore the less thirsty succulents, but be careful not to accidentally overwater the succulents. Their health can suffer as a result of this.
The fun of container gardening includes experimenting with different annual, perennial, and succulent plant combinations. To avoid the frustration and expense of losing plants that aren’t compatible, be sure to adhere to our basic recommendations. Just drape an old sheet or frost cloth on your containers to ensure they stay happy and healthy for years to come if you reside in the low desert like us yet occasionally encounter a cold spell.
Denver Dirty Girls Container Gardening was started by mother-daughter team Sheila Schultz and Laurel Startzel in Denver, Colorado, and has now expanded to Tucson, Arizona.
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Which flowers complement cacti well?
Cacti plants are adored by gardeners for their intriguing textures, drought resistance, vivid colors, and lovely shapes. They are also a joy to have in your house. These succulents can hold water in their stems for longer periods of time, making them suitable for environments with limited rainfall and rather high temperatures. The majority of them are simple to grow and resistant to illnesses and pest issues. However, don’t just stick to these succulents when planning your cactus garden.
What wonderful plants and flowers can you grow with your cactus? There are many different types of flowering plants that can coexist peacefully with your cactus and bring out the best aspects of it. The red valerian, African daisy, autumn sage, hummingbird plant, trailing lantana, and various varieties of Euphorbia are among these plants and blooms. These flowers and plants can enhance the shape and color of your cacti and require practically identical upkeep.
What kind of flower complements succulents?
To increase height above succulent plants that cling to the ground, companion planting is frequently used. Plants that can withstand drought, like the osteospermum, make suitable choices. As with the perennial Santa Barbara daisy, the flowers on this daisy may stand upright or trail across your succulents. Allow them to trail among agave and aloe, two succulents that grow taller.
Succulents go well with ornamental grasses, which frequently have autumn blossoms and interest throughout the winter. There are numerous types with maintenance requirements comparable to many succulent plants. If they are placed properly, ornamental grasses can be cultivated to offer afternoon shade.
Even while many succulents require full-day sunlight, afternoon shade can occasionally prevent leaf burn. To find out if your succulents benefit from ornamentals that provide shade, check their information on type. Although shorter, blue fescue grass might make a lovely companion for your succulents.
In addition to your succulent beds, yarrow, lavender, salvia, and rosemary make excellent flowering herbs to cultivate. They require the same growing circumstances as the majority of succulents that are buried. Plant these herbs near the rear of the bed or all around it, depending on your design. Grow them in the center of the bed if it is open on all sides.
Are succulents tolerant of crowds?
Speaking with individuals about succulent care or watching succulent care “in the wild” has made me aware of some of the misconceptions around succulent plants in the horticultural community. Just stroll through the nurseries in garden centers, where staff members are highly qualified. There are numerous excellently kept ornamental plants, fruit trees, and beautifully managed bedding plants, all of which have been nourished, watered, and maintained. then go for the section with succulents. You’ll find plants that have been improperly labeled, overwatered, underwatered, and generally neglected. In response to requests for assistance from merchants and landscaping contractors, I pondered this for a long time.
Successful succulent care is a synthesis of numerous elements, just like taking care of other plants. soil, water, fertilizer, exposure, control of pests and diseases, upkeep, and most importantly, observing and asking questions about the health of the plants.
Observing the plants and wondering what is going on with them. Yes, I believe that this is the most crucial element in keeping succulent plants healthy and beautiful. Applying what you have learnt to this group of plants will go a long way toward success with them if you are a gardener with prior success cultivating other types of plants. A plant is most likely not healthy if it does not appear to be so. Like any other plant that does not appear to be healthy, a plant that is unhealthy is likely dealing with challenges relating to soil, water, fertilizer, pest and disease control, upkeep, or a combination of these issues.
Due to their adaptation to places where water is scarce for extended periods of time, succulent plants differ somewhat from normal herbaceous perennial plants. As a result, their relationship with water plays a significant role in what makes them special. When it comes to gathering and preserving water, succulent plants are particularly effective. Additionally, they are more vulnerable to issues if exposed to excessive water. One of the most important determining aspects in maintaining the health of succulents is water management.
Here are some general care instructions for succulents, including everything from water to soil to sunlight.
Soil
The secret to soil mix in containers and in the landscape is good drainage and aeration. The majority of commercial soil mixtures are a little too dense and hold a lot of water for succulents. Adding coarse perlite, crushed lava, or pumice to conventional potting mixtures will usually be sufficient to transform them into effective succulent potting mixtures. Normally, I advise mixing 1 part amendment with 4 parts potting mix. For succulents like cactus that require even more drainage and aeration, the proportion of amendment can be increased.
There are a number of high-quality choices available on the market if you want to purchase pre-mixed soil, including the E.B. Stone Cactus mix that we carry at the nursery.
Water
Thick stems and leaves that effectively gather and store water are characteristics of succulent plants. Traditional plant varieties have thin leaves and require more frequent hydration and watering. Even though the soil is damp, a plant like a coleus may wilt on a hot day. For the coleus to have more humidity and water availability, more regular watering is required. The succulent is less prone to wilt since it has water stored in its leaves and stem. Before being watered, succulent plants prefer to get close to being dry. The plant’s root ball stores the rest of the remaining moisture when the earth dries out. It’s time to water when this area is almost completely dry. Water the plant thoroughly so that the soil is completely saturated and some water runs out the bottom of the plant. Watering a succulent is very much the same as watering any other plant, only not as frequently.
