Succulent Container Gardens: Balcony Perfection
Posted January 20, 2010  |  No Comments  | 

Debra Lee Baldwin, a native San Diegan and one of Southern California's best garden writers, has published a new book, Succulent Container Gardens. Perfect for Vantage Pointe residents with our balconies, terraces, and wall-sized windows, the book will inspire you to create magnificent container gardens that have the added benefit of being low water consumers. We asked Debra to give us a preview of the book exclusive to Vantage Pointe.

Enhance Your Outdoor Living Areas with Succulent Plants
by Debra Lee Baldwin

Succulents are carefree plants for condo owners. Because succulents store moisture in fleshy leaves, they get by with much less water than typical potted plants. Succulents grow readily from cuttings, thrive in containers large or small, and come in numerous shapes and colors.

The plants range in size from delicate sedums with rice-sized leaves to trees that suggest something out of Dr. Seuss. The dragon tree, the logo of the San Diego Botanical Garden, is one of many examples. 

All cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. My books, Designing with Succulents and Succulent Container Gardens, emphasize soft-leaved, user-friendly plants. These include geometric aloes; aeoniums that resemble large green daisies; echeverias that look like lavender cabbages; and numerous kinds of jade plants---including 'Hummel's Sunset', which has bright yellow leaves tinged with red.

Fountain-shaped agaves, columnar euphorbias and other sculptural succulents with strong architectural lines lend drama to outdoor living spaces. Small, jewel-like succulents---such as those that resemble roses, red-and-green jelly beans, or plump Jordan almonds---are great in sitting areas where the plants can be enjoyed close-up.

If you're creating a balcony or patio garden, unify the composition with pots made of the same material, such as terracotta, or that have the same color glaze. For an upscale look, avoid anything made of plastic and keep utilitarian items concealed. In order to feel surrounded by your garden (rather than looking down on it), use plant stands or bricks to elevate a few of the pots.

Succulent Container Gardens includes wall displays, hanging baskets, miniature landscapes and even bonsais. Elephant's food (Portulacaria afra) can be used to create diminutive trees that appear ancient. Score the limbs with a knife to give the bark a weathered look, and add rocks to suggest a rugged habitat.

Succulents prefer fast-draining potting soil ("cactus mix") that goes nearly dry between waterings. Should you forget to water your succulents, they'll draw moisture from their leaves. These may shrivel a bit, but will plump again when the plant is watered.

San Diego's mild, maritime climate is ideal for succulents, many of which come from South Africa and Madagascar. These are sun-loving plants that need at least four hours of direct sunlight daily. Avoid letting the roots become waterlogged, lest they rot. If you live where temperatures drop below freezing, shelter your succulents beneath an overhang or place them alongside a wall.

San Diego has wonderful succulent specialty nurseries, such as Solana Succulents in Solana Beach. Most large nurseries (like Walter Andersen) also have a good selection. The local chapter of the Cactus and Succulent Society of America meets monthly in Balboa Park and hosts two plant sales a year.

For additional ideas, information, links, and resources, visit my websites: www.debraleebaldwin.com and www.succulentchic.net.