"Succulent Yard Makeover: A Professional's Guide on Obtaining and Planting Succulents at No Cost" - Expert Horticulturist Unveils Their Secret Method for Obtaining and Planting Succulents!
In the heart of San Francisco, where the Pacific Ocean's salty breeze whispers through the streets, a unique gardening trend has taken root - the cultivation of succulents. Many residents, especially on the ocean side of town, have succulents blooming in their gardens.
For those who are keen to join this green movement but don't want to dig deep into their pockets, there's good news. You can build your own "succulent city" without spending a penny, thanks to the generosity of neighbours and the easy propagation methods of these fascinating plants.
One can collect cuttings from neighbours who are pruning their succulents, let them dry out for a day or two, then plant them in soil. The success rate is around 80%. With over 10,000 different types of succulents to choose from, there's a world of variety just waiting to be discovered.
Take, for example, the jelly bean plant, originating from Mexico, with its chubby leaves that resemble jellybeans. Or the Hens and Chicks, a hardy succulent that creates a carpet of attractive pointed leaves and can survive in colder zones. Then there's the ghost plant, with its rosettes about the size of your palm, growing up to 1ft (30cm) tall and a yard (1m) wide in warm zones.
The tree aeonium, also known as the houseleek tree, is another popular choice, with big bright green rosettes on branching stems. And the tree aeonium thrives in indirect light and warmer zones where it grows to 6ft (2m) tall.
Propagation is as simple as taking healthy leaves or stem cuttings, letting them callous, and then placing them on soil or water until they root and grow new plants. You can also promote more budding by removing apical dominance, which stimulates new growth that can be propagated.
To make the most of this free resource, ask around for cuttings or leaves, offer to help with plant maintenance, and join local gardening groups or community gardens where plant swaps happen. With a little effort and a lot of neighbourly kindness, your succulent city can grow and thrive.
Remember, the author's backyard in San Francisco is filled with succulents, including over two dozen species, all of which were either tossed out or bequeathed. So, why not give it a try? You never know, you might just find your new favourite plant.
References:
[1] The Spruce: How to Propagate Succulents from Leaves and Stem Cuttings [2] Gardening Know How: How to Propagate Succulents [3] The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Propagate Succulents [4] The University of California: Succulent Propagation [5] The American Society for Horticultural Science: Removing Apical Dominance to Stimulate New Growth in Succulents
Incorporating drought-tolerant plants into your lifestyle is a budget-friendly way to join the succulent gardening trend, which has been popularized in the home-and-garden scene of San Francisco. To expand your variety of plants, collect cuttings from neighbors' succulents, let them dry and then plant them in soil, a method that has a success rate of approximately 80%.
