Succulents for the patio

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that succulents only thrive in hot, arid gardens. A surprising fact is that many succulents grow happily in containers and hanging baskets on patios and stoeps if they receive enough bright light.

Patio succulents need less frequent watering and very little attention, compared to other patio plants, and if you go away on holiday, they will survive drying out for a week or two, says John Sauer of Ngena Succulents.

But more than that, they are incredibly decorative. Their range of colours, leaf-shapes, and textures are best appreciated close-up, which makes them so appealing as patio plants.

Here are some tips from John about how to make the best of patio succulents.

Three’s company

What’s really effective are arrangements of three pots containing the same succulent variety, such as aloes, Portulacaria afra (Spekboom), agaves like the ornamental artichoke agave (Agave parryi) or the Dwarf Butterfly Agave (Agave potatorum ‘Kichiokan’) and even the large echeveria specimens like ‘Afterglow’ or ‘Giant Blue Curls’.

Mix and match

Plant up a mix of succulents in one container. Select succulents with contrasting silver, red, purple and green leaves as well as differing textures and leaf shapes. It is not only fun, and creative to put such a mix together, but it will be a talking point too.

In the mixed pot (above) John used the following succulents:

(Clockwise from back) Crassula tetragona (spiky leaves), Crassula ovata (oval green leaves with red edging), spekboom, and Aeonium ‘Kiwi’ (front). Finish off the planting with fine gravel that matches the pot.

Keep the mixed planting looking neat by trimming the succulents. Don’t let one or two over-grow the others and spoil the effect. The trimmings can always be used as cuttings to make new plants.

Did you know?

Portulacaria afra, also known as ‘Spekboom’ absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere that most other plants?

There are also many varieties of spekboom, including compact miniature plants, a cascading variety with variegated leaves, and others with different leaf sizes, including one with extremely large leaves.

The crunchy green leaves have a slightly sour taste and can be added to salads and even stews.

Tips for container succulents

• For optimum light, rearrange the pots according to the changing winter and summer light.
• Use pots with drainage holes and a potting medium that drains well. To make your own potting soil combine half washed river sand should be adequate. To test the mix, wet it and squeeze it in your hand. If it falls apart, the texture is right for succulents.
• Water your succulents so that the water drains through, and then empty the excess water out of the saucer. Let the soil dry out before watering again.

Hanging baskets for eye-level appeal

The best position for a succulent hanging basket is on a patio that receives plenty of bright light or morning sun. Too much direct afternoon sun may burn the plants.

John recommends using a deep wire basket lined with coir, which keeps the roots cool and allows the water to seep through. Horticultural vermiculite or perlite added to potting soil will improve the drainage without making the basket too heavy.

How to compose a hanging basket

Use one or two stand-out succulents, like echeveria, pachyveria, or mini aloe as the feature plants, with fillers like trailing sedums, crassula, oscularia, and succulent plectranthus varieties, that will trail over the edge of the baskets.

Where possible choose succulents with similar needs, such as limited watering, full sun to part sun, and minimal fertilizing.

The hanging basket above features: (from left to right) Crassula ovata (oval green leaves with red edge), Crassula ‘Hobbit’ (stubby finger-like leaves), Aeonium ‘Silver edge), groundcover Sedum, and (centre) Echeveria (purple).

Tips for hanging baskets

• Most succulents are slow growing and can be trimmed, but if the basket gets too full they can be separated, especially if ‘pups’ have grown from the mother plants.
• Succulents in hanging baskets may go for longer than other plants, but they still do need watering. Water only when the soil is dry. Drench the soil and allow the excess water to drain out. Do not let the water sit on the leaves as the sun can burn, leaving water marks. The interval between watering depends on their position (sun or shade) and time of year
• Don’t add fertiliser. This will make the succulents grow too fast and their colours may not be as intense.

Find out more: john@ngena.africa