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Kim Franke-Folstad
Kim’s a Want It Now (WIN): Everything pretty, everything now. She will resort to full-spectrum insecticides in desperate situations, and believes it’s her duty and right to buy new plants every weekend.
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So you want to grow succulents … Don’t start with desert rose
Posted Aug 14, 2010 by Loren Omoto
Updated Aug 14, 2010 at 07:35 PM
Lesson No. 1: Cactus and succulents can be pretty easy, but you can’t just stick them all in the sun and forget about them. (Some, yes, but not all.)
Lesson No. 2: Desert rose is one of the first succulents people buy – and kill. Those people then run in terror from all succulents, which makes Mitch Kessler very sad. :(
Mitch is vice president of the Central Florida Cactus and Succulent Society. He’s been president, vice president, or some kind of officer since the group formed about 15 years ago. It’s not a job (he’s an environmental consultant), it’s a “hobby gone mad.”
Check out his front yard in North Tampa. I’ve never seen anything like it. And it’s nothing compared to the backyard.
Everything but the oak to the far right is a cactus or succulent. (Cereus is the giant in the foreground, about 6 feet tall when planted 12 years ago. Behind it, to the left of the front door, is an opuntia, also called prickly pear. The tall, single trunk plants on either side of the front door are cereus. And to the right, the treelike plant between the cereus and the oak is a big opuntia.)
Note: All of these plants are growing in the ground – but not native ground. Mitch dug out a lot of soil and threw in lots and lots of perlite and gravel when he planted – more than a 50-50 mix of dirt to non-dirt. For those of you with sand, like me, you can’t take a shortcut here. Sand, believe it or not, doesn’t drain well. Otherwise, these guys thrive with very, very little love.
In general, when watering, water well. If the plant’s in a container, pour it on till the water comes out the bottom. Then let the plant dry—2 to 3 weeks—before watering again. Fertilize twice a year with whatever you use for your other plants.
Mitch wanted to share the joy of succies in advance of the cactus society’s annual show and sale at USF Botanical Gardens in Tampa on Sept. 4. If you don’t know a lot about these plants – which can be wonderfully beautiful and low-maintenance – he advises buying them from growers at plant fairs. That way, you can learn exactly what each one needs. And that’s your secret to success.
Desert rose, that popular victim, for example, wants very well-draining soil (like all cactus and succulents), full sun and lots of fertilizer in the spring. When it goes dormant in the winter, it can’t take much water.
A much easier-to-grow option is just about anything in the Pachypodium genus. Native to Africa, some look a lot like desert rose, which is another genus entirely. Pachypodium can be planted in the ground here, because they can take our summer rain. Mitch loves the strange, bulbous shapes their base develops. (I think that’s a guy thing.)
This one, Pachypodium saundersii, also produces very pretty white flowers. (I like ‘em – no stereotypes here but … girl thing?)
For an absolutely no-fail succulent, try crown of thorns. Mitch has one by his mailbox that has been completely neglected – never watered, fertilized or covered in freeze – since he planted it five years ago.
“They’re completely invincible here in Florida,” he says.
Prettier is the one that’s gotten a tad more (but not much) attention. The crown of thorns is sprawling in front of a tall pachypodium in this photo.
Some cactus and succulents like light but can’t take all the rain in summer. Golden barrel is a desert beauty that Mitch grows beneath a canopy of plastic and light shade cloth. This one, the quadruplet in the center, is 25 years old.
The white-haired cactus in the foreground is called old man cactus (not my fav—very phallic and covered with white hair!) Mitch wasn’t sure what the two to the left and right are.
I’ll dump my whole memory card of photos in an album on our new Dirt page on Facebook, with info on all the plants. You can get there by going here if you’re already on Facebook. If you’re not on Facebook, it’s easy to sign up here.
The cactus and succulent society show is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 4 at USF Botanical Gardens. I went last year and got a year’s education in a half-hour from one of the club members (ask for Steve Walsh if Mitch is busy.) Admission is free. You can also bring problem plants, or pictures of the plants, and get some medical attention.
Mitch is always happy to evangelize the succulents and host club tours of his outrageous garden. Email him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call (813) 971-8333.
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Reader Comments
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on August 14, 2010
Love the succulents but have zero interest in cactus . I’ve had a few run ins with cactus hairs and they just don’t appeal. But all the shapes of some of those succulents are fascinating to see. And if they flower, I’m there. And then if I get beauty with very little fuss, count me in. Looking forward to the plant sale.
The crown of thorns sounds like a super winner. Now where can I put them? Hmm.
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on August 14, 2010
Good to know, Penny. Thanks to you and to Mitch.
Posted by (Chip) on August 14, 2010
Very cool! I miss my walking cactus the cold got it a few years ago. Maybe I can find a replacement at the show! Very cool garden Mitch! Keep up the good work ....“Chip”
Posted by (Chip) on August 15, 2010
Some of the most interesting plants are cactus and succulents. I had a love/hate thing with my walking cactus I used it like a guard dog on the edge of my garden. Maybe Mitch knows how it works but all you have to do is get close and this guy will get you. The cats stayed very far away and every now and then I would hear a dog yelp and they stayed away. So when it died I was relived it got me more than once, but it helped keep dogs,cats and kids out of my garden! ....“Chip”
Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on August 15, 2010
Mitch has a wonderful succulent garden and I would love to go on a garden tour of it.Pumpkin
Posted by (Chip) on August 15, 2010
Nice article in today’s trib. Kim you must have worked hard to get all of the football terms into it. If color is what you want look into a yesterday,today and tomorrow that way you get three different colors on one plant! and they do very well in this area. The kid wants a chicken coop! I know almost as much about brain surgery as I do about chickens so I got some home work to do. Help! any help would be much appreciated…“Chip”
Posted by (Chip) on August 16, 2010
I may have a few more projects than I should going on but I do like to keep busy. our garden is on hold waiting for it to cool down. So I am trying to get as much done now as I can. Have you seen all the different chicken coops? and all the different styles of potting bench’s? and to top it all off the kid is short the boyfriend is tall after this going back to building bridges should seem easy.
