With the ever-growing popularity of gardening, some people cannot help but add more plants to their garden. Others opt to grow vegetable plants to either use them for consumption or sell it to the community for added income; others prefer to grow flowers for decorative purposes or sell them, too. Whatever reason they have, growing vegetable or flower garden have several advantages as long as they are familiar with their maintenance methods. If you want quality plants, try this nursery: Tn Nursery Reviews are amazing and they’ve been around over 60+ years.
In most cases, people would want plants for practical use or a great first impression, and back then, small and seemingly unassuming plants were not exactly the top of everyone’s list. However, things changed when it became a trend, especially when some plant-loving people became creative. Succulents were the most popular option because they were low maintenance, compact and quiet in cost depending on the variety compared to other plants. Even if you live in a rented apartment, this plant will grow just fine.
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Many people use these plants as decorations in either their homes or offices. That is one reason why succulents are still in demand these days because they are easy to maintain and beautiful to display. The recent trends show that succulents can be displayed on your window shelf even inside the bathroom or placed on a bookshelf if there is more room to spare, and it can also add flair to a bare desk in the office. It is the most popular kind of plant you can see on Instagram pictured beside a coffee, a book, and most especially, food.
Generally, Africa, Central America, and the European Alps are where one can find succulents. Scholars, horticulturists, and plant enthusiasts that the Portuguese explorer, Vasco de Gama, discovered succulent plants sometime in the 15th century when he was en route to India from Southwestern Africa. While there is a common misconception going around that extreme-climate biomes are abundant with succulents, this is only partially true, as one can find species of succulents in deserts, semi-deserts, steppes, and the like. Occasionally, succulents can also become epiphytic and rely on other plants—even those that do not grow from the soil—as habitats for growth, nutrition, and water supply through other means. Succulent also got its name from the Latin word “sucus,” meaning sap. Now, we know why Merriam Webster defines a succulent as “full of juice” or “juicy.” Surveys say that approximately sixty different succulent families and over a thousand species differ in texture, color, and size.
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By definition, succulents are plants with thickened and engorged tissues that store water in the leaves and stem, and the water content of some of their organs can get up to an impressive ninety to ninety-five percent. They are a group of plants with a wide variety of forms, colors, and blooms. They may differ in appearance, but they all have common denominators: swollen and cylindrical-shaped leaves, fleshy stems, and pads. While other plants photosynthesize through their leaves, succulents photosynthesize through their branches. Succulents are great indoor or outdoor plants since they could quickly adapt well to a dry environment. They are also easy to propagate, and due to their (mostly) compact size, they can also function as portable air purifiers in your home, workplace, or even a moving vehicle.
Let us now know further why succulents are the preferred indoor plants. By nature, they are hardy plants that could withstand different seasons and all kinds of weather. They can survive even in the harshest environment, so you do not have to worry about arid or cold surroundings and soil conditions. They can remain fully pumped with water even at extreme temperatures starting from fifty-two degrees Celsius; more than that, they can retain their water supply for up to two years.
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Succulents are said to be slow growers, but they grow differently from the other varieties of plants. Some have shorter lifespans like the Hens and Chicks succulents that only live up to 3 years, whereas some have a longer lifespan, like the Jade plant that lasts for about seventy years to a century! Aloe vera is said to last five to twenty-five years, but they are probably the most common plant you see from someone else’s veranda, backyard, patio, or living room area. Be wary that there is also a catch to being the easiest plants to look after; if not well-taken care of, they may not reach the standard life expectancy.
It would be best to water them at least once a month and let the soil dry out before you water them again in nurturing succulent plants. If the plant is smaller, you can water the ground or pot soil directly, avoiding the leaves. But for larger plants, start watering from the base and leave for about 10 minutes to soak. If you want to check if your succulent needs hydration, gently press the leaf with two of your fingers. If its leaves are firm, it means the plant does not need water—however, if the leaves feel flaccid and the stem seems soft to the touch, you can tell that it is experiencing overhydration. However, during periods of drought, succulents would drop their leaves on purpose to conserve their water supply. It does not mean that you can leave it because even if this is a normal response from the plant, you still have to keep it in a shadier location to lessen its stress.
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While succulents serve as decorative plants at home, office, or parks, some are used as medicinal plants, too. The aloe vera is one of the more popular succulents proven to treat particular illnesses like acne scars, indigestions, minor burns, or even dandruff. Often they can be edible for their fruit or their juice, such as the dragon fruit. But by all means, succulents are a great addition to your personal space, whether for decoration, remedial purposes, air freshening, or even emotional support. Only you can decide how you can manage your very own succulent—that is if you are motivated enough to get one for yourself.
