Remember how excited I was when I first discovered the Hipstamatic photo app for the iPhone?
My lovely friend and neighbour Nic was so amused to find me lying on her lawn taking photos of her succulents, that she potted up some cuttings into a miniature garden for me. Over the past couple of months, they’ve thrived and grown into the gorgeous display above.
Inspired by how beautiful they all are, I asked Nic for more cuttings to fill some of our empty terracotta pots…
Nic’s advice was to buy the best potting mix we could find, and to avoid “succulent blends”, which she found too sandy. Some of the little plants had no roots at all, so I’ll be interested to see if they take…
I planted out two pots – the smaller one at the back is a gift for my mother, and the larger one will stay here. I wasn’t really sure what I was doing – it felt like I was just nestling some of the smaller rosettes into the dirt, but I’ve been told that’s usually all they need to get established. Time will tell, I guess!
The original pot that Nic gave us has proven to be a fabulous photographic subject – here are a few of the photos I’ve taken over the past few weeks…
An exciting new hobby to explore! I’ve been to the library to borrow a book, and today I dragged Pete out to local nurseries to see what’s on offer.
Do you grow succulents? I’d be very grateful for any advice or tips you might have!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Those little rosettes look so lovely. I hope they all grow. When I was a wee person (late teens) I was big time into succulents. I don’t know why my interest waned. Maybe I should get my books off the shelf.
Glenda, I can feel the mania starting – I paid a visit to the succulents seller at the markets today.. :D
This looks like such a fun new hobby! Your mom will love hers.. I love that photo with the little drops of water.. gorgeous! I’ve got a “brown” thumb, so I don’t have any advice, I just know some cuttings do just get popped into soil and they will grow!
Barb, I hope you’re right! I’ve been madly planting. I do wonder if slow growing succulents is the right hobby for someone with the patience of a boiling kettle. I go out every morning in my dressing gown and slippers to check on them (and the chooks!) :)
I’ve grown them over the years. They are so prolific that one has to replant them every once in a while (or take cuttings) or they overgrow the pots and the space you have them in. And they don’t like a lot of watering- especially top watering ( water them from the base/roots).
I once planted up about 5 pots- in a wreath -style pot and gave them as
Christmas gifts- living wreaths. They were quite pretty- and got lots of “ooh’s and ahh,s” . But then the people who weren’t plant people wanted to give them back after the holidays so I could take care of them. I didn’t really want that many wreaths and I don’t have access to a greenhouse anymore. :(
Heidi, that’s a shame – I’d love a Christmas wreath made with succulents! I’ve been reading about tea cup gardens – have you heard of those? It’s something you might like, teeny succulents grown in old tea cups filled with pebbles and a little soil, and watered just a tiny bit as there’s no drainage hole. There are some great photos on google!
We have quite a few succulents growing in our garden Celia and quite honestly there is no secret, they really just grow very well. Well, they do in our garden…
:-) Mandy
Mandy, you’ve given me hope! Thanks love! :)
Your succulents are doing so well, Celia. I’ve no luck with such things, I’m afraid and I’ve stopped trying. I did get my iPhone 5, though, and the Hipstamatic App, too. I just need to figure out how to use both. ;)
John, that’s great news about the iphone, hope you’re having fun with it! There’s a quick tutorial on using the Hipstamatic here:
http://www.hipstamatic-combo-compare.com/Your-1st-5-Minutes-Guide-Hipstamatic.htm
What a wonderful new hobby! I will look forward to seeing more of these little beauties in the future. :D
Thanks Misky! There are certainly more photos to come! :)
Love succulents and started growing 3 this year and so far are thriving and growing:) Have a Great One!
Ooh cool, Renee! That’s encouraging to know! :)
Celia, before I left Tasmania last year my neighbour gave me a variety, I have returned to find the pots full to the brim and I now need to cull them, will send pics, now a fan too.
Roz, they’re just so photogenic, aren’t they? I think they’re wonderful!
I haven’t seen some of these succulents for years, Celia!
Lizzy, there are sooo many available these days, the secret is to find a good source, I think! I’m in the process of filling an old concrete laundry tub with them!
I love succulents as to me they are just good old fashioned ‘grandma’ plants that look lovely in any old thing as a pot, and also they grow on the [horrible] balcony with no fuss, just not too much water. I ‘acquired’ a couple of pieces of Mother-in-Law’s Tongue a few months ago, and to my delight have sprouted my own, and have been entertained watching it grow… oh well; you do what you can with what you’ve got :)
ED, I think they’d be perfect balcony plants! I’ve just discovered the round floral versions, and am completely smitten!
succulents I can dependably grow! As I do absolutely nothing with them ;-) A couple of years ago, like you I got a whole heap of little cuttings, all with no roots, shoved them in some dirt and let them do their succulenty thing.
