The fleshy plants that covered a garden archway and hung from swinging baskets, covering both sides of the linkway to the main event tent, may have caught your attention if you were one of the 70,000 people who visited HortPark during the recent GardenTech 2009. These plants belong to the two genera Sedum and Senecio and are succulents, or water-retaining plants. Both are unusual additions to any home or garden because neither is indigenous to our equatorial environment.
Succulent species from these genera are well-liked indoor plants in Singapore due to their beauty, hardiness, and low maintenance requirements. These succulent plants come from a variety of habitats and have quite different growth requirements, therefore not all of them are suitable for our tropical climate. Any attempt to grow the more temperate species here will fail since they cannot stand the heat.
The few plants listed below can grow in Singapore, however they hardly ever bloom. This is due to the lack of seasonal or daily temperature variations in our climate. They can be cultivated in rooftop gardens, cacti and succulent outdoor gardens, dish gardens for indoor décor, and more!
These succulents should be cultivated in locations that receive at least six hours of full sun to moderate shade, depending on the species. They thrive in free-draining soil, so a mixture of 50% sifting scorched earth and 50% commercial cactus mix would be excellent. Stem cuttings make it simple to multiply the majority of species.
Only water the plants after the top inch of the soil has begun to dry out, and feed them once a week with coated, slow-release fertilizer pellets or half-strength liquid fertilizer.
The majority of the species in the genus Sedum are succulent plants known as stonecrops. Some plants of the Crassulaceae family are edible and have therapeutic benefits. Others are grown locally and in temperate nations as green roof plants.
Senecio genus species are highly diverse. Succulents with leaves, stems, and tubers are one type, but there are also climbers, shrubs, and miniature trees. They have branching clusters of daisy-like flowers and are an Asteraceae plant.
During the recent GardenTech 2009, the archway that welcomed guests was decorated with a variety of succulent plants.
Sedum morganianum, the donkey’s tail plant, has spindle-shaped leaves with a silver-blue hue. It is appropriate for growing in hanging baskets in protected, somewhat shaded places because of its long, pendulous stems, which, if left to develop, can reach 1 m or more. S. burrito, which has smaller, rounder leaves and is more difficult to cultivate in Singapore, is sometimes confused with it.
The Mexican stonecrop, also known as Sedum mexicanum, forms a mound. It grows best in full sunlight, when the small, linear leaves develop a vivid, greenish yellow hue. It can be raised as a groundcover plant and is helpful for enhancing borders and containers with color.
The mat-forming species Sedum sexangulare, sometimes known as tasteless or watch chain stonecrop, is distinguished by its small, oblong leaves, which are grouped in six parallel rows. It can be used on rock walls, between big stones on a terrace, or in containers and thrives in partial shade.
Another mat-forming species with somewhat rounded leaves is Sedum sarmentosum. As its leaves acquire an ugly yellow color when exposed to high sunlight and excessive dryness, it looks best when grown in semi-shade. This plant is also known by the names stringy stonecrop and graveyard moss.
A vine called Senecio macroglossus mimics English ivy (Hedera helix). Its leaves have five pointed corners, are smooth and meaty to the touch. This drought-tolerant vine can be left to trail over a pot and grows well in partially shaded regions. As a climber, it takes advantage of any opportunity to wrap its stems around any vertical support it may find. This image displays the striped variant.
Senecio rowleyanus, often known as the “string of pearls” or “string of beads,” is a trailing plant that produces long, pendulous stems of roughly spherical leaves. This plant, which works well in hanging baskets in a sunny location, should be kept on the dry side to avoid decay. You shouldn’t eat the poisonous, meaty leaves.
What is the ideal location for a succulent?
Succulents thrive in hot, arid conditions and don’t mind a little neglect due to their unique capacity to store water. They are therefore ideally suited to growing indoors and are the perfect choice for anyone looking for low-maintenance houseplants. Follow these instructions for successful plant care if you’re choosing succulents for the first time.
Select a succulent that will thrive in your indoor environment.
The majority of succulents need direct sunshine, however if your home only has a shady area, choose low light-tolerant plants like mother-in-tongue. law’s A trailing variety, like string of bananas, is an excellent option if you intend to grow your succulent in a hanging planter. To learn about your succulents’ requirements for sunlight, size, and spread, always read the plant labels.
Give the plants a good draining potting material.
