For succulent care, stick to what they need

Back in the day, the only succulent in the average Florida garden was aloe vera.

It wasn't there for looks - most people grew aloe because we didn't have sun block. It was the perfect antidote for a hard day at the beach.

These days, people grow succulents of every size and shape, from the tiniest lithops to towering cereus. They're even sold in grocery stores.

"They've gotten more popular in the past 10 years in the Southeast. People are more exposed to them," says Mitch Kessler, vice president of the Central Florida Cactus and Succulent Society. "That's good, in a way, but then you have people who buy one and it rotted. Now they're scared of them."

Mitch doesn't want anyone to fear the succulent - he loves them. And they are easy to grow, he says, if you know what they need.

Contrary to popular belief, not all succulents want to be hot and dry. There are more than 12,000 species that grow around the world in all kinds of conditions; some are dormant in the summer, some like more water, some can take temperatures well below freezing.

But they do have some common wants. One is well-draining soil.

"They like their roots to be dry. Well-draining soil - with gravel, coarse sand or perlite - is good," Mitch says. Our native sand won't cut it; if you want to plant in the ground, you'll need to add gravel.

And most can't take much water in the winter.

"The worst combination is wet and frost," he says. "Both together is death."

To give your succulent a good start, mix potting soil with one of those less nutritious alternatives. A 50:50 mix is good if the plant won't be exposed to rain. Otherwise it needs an even higher percentage of gravel or perlite.

Next, know what kind of light your plant needs. While just about all succulents can take any kind of heat, not all of them can take full Florida sun. Look it up online, or buy from someone who can tell you.

Most succulents can take more water during active growth periods than when they're dormant. While some are dormant in the summer, others rest in the winter. They may drop leaves and even look kind of dead. That's the time to water even more sparingly.

When you water plants in containers, give them a good soak - till the water runs out the bottom. Fertilize occasionally with whatever you use for your other plants.

Easy succulents for Florida

Opuntia: There are many varieties of opuntia, an easy-to-grow cactus known for its bold, beautiful flowers and sweet fruit. They're also called bunny ears or prickly pear. In the Tampa Bay area, opuntia are good candidates for the landscape because they can take the summer rains and our temperature extremes.

Pachypodium: A genus that includes plants with a variety of looks and sizes, Pachypodiums have a thick base that stores water, and spines. Some are small shrubs, others grow into tall trees, including the popular Madagascar palm. Many are prolific bloomers. They like sunlight and can take the summer rains if they're in well-draining soil.

Myrtillocactus cristata: A tendency to form wrinkly crests as it grows and fans out make this an eye-catching specimen for the landscape. Also known as dinosaur back, these plants can't tolerate our summer rains, so they need a sheltered spot with good light. Water every week or two during active growing, and about once every three weeks in the winter.

GET PLANTS

WHAT: Central Florida Cactus & Succulent Society Show and Sale

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: USF Botanical Gardens, corner of Pine and Alumni drives on the Tampa campus

ADMISSION: Free

INFORMATION: Call (813) 264-5614 or e-mail mk@kesconsult

JOIN THE CLUB

WHAT: The Central Florida Cactus & Succulent Society

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month

WHERE: Tampa Garden Club, 2729 Bayshore Blvd., Tampa.