.....“Chip”
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on August 16, 2010
I enjoyed Kim’s article too. It started me thinking on what I would put in for some instant color if I thought things were getting too plain and green looking. I guess I would hit the annuals until I decided on the bigger things. Farmer Rick’s Pizzaz would fit that bill nicely along with some salvias.
So all of the succies thrive in that gravel/perlite mix? Not even a cactus mix for some? Need more input. ha!
I got an electric hedge trimmer for my B’day. The bushes are looking at me with fear in their branches.
Posted by (Chip) on August 16, 2010
Happy B day Susan! love a good tool!
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on August 16, 2010
Thanks Chip—-me too.
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on August 16, 2010
I get that stare too. It’s comforting and gives ya the giggles to know we frighten our children. But hey, our parents did it to us so it’s only fair, like a right of passage. We use Amazon.com’s wish list and it makes it easy for everyone, plus you get what you want. That hedge trimmer has been up there for awhile so it was a nice surprise.
I may want to change out the succulent bowls I have for a new mixture. Thanks.
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on August 16, 2010
Holes in the bowls are a must.
Posted by (Ingrid) on August 16, 2010
Hey, you plant lovers!
Potted plants look best elevated from ground level, right?
I just found an adorable plant stand at K-Mart on sale for 3,89. It is all wood, painted bright green or bright red.
It’s irresistable!
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on August 16, 2010
I know——but holes in the bowls was funny to me. I am easily amused.
Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on August 16, 2010
Penny, I will give Mitch a call, Thanks
Susan, Happy Birthday.
Chip, Chickens are so cute. Shells got in the Americana’s they lay green eggs! That is my favorite chicken I ever had, very beautiful bird.
linger, Thanks for the plant stand tip. Pumpkin
Posted by (Chip) on August 17, 2010
Oh my so let me get this right Americana’s lay green egg’s so All I would need is ham and I would have a “pun breakfast” COOOL! “Chip”
Posted by (Janna) on August 17, 2010
Beautiful succulents, Mitch. They do come in many interesting shapes and sizes. I got my first succulents from the field trip to Riverview Flower Farm and another bunch at the USF sale last year. They are almost all doing well and most of them are easy to multiply just by sticking a leaf in the ground. On the down-side, I have killed three desert roses. I probably over watered them because I didn’t realize they were succulents. Duh. Maybe the DESERT part of the name should have tipped me off.
Posted by (Janna) on August 17, 2010
Hope you had a good birthday, Susan! I love it when I get “garden goodies” as gifts.
Which comes first, Chip? The coop or the potting bench? Mangoman should send in pictures of his coop. You too, Sally.
Thanks for the plant stand tip, Inger! I love colorful garden art and accessories. What kind of plants do you have potted?
Posted by (Janna) on August 17, 2010
Kim, your article in Sunday’s paper was good and my husband loved the football comparisons! Some bright yard art or annuals would give you instant color. I’m in need of some myself. I’m anxiously awaiting the arrival of cooler weather, petunias, violas and pansies.
Still looking for a blue sky vine bloom…
Posted by (Janna) on August 17, 2010
Penny, I’m having the opposite experience with my Chinese hat plant. I have one looooong branch going straight up. Someone cut about a foot off the top though (my husband denies doing this but it wasn’t me) so maybe that will help it to branch out a little.
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on August 17, 2010
FYI my garden buddies. All the Target stores that have them are closing their garden departments. The final date is Sept 30. Right now everything is 30% off
Thank you Penny, Chip, Janna and Pumpkin. The birthday was fun.
It would be fun to have chickens but I don’t think the subdivision allows. I would surely buy some green eggs and ham though. And I like desert rose enough to try it again. The freeze got mine and it was getting a nice fat bottom on it, dang it. Especially since I have all this new info on how to take care of it. Do they do better in that gravel/perlite mix too?
Posted by (Ingrid) on August 17, 2010
The wood plant stand was in the garden center at K-Mart in Sebring, on a shelf indoors. I think all the stores mark down stuff this time of year.
This plant stand looks just like a miniature garden table.
And it is foldable!
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on August 17, 2010
Hey Chip, I just cut back the striped tomato and the pear tomato I got from you. Will they regenerate from the old stalk or do you have to start from scratch with seeds or a new starter plant?
Posted by (Chip) on August 17, 2010
Susan is Target closing there garden shops for good or just the season? Oh boy what have I got myself into? chicken=simple, chicken coop= simple, WRONG! I was so wrong thinking this would be simple some of the creative coops you have to see to believe! and some of them are simple but you just have to see them at BackYardChickens.com and who knew there was sooo many kinds of chickens? ...“Chip”
Posted by (Chip) on August 17, 2010
Oh yes Susan you should be able to start new plants from almost any tomato plant the yellow pear is the easiest. the sucker branch’s are the safe way to transplant when you buy them from a garden center most of those are sucker branch transplants. Just make sure you get enough of the branch in the dirt. I lay them on there side even if the plant isn’t pointing upright it will fix itself in a few days. just keep wet for the first week, and it will look kind of bad for a day or two. Did you get any Mr.Stripe’s?