You should repot your succulent as soon as you get it home since nurseries always plant their succulents in soil that is overly rich and holds too much moisture. A coarse potting mix with sufficient drainage and aeration is a good place to start. You can use an African violet mix or unique cactus and succulent mixtures that you can purchase at the nursery. Add perlite or pumice to the cactus or African violet mix (up to 50% of the total potting mix, depending on your particular succulent’s moisture requirements) to further increase drainage and prevent compaction. To make sure the mixture is moist throughout, always moisten it before using.
Decide on a container.
When repotting, use a container that is at least 1 to 2 inches bigger than the nursery container and has a drainage hole. Avoid using glass containers (such mason jars or terrariums) for long-term potting since they prevent roots from breathing and over time may result in root rot. Place your plant inside the container and backfill with extra pre-moistened potting mix after filling the bottom one-third of the container with pre-moistened potting mix.
Put the succulent plant in a pot somewhere sunny.
Try to arrange your succulents close to a south or east-facing window because most succulents need at least six hours of sun each day. Insufficient sunlight may cause your succulents to become spindly or to extend toward the light.
Between waterings, allow the potting mix to dry out.
Overwatering succulents is the most common error people make with them. Watering more deeply but less frequently is preferable. Before the next watering, completely saturate the potting mix (while making sure the water drains out of the drainage hole properly). The plant can finally perish if the potting soil is left moist every day.
Succulents should be fertilized at least once a year.
Fertilizer works best for plants in the spring (when the days lengthen and new growth starts) and again in the late summer. Use a water-soluble, balanced fertilizer (such as 8-8-8 or 10-10-10) that has been diluted to half the strength indicated on the container. Since succulents are semi-dormant in the winter, there is no need to nourish them. Because they are not actively growing, they do not require the nutrient boost.
What succulent is ideal for beginners?
If you’ve ever experienced a severe sunburn, the aloe plant is undoubtedly well known to you.
One of the most well-liked succulents for beginners, this plant’s sap not only cures sunburn but is also incredibly simple to grow!
Aloe can be grown in a plethora of diverse forms, including those with zebra stripes, speckles, dots, a crown of pointed leaves, and more. Any selection you make will make your windowsill look good.
Aloe succulents need only a nice windowsill, a container with sufficient drainage, and watering anytime the soil becomes dry for them to thrive. Whether you take good care of them or have a propensity for neglect, these tiny fellows are not choosy and will prosper and look gorgeous.
How can I find affordable succulents?
If you don’t buy succulents from the appropriate source, you may experience issues. Because succulents can be pricey, you don’t want to purchase a plant that is injured or infected. Success with succulents depends on knowing where to acquire them. After purchasing a starting set, you can learn how to re-grow your succulents so that you will always have an abundance of your own.
Ikea
Unbelievably, Ikea has an excellent range of reasonably priced succulents. They have sold me many succulents that had young succulents sprouting from the sides. BONUS! The plants have been strong and their pricing are excellent. One more good reason to love Ikea! Additionally, while you are there, look at their pots as well. They provide some extremely adorable and inexpensive solutions.
Amazon
What can’t you purchase on Amazon? It turns out that you can purchase some really awesome succulents on Amazon! You may have a vast selection of succulents delivered to your door for less than $2 per plant plus prime shipping. If you’re just getting started and unsure of which variety you want to work with, this is ideal!
The Succulent Source
I’ve only heard great things about the Succulent Source. The succulent selection at this family-owned business is incredible. Every conceivable size and shape. Even the youngsters help the succulents grow! I adore it. Go now and look them up.
Be sure to adhere to the care recommendations after you have your succulents. Check out these typical explanations for why your succulents are dying if you start to experience any problems. Also, if you manage to get your hands on one of those fantastic succulent species, check out this too-cute for words concept for an indoor succulent garden!
How frequently do succulents need to be watered?
During the months that are not winter, when the temperature is above 40 degrees, you should water your succulents every other week. You should only water your succulent once a month in the winter (when the temperature falls below 40 degrees), as it goes dormant at this period.
A few situations constitute an exception to this rule. Because their tiny leaves can’t hold as much water as other varieties with larger leaves, some varieties of succulents need to be watered more frequently. In the non-winter months, feel free to give these small leaf succulents a water if they appear to be thirsty. When they are thirsty, succulents generally exhibit a wrinkled appearance. But always keep in mind that being underwater is preferable to being overwater.
How are succulents cared for in Singapore?
