Aug 2019 Jhb West

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Succ cculents co me in many shapes es, si ze s and colo ur s. Bri ng the omb mbre tr en d to your ga rden by disp spla layi ng a bed of succul ents arra rang nged by colo ur spect rum. Th is arr rran ange ment wou ould work wel ell as a tab ableto top de co rati on or a piece of wal l art. SUCCULENT SUCCESS Not all plants are high maintenance ... In fact, some are happier if you leave them alone and water them less often! Succulents are those plants ... Avoid killing your succulents LIGHT: You’d think that cacti and other plants that are found naturally in hot, dry climates would like as much sun as possible. Not quite. Try to find spots where your succulents are close to a light source, but not in the hottest direct sun, which can burn tender, fleshy leaves. Play around with your pots and take notice of which succulents do best in certain spots. You’ll know if your plant isn’t getting enough light because it will ‘stretch’ toward the light, with leggy, long stems that look like they’re leaning. You can avoid this by moving your plant closer to the light and/ or rotating the pot now and then to expose both sides. WATER & DRAINAGE: We’ve all heard that succulents don’t require as much water as other plants. And over-watering can indeed be a problem, because succulents store water in their fleshy stems and leaves. Too much water can cause plants to rot. But less water doesn’t mean no water. Your succulents need a little love 24 Get It Joburg West August 2019 to flourish. For smaller pots, water about once a week, or when the soil feels dry. For larger pots, about once every two weeks, or when the soil feels dry. If your pots have drainage, put them in the sink or tub and give them a good soak. You can skip moving your plants if they have a tray or dish for runoff. If your pots don’t have drainage holes (think antique wooden crates, coffee cups or terrariums), give them a drink, enough to wet the soil without water pooling at the top. SOIL: Succulents need soil that drains, so regular potting soil or dirt from your garden won’t do. Mix potting soil with sand, pumice, or perlite. The key to the success of any soil mix for succulents is crumbly structure. To test your soil mix, moisten it and then squeeze with your hands: the mixture should not form a lump, but instead should crumble loosely. ! If you notice large gaps on the stem in between the leaves, your succulent isn’t getting enough light. Move it to a sunnier position. Succulents love the direct sun, but if yours are sitting in the same spot day after day, it’s probable that only one side is getting enough light. Rotate the plants often. Succulents will lean towards the sun, so rotating them will help them stand up straight.
Crassula muscosa or ‘Rastafari) grows 10–15cm high and is named for its dreadlock-like stems covered in overlapping scales. It’s happy in sun and semi-shade. Its unusual texture and colour make a good contrast to other crassulas in mass plantings. Get it for R29 and R295 for the planter from the Rusty Rose Nursery. Details: 064 686 0669, rustyrose.nursery@ gmail.com or visit them at Antique Shack on the M5, Muldersdrift. Gasteria is a medium-sized succulent that grows 18cm tall. Typically it has dark green, sharp, triangular leaves, channelled on their upper surface and with sharp points at their tips. Gasteria succulents need little water. Fertiliser should be limited to once in spring, both for houseplants and those planted outdoors. Get both the succulent and planter for only R200 from the Rusty Rose Nursery. Details: 064 686 0669, rustyrose.nursery@ gmail.com or visit them at Antique Shack on the M5, Muldersdrift. Spread the love PROPAGATE FROM CUTTINGS Using a clean, sharp blade, cut the stem where your plant is trying to grow a shoot. Take your cutting, let it callus over for a few days, and then place it in a container with succulent-specific soil. Gently cover it with the soil, without fully burying it. Just as you do with your full-grown succulent plants, don’t over-water these delicate babies. PROPAGATE BY LEAVES The key to this method is to gently pluck off the plump, healthy leaf, right where the leaf meets the stem. Be sure not to break or rip it – if you do, it won’t grow. As with the stem cuttings, allow the leaves to callus over before placing them on top of a bed of soil. Don’t cover them with soil, just keep them damp. After three or so weeks, baby succulents will sprout, and eventually the mother leaf will dry up and fall off. This is an indicator that the baby plant needs to be potted. Succulents are very trendy right now and can be used in wedding decor, bridal bouquets or as thoughtful gifts for guests. They can give a wedding a rustic feel and you don’t have to worry about your flowers wilting before your big day is over. Hoya kerrii is a semi-succulent, with thick waxy leaves, flowers and stems and is extremely easy to care for. They like to live in bright sun (but can tolerate bright indirect light) in a welldrained pot and don’t need tons of water. Water every two or three weeks, or when soil is completely dry and the leaves start to wrinkle. Happy to climb up a trellis or cascade over the sides of its pot, Hoya kerrii is one of those must-have plants for any collector. R25 from the Rusty Rose Nursery. Details: 064 686 0669, rustyrose.nursery@gmail. com or visit them at Antique Shack on the M5, Muldersdrift. August 2019 Get It Joburg West 25
Page 1: JOBURG WEST PEEL away those years .
Page 5 and 6: GET IT Editorial 011 955 1130 Caxto
Page 8 and 9: WOMEN’S MONTH Spoil the women in
Page 10 and 11: Wish list Check out our roundup of
Page 12 and 13: Martin Headger and Nonhlanhla Kunen
Page 14 and 15: Text: JACO-MARI FUTCHER. Photograph
Page 16 and 17: hemical Miracle of peels With 29 ye
Page 18 and 19: Fiercely feminine Text and images:
Page 20 and 21: EST. 1991 JOHANNESBURG AFTER 28 YEA
Page 22 and 23: B OOST YOUR MOOD FOOD Satisfy your
Page 26 and 27: guide Garden We've put together our
Page 28 and 29: GET IT DIRECTORY To advertise here
Page 30 and 31: GET IT DIRECTORY To advertise here
Page 32 and 33: Mhondoro We love a bush getaway ...
Page 34: Spoil August A two night stay for t

Aug 2019 Jhb West

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?