When the environment is unfavorable, there is an exception to how you water a succulent. Poor air circulation, cloudy, dark days, and inadequate lighting may be examples of this. The plant will dry out extremely slowly in these conditions, so it will require controlled watering—giving it tiny doses of water—to prevent being overly wet for an extended period of time. Again, keeping plants healthy requires paying attention to what they need.
Fertilizer
Like most plants, succulents like being fed. Succulents vary from other plants in that they require less fertilizer less frequently since they are so effective. I do not suggest giving succulents any particular fertilizer. As you develop your plant-growing skills, experimenting with various fertilizers may improve the quality of your plants and/or blooms. Use a balanced fertilizer in the interim, such as 10-10-10 or 20-20-20. To maintain a healthy, growing plant, a fertilizer that is well-balanced is essential. There are a variety of all-purpose fertilizers that will work; at the nursery, we carry and advise Maxsea All-Purpose Plant Food.
An overabundance of fertilizer will promote excessive growth, which gives the plant a weedy appearance. Insufficient water will cause the plant to go into suspended animation and appear to be motionless. I advise halving the stated dosage rate and fertilizing no more frequently than once per month. Since most succulents become dormant throughout the winter, it’s usually not required to fertilize them.
Exposure
Succulent plants, like the majority of plants, prefer a climate with plenty of sunlight and clean air. Many people have misconceptions about succulents. One of the topics that people misinterpret is sunlight. When the topic of succulents is brought up, many people immediately think “desert.” In actuality, succulent plants grow most attractively when given a little sun protection. Succulent plants can develop good color and form without being dried out by the heat of the midday sun if they are grown in a few hours of early sun throughout the warmer months of the year. Shade fabric, lattice, or even the partial shadowing offered by a tree will help break up the heat of the sun in a southern exposure when the sun is shining on the area all day. More light exposure will aid the plant in preserving its good shape and color as winter draws closer. The plant will seem parched and burnt out if it receives too much sunlight. Too little sunshine causes the plant to extend out in search of more light, losing its beautiful compact structure.
Cold Tolerance
Information on the cold tolerance of several succulent plants was lacking until recently. If you don’t know a plant’s resistance to cold, I advise thinking it will freeze or suffer harm if the temperature falls below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, or freezing. Plants can be protected from light frost using inexpensive materials like frost cloth. These materials work well to increase your level of protection by 4 to 6 degrees.
Pest and Disease Control
Aphids are always going to be aphids. Like other plants, succulents will be attacked by insects. The idea is to observe your plants, look more closely, and explore anything that seems abnormal. Like any other plant, succulents require the ideal exposure or location, as well as decent soil, appropriate watering, and fertilizer. You are less likely to encounter bugs if these factors are properly balanced.
Succulent plants are susceptible to the same bugs and diseases that affect other plants, which is a fact of life. Succulents require the same level of pest and disease monitoring as other plants. As with other plants, aphids typically target the blossoms and new growth on succulents. Like other plants, measly bugs live on the roots of the plant and lodge between the leaves near new development. They can also infest the soil. Earwigs and snails both eat on the leaves. Succulent leaves may get powdery mildew, especially after extended periods of bad weather. Not to mention the ants, of course. Farmers are ants. Ants use plants like succulents to develop bugs that will help feed all of their ant companions, just as you may rototill the dirt and plant carrot seeds for your habit of drinking carrot juice. Any ants you see on your plants, get rid of them.
Therefore, these so-called succulent plants are not bug-proof. Although they are hardy and can endure an infection for a long time, healthy, attractive plants must be watched over, and when an infestation does arise, it must be treated with.
You decide how to handle an infestation. To help identify the bug or disease, you may speak with someone at your neighborhood nursery or your acquaintance who is an avid gardener. You decide whether to utilize organic materials or nuclear weapons, water, soap, q-tips, or chemicals. The most important thing is to address the issue as soon as you become aware of it.
Maintenance
Succulent plants are subject to the same pruning, dividing, transplanting, deadheading, etc. procedures as other plants. The ease with which succulents can be dug up, transplanted, etc. sets them apart from most other plants. When the root structure is disturbed, succulent plants do not experience the shock that other plants do. This is due to the fact that succulent plants can store their own water and do not suffer from the root disturbance-induced leaf wilting that other plants do.
Succulent plants typically don’t mind being crowded, whether they are grouped together in a container or are alone and completely filled out. When a plant is transplanted after it has grown to the top of its container, it usually experiences another growth surge. I often advise increasing the size of the container for each plants by 2″. A change in soil every two to four years is also beneficial to succulents. Plants that have crowded out one another as they have grown together will benefit from being thinned out and given a little more room. When the plants are just starting to grow, which is typically in the spring, is a dependable time of year to undertake transplanting.
In conclusion, take a look at your plants and, if one doesn’t appear to be in good health, treat it with the same curiosity you would any other plant. Apply your newly acquired plant knowledge to these particular plants, since they are only plants. The right soil mix, watering, fertilizing, exposure, controlling pests and diseases, and care are essential for thriving succulent plants.