Brydie, will we get to see some photos? xx
I love those rosetta looking succulents. My mother grows them and has them in pots at the entrance to their home. They’re on either side of the steps to the front door. I’ll ask her what she does to keep them looking so good and get back to you if she has any hot tips! xx
Thanks Charlie, we’re absolute beginners, so we need all the help and advice we can get! :)
These are such great photos — what a wonderful assortment. I always severely under-watered my succulents, afraid of overdoing it. I seemed to have been under-doing it though. Now I water them regularly, I just let them dry out all the way in between and they are much happier. I’ve never made such creative arrangements, though — perhaps I ought to try!
Siobhan, thanks for the advice! You might enjoy this great clip by Debra Lee Baldwin…
This is so exciting — thanks!
I saw a whole wall of succulents in an office building Celia, it was gorgeous! I would love a wall of them like that in my bathroom, they would be fabulous :) Good luck with your propagating sweetie!
Thanks Becca! It’s been a fun couple of weeks, playing with them! Of course, nothing has actually grown yet, but then again, nothing has died either! :)
Tony grows succulents. As far as I can see they thrive on his neglect and sitting in strong sunlight.
Rose, that’s good to know! Go Tony! :)
Great photos Celia, how awesome are succulents! Maybe you’d like kalanchoe ‘flapjack’, it’s one of my favourites. It looks like a group of pancakes all nestled in together and is a beautiful soft green with pink tips. There’s another one that is all frilly on it’s edges. just amazing! :)
Claire, thanks for the pointer, I’ll check it out! There are sooo many different shapes and varieties! I don’t particularly like the very spiky cactii, but the softer flower-like ones are just gorgeous!
The water droplet photo is so beautiful Celia! I’m sure with your green thumb they’ll all be thriving in no time.
When our upstairs neighbours moved out a tiny little brand must have snapped off their jade plant and I found it in the entrance way. I stuck it straight into a pot and now I have a thriving jade plant. If I can do it you most definitely can!
Claire, that’s amazing! Jade plants are supposed to be vigorous growers, but to grow a whole plant from a little branch is really impressive!
Your cactus even bloomed! It looks beautiful. My mom has grown several different varieties of succulents, but none of the cacti have ever bloomed. One aloe vera plant did bloom once, but that was it! Yours look very pretty.
Manuela, thank you! I didn’t do anything to it, but it must really like the position it’s in.
My advice for growing succulents is: Do NOT overwater. I am sure your mother is going to enjoy her gift.
Thanks Norma! She did! :)
Love your photos Celia, especially the water droplets. I grow succulents as they are perfectly suited to our very hot summers. They really don’t need much attention at all! Enjoy your new hobby!
Jane, thank you! Are you enjoying the Pepe Saya butter on all your fabulous sourdoughs? :)
I absolutely adore succulents. We have some “hens and chicks” and another one I’ve forgotten the name of which is so soft. I love running my fingers through it and feeling the texture. Mine have done very well being ignored for the most part. I do pull the weeds and water but I usually let nature do that for me. Enjoy your succulents. Your potting looks great.
Sharon
Sharon, thank you! I love the little hens and chicks varieties, and the way they seem to just multiply themselves in a river like fashion!
And that, boys and girls, is how one mania leads to another.
Hugs, Maz
Yup, isn’t it great? That’s exactly what my friend Dan said too. :D xx
I’ve never thought to grow them in groups in pots – what a nice idea. And aren’t the flowers such a glorious surprise!
Amanda, I’ve seen some really beautiful arrangements, which are then pulled indoors and used as a centrepiece when entertaining. It’s a nice idea!
And without our passions where would we be! Lovely to revive an old passion by watching yours grow…Nicx
We’re going to be two mad old neighbours Nic, weaving and potting and planting.. :)
succulents are things of beauty, we have had a few over the years, some winters they survive, others well the wet and cold gets to them, that and my neglect! We are re doing our garden …. an ongoing project…. and you have reminded me how much I like them and that I nee dto create a few pots – thank you !
Claire, that’s exciting, look forward to seeing what you plant! I wonder if you get different varieties over there to what we get here?
Wow they are really pretty! I love the red ones especially. I tend to fall on succulents-don’t ask! :P But I tend to hurt myself on them…
I once grabbed a very large cactus. It wasn’t a good moment..so I do empathise! x
I’ve never grown succulents but you make it tempting. Great photos!
Karen, this is the first time for us too! Can you tell I’m a bit exciting by it all? :)
When I read the title, I thought was is that? Then, I saw what you meant & laughed,…:)
hehehe…sorry to confuse you, Sophie! :)
Morning Celia, gee you take some beautiful photos :). Just letting you know I have posted an In My Kitchen for November and it would be really great if you could add it to your list for me. Thanks Shirley
Thanks for playing Shirley! :)
One of the things that I love about visiting your blog is that I never know what I’m going to read- from bread baking to chocolate making to photographing succulents, you offer such a lovely variety. Thanks Celia! Beautiful photos :)
That’s very kind of you Emilie, thank you!
Dear Celia,
Those succulents look beautiful. I have a platter similar to yours and they are so easy to maintain and look beautiful indoors too. http://pinterest.com/pin/305611524683241059/
All I can say is WOW! Great shots…