Jackie Harmer has emailed me this photo of a succulent arrangement she's been given and has asked for some advice on how to look after it.
The first thing to do in this instance is to identify the plants, as different plants need different care. After scrutinising it rather carefully I think the green plant in the front right is a jade plant, or Crassula argentea: the pinky-purple ground-hugging rosette in the foreground is some kind of Echeveria, and the tall thin plant with variegated leaves in the centre could be a small variety of small-leaved peperomia. The one I am least sure about is the green plant with red-tinged leaf edges at the back left of the jar - a kalanchoe possibly? Although it would probably be flowering were that the case. Anyone got any clearer identification on that one?
More importantly than pinning down the identity of each individual plant, we can say that they all fall roughly into the family of succulent plants: those with fleshy leaves or stems that can store water. The good news here is that they are the tough guys of the houseplant world, able to put up with a lot of neglect and mismanagement without keeling over in the way a lot of more delicate plants would.
It's more than a little unfortunate that these succulents have been sold in a jar, albeit a semi-open one, because the one things succulents love is fresh air. Jars are useful environments for houseplants that originate in subtropical of tropical climes, as they provide the extra humidity our centrally heated houses often lack. The other problem is there won't be anywhere for excess water to drain away, which is something else the plants inside won't like. (I could go on and on about how inappropriate plants are sold in supermarkets but that's for another post, I suspect).
The jat shouldn't be too much of a problem for the first year or so, but the jade plant in particular will very quickly outgrow the confines of the glass and conditions will become very squashed. For the moment however, as it's winter, there's actually very little you need to do with this arrangement aside from enjoying looking at it: water very sparingly (once every month is fine) and make sure the plants are on a bright windowsill in a cool room.
Once winter's over, the arrangement should be treated as an ordinary houseplant: water whenever the compost (I hope there is some compost under the stones!) is dry and place on a south-facing windowsill if you can. Most people deny cacti and succulents water because they think they like desert conditions, and while they are adapted to survive dryness, they are much happier when watered regularly. Given the lack of drainage in the jar, little and often is best: lift up the jar regularly to check water isn't pooling at the bottom. If you can, place the jar outside on very warm summer days to get some air circulation, but keep it out of the direct sunlight or the leaves may scorch.
When the plants inside begin to look weak or straggly, or they outgrow the jar and start poking out of the hole, unless you are particularly attached to the jar, I'd (carefully) break it and repot the constituent plants in sandy houseplant compost topped with gravel in a shallow terracotta dish, where they'll be much happier. If you want to keep the jar you'll have to struggle to get the plants out of the hole. Then I'd replant it with a small specimen of something like the pretty foliage plant Fittonia argyroneura.
http://www.nextstudent.com/get_advice/get_advice.asp
Student loans, and student loan consolidation - Lock in the lowest rate with NextStudent. We also offer a scholarship search engine, private student loans and federal student loan applications.
Posted by: Kelly Miller | January 25, 2006 at 01:23 AM
About a month ago I purchased a philodendron in a 7" pot. Several of the leaves have turned yellow, which I just plucked off. Is there a reason for this and is there anything I can do?
Thank you.
Posted by: Sharon E. Oldenburg | September 20, 2007 at 08:18 PM