Succulents are so curious that it is not difficult to use them to create beautiful compositions and/or decorate the balcony. Many of them are small, so they can still live in pots, and there are others who, on the contrary, are so large that they look magnificent in the garden.
Now, so that problems do not arise, it is important to know what are outdoor succulents and how to care for them. So they can be kept for many years.
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Selection of outdoor succulents
When you live in a place where there can be frost in winter, it is very important to choose the plants that are going to be outside, because it does not matter whether they are in the garden or in pots, they will be exposed. at low temperatures and they must be able to withstand them. For this reason, we recommend the following species:
dudleya
Image – Flickr/John Rusk
The genus Dudleya is made up of succulent shrubs that not exceed one meter in height. There are about 40 varieties, such as D. brittonii, which has green leaves covered in white powder, or D. edulis, which has thin leaves. All need sun, but they can also be kept outdoors as they are resistant to moderate frost.
Echinocereus rigidissimus
Image – Wikimedia/Michael Wolf
the Echinocereus rigidissimus It is a columnar cactus that reaches 30 centimeters in height by 11 centimeters in thickness. In spring, it produces lilac flowers about 4-5 centimeters in diameter, but it needs sun and little watering. It is frost resistant down to -12ºC.
Escobaria vivipara
The Escobaria vivipara It is a globose and thorny cactus which reaches a height of 10 centimeters. Its flowers are lilac, and measure about 5 centimeters in diameter. Although its growth rate is slow, it flowers at an early age. Also, know that it resists up to -15ºC.
Ferocactus glaucescens
Image – Wikimedia/Emőke Dénes
the Ferocactus glaucescens It is a bluish globular cactus with yellow spines that reaches a height of 40 centimeters at most. Its flowers are yellow and grow on the upper part of its body. It resists drought, as well as mild frosts down to -2ºC.
Oreocereus celsian
Image – Wikimedia/Luis Miguel Bugallo Sánchez (Lmbuga)
the Oreocereus celsian It is a columnar cactus that reaches 2 meters in height, and develops spiny stems up to 12 centimeters thick. Its growth rate is rather slow, but it is interesting to plant it in small gardens or even to have it in pots. It resists down to -10ºC.
Sedum x rubrotinctum
the Sedum x rubrotinctum It is a succulent perennial plant reaches a height of no more than 10 centimeters, which develops stems with very small fleshy green and reddish leaves. It is perfect to have in pots, on balconies or terraces, as it does not require much care. In addition, it resists down to -5ºC.
Sempervivum
Sempervivum, or conifers, are succulents that grow in clusters of small rosettes of leaves. They do not exceed 5 centimeters in height; however, they can reach 30 centimeters or more in width. They live in full sun, but if in Mediterranean climates, they grow best in shade. They resist down to -20ºC.
How do you care for outdoor succulents?
Now that we have seen some of the most recommended, let’s see what care we should give them to keep them beautiful all year round:
- Location: most of them must be in a sunny place, but we must be careful about this, because if they were in the shade in the nursery, we cannot expose them to direct sunlight, but we must accustom them little by little and gradually so that they do not burn
- soil or substrate: the soil must be light, and facilitate the drainage of water. Therefore, they should not be planted in compact or heavy soils, otherwise the roots may suffocate. If they are going to be kept in pots, it is best to put quality cacti and succulent soil in them, such as the Flower or Boix brands for example. If you wish, by clicking on the links you can buy them.
- Irrigation: it is necessary to water rather little. Succulents are plants that are not very resistant to drought, and are afraid of excess water in their roots. For this reason, the soil must be allowed to dry out between one irrigation and the next, so that no problems of any kind arise.
- Subscriber: It is interesting to fertilize outdoor succulents in spring and summer with a fertilizer for cacti and succulents. If they are in the ground, you can use those that are granulated or powdered, but if they are in pots, it is better to use those that are liquid like this one from Compo. In any case, the instructions for use will be followed so that there are no problems.
As you can see, there are quite a few succulents that can be outdoors. They only have to receive a minimum of care and that’s it. We hope these tips will help you to have a garden or space with beautiful succulents.