A Gardeners Forum Forums Members History Forum Life 2006 Ask and ye shall receive

Thank-you Bill.
Aaaaahh, my second home. Just trying it on for size.

Looks good on ya Tina. So how about a lil bit of general care for those of us you sent succulents to since I know I for one am a bit clueless!

Ok, I am just learning all of the new-to-me plants my self. I have no house plants. Mother Nature didn't create any house plants and my house is terribly unhospitable for bringing in plants.
I will tell you that all of the plants I have sent you need fast drainage and let the top inch or so of soil dry between waterings. These survive outdoor temps down to 25* as long as that is the low before rising temps. Not sustained freezing. They also thrive on lot's of light.
I need to get out my books to go any further.

That is more than I knew 10 minutes ago Tina. Right now mine are in a full sun window but I can put them out once the weather clears. For me though since we do get freezing temps, I am betting indoors will be best for them. Plus I like looking at them

As they grow, try breaking off pieces from the jades and putting them outside for at least the spring thru fall. I think you'll like them there as well.

I dunno where I would have room for them. Already am worried about where I will plant all that I do have. I did just stick the few leaves that broke off right into the soil with the big plants though. I think they will grow like that won't they?

Yes they should grow.

Triss - my experience with jade leaves is to lay them on top of the soil. The ones where I've stuck them INTO the soil all rotted. It does take a while for them to sprout indoors, but it's so much fun to see the baby plants - similar to the AVs!

I have a pretty large jade in a western window and it's quite happy there - no direct sunlight until the middle of summer, and then it's only at the end of the day - but it is doing very well.

If you take a piece of the stem of a jade, let it dry out for a few hours or a day, before planting - I found that out after a few did not take, but rotted instead.

Be careful... some succulents will burn in direct sun - I found that out the hard way...

on the other hand... some turn a really pretty shade of red in the sun - it helps to research which ones will tolerate it.

I'm still playing with all of my new succ's and the sunlight. But the ones I sent you will all do direct sun well. And some shade if need be. Not as many blooms in the shade though.

Thanks for all that Lynne. I will have to experiment with which way to propagate the leaves. Since they are just in the same container at the mama plant, I am not worried about how long it takes them to grow and if they survive, I will give them their own smaller pots. It will be fun to watch!

Tina, I had no idea these ones bloomed. That is cool too. And I remember you said these ones like lots of sun. Which is good cuz they are providing the barrier for the AV's which do not like direct sun.

The Green (rooted) jade and the vaiegated jade both bloom like this

The floppier jade (unrooted) blooms like this

These are current pics.

OH MY GOODNESS, those are HUGE. I have NEVER seen a jade so big before!

Yeah, they get about four ft with a regular trunk under there. The yellow blooming ones get about three ft and kind of ramble.

I wonder how big I will be able to get mine in the house. That is really exciting to think about!

Very impressive, Tina!

I'm going to baby these little guys so they can grow up just like that!

my pot of Jade has several plants in it that have all developed from the first 2 inch starter plant that I bought 2 years ago. I didn't think it was going to make it but with all the good advice I got here it is doing great. And watching the babies develop off of the scar on the leaves is really amazing. Although I agree it's easier to start a plant with a stem cutting from my limited experience.

The Dudley Sprite has got to be my favorite succulent to date. I have no idea if it flowers but it's like a botanical catapiller. Very sensitive to light and water and it moves around and raises it's leaves depending on what it is getting as far as light and water. It also will drop leaves if the light intensity is changed but it does recover. I haven't been able to clone it yet but I'm hoping.

I may have mentioned elsewhere that I successfully overwintered my portulaca from last year and look forward to putting it outside this comming year. It should look really good with a years worth of growth on it. Of course transplanting it is going to be a bear but that's ok lol. I look forward to having it in the 4th tier of the garden. Since that is were the least of the water will be.

This year I'll be watering top and bottom and the middle will fend for itself so that is where the succulents are going to be.

Ok..Tina I have to have cuttings in the spring,I can trade you sedum cutting in return. I have alot of cactus which take up most of my window sills. I am so happy Bill gave us a new space for these plants!!!

Thats really kewl& to think I killed my variegated jade....I never even knew they could bloom OR get that HUGE.My mom use to have a jade plant when I was growing up.I seen leafs fall off and root all time(I probably caused some of them to fall when dusting)I think her leafs were darker green& larger in size.20 yrs ago it was about 2 ft.I don't even know if she still has it..lol

Tina, that is beautiful. I saw one when I was in California that had red blooms.

I am so happy to see a C&S forum.

Yeah, I'm sure it was already in the works. But I asked if they were planning on having a succulent forum and got an answer that it was on the way. Then later the same day it popped up. (Thank-you Bill ) Feels like home. A place to learn more.