You’ll often catch me in my garden, where I’m up to my elbows in dirt and succulents. I’m the proud parent of rosettes, pups, and leaves that I propagated with love and care. I spend my days watering my plant babies and waging war against pesky mealy bugs and snails. In this post I am sharing my love for succulents, pretty pictures of my plants 🙂 and some succulent care tips.
There’s nothing like the peace I find among my plants, which I have been lovingly nurturing for 6-7 years. Honestly, I could stare at them all day. If plants could talk, mine would probably ask for a little privacy.
After a bit of experimentation with light and water, I’ve got a full-blown succulent army. It’s like I’m running a leafy maternity ward here. Some green babies grow roots and flourish in the blink of an eye, while others are picky eaters, and take their own sweet time.
Unless I provide them with just the right amount of light, at the right angle, at the right time of the day – they would refuse to even sprout a single leaf. This little Haworthia took more than 4 years and lots of relocation to finally settle in my house and grow pups.
I would call myself a plant relocation specialist because I move them around every season. If only I could be as consistent with fertilizing. Instead, I dig them up, toss in some compost or succulent mix, whisper a little prayer, and hope for a bounty of pups – like how my mom hopes for grandkids.
But when it comes to picking out grubs, let’s just say I am one critter away from emptying my stomach on the flourishing family of Agave. Ewww!!! But having witnessed their damaging effect on succulent and plant growth, I have to be watchful. I usually discard the soil and re-pot it in a new potting mix.
They say succulents need copious amounts of sunlight – but having lived with them let me tell you not all succulents like sunlight. Too little and they would etiolate, disrupting their closed rosette-like pretty shape. Too much and they would go under stress and stop growing.
Sunlight also works magic on succulents – keep them in the shade, and they’ll stay green, but give them some sun, and they’ll show off their true colors. In this case, it is often unique and looks delightful.
I’m turning yet another patch into a succulent nursery which is probably destined to become free cuttings for my friends. Because, as millennials, we’ve decided that instead of sports cars or spontaneous tattoos, the real mid-life crisis cure is turning our homes into mini-jungles. We’re all obsessed with growing green space. And if I go by the Instagram trend, then houseplants are the new millennial therapy. 😀
You have so much patience, Raj.
I love my plants, but my impatience is has no place in my garden. That’s a lesson I keep going back to and fail at again and again.
I love your garden. Your love for them is so much evident.
Plant relocation specialist cracked me up. At this time all my outdoor plants are merrily enjoying the AC dining room services. Once the summer calms down I will relocate them back to my backyard.
I loved all your pics, Raj! Can only imagine how gorgeous your garden must be like!! You do have green fingers, my dear…love how the succulents are growing..they look so happy and at peace! You must be a super woman to be able to juggle so much and pack in so many things into your regular week—how do you do it all, Raj? Pray tell me!! 😀
What a gorgeous garden you have Raj! I dislike repotting. It’s so messy. I end up getting soil everywhere. Also we get just a few hours of sunlight so we rarely get to see pretty succulent colours, or have flowers of any kind, except for the peace lily which shows up easily.
Also about your mom hoping for a bounty of grandkids, good luck.
They look beautiful and well cared for. I envy people who can nurture plants, I am so bad at it. Your succulents look amazing and so do your awesome clicks.
So gorgeous! I absolutely love succulents – they’re just adorable to look at and a joy to keep.