Overnight temperatures are dipping lower, as they do this time of year. Our lemon tree and elephant ear bulbs have been moved inside our greenhouse and this charming pot of succulents is sitting on my nightstand.
You might remember this succulent collection was created for My Favorite Spot outside. It has grown quite a bit since May, don’t you think?
I’m concerned the tall green branches on the right side may bend or even break. Today’s project is all about protecting the succulents so they are healthy when Spring arrives. Notice there are tiny sprouts that can be propagated, like in THIS POST from June.
If you’ve been reading my blog for long, it’s no surprise that I’m choosing pots that are chippy and have some patina. 😉 If losing potting soil out the bottom drain holes is a frustration for you, here’s a tip. Place a paper cupcake liner in the bottom. The water can still drain, but the liner will hold onto the soil until it compacts and stays inside by itself.
To begin prepping my succulents for winter, I snip the tallest branches about four inches above the pot. At least two leaves need to be left below the cut.
I also gently pinched away the tiny sprouts and played barbershop with the draping plant.
Leaves are stripped from the longest cuttings before the stems were pressed into the pots. Sometimes the leaves will grow for me and sometimes they don’t. I have not yet discovered the secret to successfully multiplying succulents from the leaves. Of course, if I don’t plant them, I know they won’t live. The few seconds it takes to tuck them into the earth is worth even one leaf thriving. The tiny sprouts slide in nicely and the draping succulent sits on top of the soil. After watering, small stones will weight the groundcover variety, holding it against the soil until its roots can develop.
In order to saturate the potting soil, the small ones will hop into my kitchen sink. I’ll give them a good soak and let them drain before placing them in saucers. The tall succulent is now a height that should safely make it through the Winter without bending or breaking. Having more plants to play with in Spring is a lovely bonus!
These three pots will brighten my nightstand while the days are dark and cold.
If you found this post helpful, here are couple of pin-able images.
How are you prepping for Winter?
😉 -Marci
