Succulent arrangements: planting multiple succulents in one pot

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Images and text: Le'an

Do succulent-loving fellow plant fans ever get sudden whims and want to make a big succulent arrangement? Seeing one gorgeous succulent arrangement after another online, have you long been tempted? Today the curator will chat with everyone about a few common questions when growing succulents, and I hope it helps.

1. Understand the types of succulents

Succulents are generally divided into two major categories, namely "winter-growing types" and "summer-growing types."

The optimal growing temperature for "winter-growing types" is between 10°C-20°C. When the temperature is below 5°C or above 30°C, the succulents will enter dormancy. The more common "winter-growing type" succulents we usually see include Liliaceae, Crassulaceae, Aizoaceae, and so on.

"Summer-growing type" succulents refer to varieties that can grow vigorously in summer and do not go dormant. Common ones include Cactaceae, Echeveria, Crassula, and so on.

"Winter-growing types" and "summer-growing types" are actually relative concepts. As the living environment changes, the growth habits of many succulents will also gradually change.

For example, Echeveria is a "summer-growing type" in its place of origin, growing more luxuriantly in summer, but in another place it may go dormant in summer;

There is also the Crassulaceae plant Sedum sieboldii, which is produced in Hokkaido, and should originally be cold-tolerant, yet what you see may be that it goes dormant in winter, revives in spring, and flourishes in summer and autumn.

It can be seen that different growing environments still have a great impact on plants.

2. Base it on succulent color and shape

When making a succulent arrangement, the first thing to consider is the appearance of the succulents. More specifically, it is the shape and color of the succulents. Today the curator will use Crassulaceae succulents as an example to explain the pairing methods.

1. Shape

Crassulaceae plants are roughly divided into two categories: columnar and rosette-shaped.

The columnar type is represented by Crassula. The growth characteristic of Crassula plants is that they grow straight upward and branch easily.

There are many categories of rosette-shaped types, including Aeonium, Sempervivum, Pachyphytum, and so on. These succulents grow relatively short and tend to form clusters.

When mixing succulents, they should be arranged with a pleasing variation in height.

2. Color

When the temperature difference is large, Crassulaceae plants will change color, gradually shifting from their original green to red, yellow, purple, white, black, and so on. In this way, succulents present richer colors throughout the four seasons of the year.

Representative red plants: Graptopetalum paraguayense, Sedum rubrotinctum, Crassula capitella 'Campfire';

Representative yellow plants: Graptosedum 'Francesco Baldi', Sedum adolphi, Sedum 'Huangxin', Sedum makinoi, Crassula ovata 'Hummel's Sunset', Echeveria 'Dongyun';

Representative purple plants: Echeveria glauca, Echeveria 'Frosty Morn', Echeveria 'Perle von Nurnberg';

Representative black plants: Aeonium 'Zwartkop', Echeveria 'Daehwajin', Echeveria 'Xiaohejin'.

3. How to carry out the planting arrangement

When arranging succulents, you can usually first plant along one diameter line, and then plant on both sides.

The steps are as follows:

(1) Use a small tool to place the succulent plants in one by one. At this time these succulents have almost no root system. You can first use a bamboo chopstick to poke a small hole in the soil and set the plant on top, which helps the root system grow into the soil later.

(2) After positioning them, fill the gaps with potting soil, then according to your own preference choose beautiful iridescent stone granular soil to spread on the surface. The many colors are very attractive.

3. Precautions during planting arrangements

1. Do not mix sun-loving and shade-loving succulent plants, because the two have different light requirements. For example, Haworthia truncata, Haworthia cooperi, and Haworthia cymbiformis prefer shade, and will turn gray when exposed to the sun;

2. Do not mix succulents that prefer dry conditions with those that prefer moisture. For example, Climbing Fig and Senecio rowleyanus prefer water and require the soil to stay moist, while Crassulaceae and Aeonium prefer dryness and require the soil to be moist but not dry;

3. Do not mix winter-growing types and summer-growing types of succulents. For example, Greenovia aurea goes dormant in summer, and Sedum 'Tortuosum' goes dormant in winter;

4. Try to choose ordinary succulent varieties, because they have strong adaptability, are easy to keep alive, and cost less, making them easy to accept and quite suitable for practice. Of course, exceptions are made for the wealthy.

After reading this article, are you tempted? Hurry home and try making an arrangement.

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