Succulents are so much fun, so much fun! Even in sunny (read: humid) Singapore, your succulent can flourish inside with a little tender loving care and a little neglect!
I must admit that since I began my obsession with succulents, I have tragically killed quite a number. I initially believed that the well had destroyed their roots and that I wasn’t giving them enough water. Then I assumed they would enjoy the sun, but instead they become shriveled from getting burned! They actually valued my continual hovering over my disregard, I eventually discovered.
I therefore decided to provide a few ideas in this blog based on my experience taking care of them, and perhaps you guys can contribute by adding more tips and sharing your experiences with what has worked for you in Singapore’s tropical climate!
It is always best to mimic the desert atmosphere for succulents in order for them to flourish. So it’s crucial to repot them from nursery soil to a soil that drains effectively! The less you have to worry about root rot, the better your soil drains, especially in a humid, tropical climate like Singapore.
*TIP: Succulents that arrive in their original tiny plastic containers usually come from cooler regions (like Korea or the Cameron Highlands), and they NEED to be potted again! This is a result of the soil frequently holding wet and not draining sufficiently for our humidity!
I’m aware that many professionals combine different soils and sands. For me, a straightforward 2:1 ratio of cactus soil to drainage medium (such as perlite, pumice, akadamas, vermiculite, etc.) is effective.
Succulents adore the sun! Good for you if you have access to balconies or outside spaces where you can keep succulents! We need all the sunshine we can get for the rest of us who live in apartments and HDBs!
Here are my suggestions for watering succulents:
- Keep them in the house’s brightest area (eg: on a windowsill, right up to the window or even on a raised platform if it helps)
- in a work environment? Use LED lighting to promote their growth. and expose them to the sun once every week. Although not the best, they are succulents! They’ll make it!
- Plant lights! This helped me get through the months of October and December (our annual monsoon season). The Ikea Plant Holder and LED tube lights are two that I’m now testing out.
Although it can be challenging, the following broad guidelines have shown to be effective for me:
- Succulents HATE spending extended periods of time in soggy soil.
- I completely soak mine once every one to two weeks to account for Singapore’s climate, then I let them dry entirely. Just be sure to hydrate the rootballs and not the leaves excessively (especially so for indoor locations)
- When in doubt, REFUSE to water. Overwatered succulents cannot be saved, only those that are submerged.
- They absorb water better when you water them with lukewarm water (imagine warm desert rain).
The most crucial thing to keep in mind throughout is: If it’s still standing, you’re doing a terrific job!
Succulents are resilient small plants that can withstand some stress. They can teach us a lot about life, and we can learn a lot from them.
Are succulents permitted in bedrooms?
- They aid in breathing – While plants emit oxygen during the process of photosynthesis, most plants respire at night, generating carbon dioxide. Other plants, such as orchids and areca palms, in addition to succulents, continue to produce oxygen throughout the night. Keep these plants in your bedroom to get a better night’s sleep by breathing in more fresh air as you sleep.
- Succulents, such as snake plants and aloe vera, are great in purifying the air and removing toxins. According to NASA studies, 87 percent of volatile organic molecules can be eliminated (VOC). Because VOCs like benzene and formaldehyde are present in rugs, cigarette smoke, grocery bags, books, and ink, these plants are especially useful in libraries and study spaces.
- They aid in illness prevention. Plant water released into the sky accounts for roughly 10% of the moisture in the air. In your home, the same rule holds true: the more plants you have, especially in groups, the better your ability to increase the humidity and so reduce the likelihood of dry skin, colds, sore throats, and dry coughs. According to a research by Norway’s Agricultural University, offices with plants had sickness rates that were 60% lower. Environmental psychologist Tina Bringslimark explained to The Telegraph: “We looked into how many people reported taking self-reported sick days and contrasted that with how many plants they could see from their desk. There was less self-reported sick leave the more plants they could observe “.
- They aid in concentration – Numerous research on both students and workers have discovered that having plants around while studying or working improves concentration, attentiveness, and cognitive capacities. According to a University of Michigan research, the presence of plants increased memory retention by as much as 20%. Small plants like succulents, which don’t take up much space on your desk, are particularly helpful at the office.
- They promote faster healing – Succulents can help to lessen coughs, fevers, headaches, and flu-like symptoms. Hospital patients who had plants in their rooms needed less pain medication, had lower blood pressure and heart rates, and were less worn out and anxious, according to Kansas State University researchers.