This ultimate guide to succulents will help you raise these popular plants successfully—no matter where you live. We show you how to beautifully grow and use them in handmade containers, wreaths, flea-market finds, and of course in the landscape. In addition to hundreds of inspiring images, the issue includes a care guide, a mini encyclopedia of succulent varieties, and other tips and techniques for helping your plants thrive.
Succulents
LIGHT & TEMPERATURE • STRONG, HEALTHY SUCCULENTS NEED AT LEAST FOUR HOURS OF FULL SUN (OUTDOORS) OR BRIGHT DIRECT LIGHT (INDOORS) DAILY. THE HUES OF SOME COLORFUL VARIETIES INTENSIFY IN PLENTIFUL LIGHT. WITHOUT ENOUGH SUN, PLANTS WEAKEN AND STRETCH. TO PROTECT SUCCULENTS FROM SCORCHING IN HOT SUN, SITUATE THEM WHERE THEYÕLL GET AFTERNOON SHADE.
SOIL • WELL-DRAINING SOIL IS CRUCIAL FOR HEALTHY SUCCULENTS. THEIR ROOTS SUFFER WHEN STANDING IN WATER. GROW SUCCULENTS IN SOIL THAT QUICKLY DRAINS EXCESS WATER.
WATER • SUCCULENTS STORE WATER IN THEIR STEMS, LEAVES, AND ROOTS. THE PLANTS NEED WATER TO THRIVE, BUT OVERWATERING WILL ROT ROOTS. AS LONG AS SOIL DRAINS WELL AND IS NOT OVERSATURATED, SUCCULENTS CAN BASK IN SUN FOR DAYS OR WEEKS WITHOUT TENDING.
propagation • IN SPRING AND SUMMER, WHEN WARM WEATHER AND BRIGHT SUN ENCOURAGE NEW GROWTH, MULTIPLY YOUR SUCCULENTS USING WHICHEVER OF THESE EASY METHODS IS BEST SUITED TO YOUR PLANT VARIETY.
SUCCULENT café • MUGS OF COFFEE AND MORE: THIS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CAFÉ SERVES UP SWEET TREATS AND SUCCULENTS.
BOUQUETS • IT’S NO WONDER FLORISTS ARE EXPERIENCING A DEMAND FOR SUCCULENT BOUQUETS. MANY OF THE FLESHY-LEAVED PLANTS—ESPECIALLY ECHEVERIAS—RESEMBLE ROSES. BUT, OH, THE COLORS! TEAL, BABY BLUE, LAVENDER-PINK, MINT GREEN, AND MORE. USE ONE DESIGNER’S TIPS TO MAKE YOUR SUCCULENT BOUQUET, THEN PULL IT APART AND PLANT IT.
SIMPLICITY BY DESIGN • SAN DIEGO DESIGNER LAURA EUBANKS CREATES DROUGHT-TOLERANT YET LUSH YARDS WITHOUT A SINGLE BLADE OF GRASS IN SIGHT.
CREATIVE CONTAINERS • REPURPOSE FOUND THINGS—EVEN FREE JUNK—INTO PLANTERS WITH CHARACTER. JUST ADD SOIL, SUCCULENTS, AND WATER.
CHALLENGING CONDITIONS • TENACIOUS ALPINE SUCCULENTS THRIVE BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE.
IT’S ONLY NATURAL • A CREATIVE APPROACH TO WREATH MAKING GOES BEYOND THE STANDARD ROUND FORM. USE FRESH MATERIALS—INCLUDING LIVE PLANTS!—FOR A MARVELOUS DISPLAY THAT WILL LAST FOR MONTHS.
WATER-WISE and WONDERFUL • A LOS ANGELES COUPLE SWAP THEIR LAWN FOR A FRONT YARD OF COLORFUL SUCCULENTS AND HERBS SUITED TO THE ARID CLIMATE.
LIGHT as a FEATHER • BRING ALL THE GREAT TEXTURE AND COLOR OF STONES TO YOUR GARDEN WITH NONE OF THE EXTRA WEIGHT.
LANDSCAPE Remake • DESIGNERS TRANSFORM A TIRED YARD INTO A WELCOMING LOW-WATER LANDSCAPE AND A PEACEFUL RETREAT.
hand-cast CONCRETE PLANTERS • STIR UP SOME FUN BY MIXING CONCRETE AND CREATING YOUR OWN CUSTOM PLANTERS. THESE LOW-COST PROJECTS ARE AS EASY AS MAKING MUD PIES.
BOTANICAL Bling • REIMAGINE YOUR FAVORITE SUCCULENTS AS A SET OF LUSH EARRINGS.
BEAUTIFUL HARMONY • AS A COUPLE OF INTREPID GARDENERS BLEND SUCCULENTS WITH PERENNIALS AND OTHER PLANTS IN BEDS AND CONTAINERS, THEY DISCOVER HOW TO HELP THE PLANTS SURVIVE CLIMATE EXTREMES.
STILL LIFE • SUCCULENT CUTTINGS BECOME ADORNMENT IN THIS EASY PROJECT. BRING ANY FIRM SURFACE TO LIFE WITH MOSS, GLUE, AND A FEW SIMPLE STEPS.
26 MOST POPULAR SUCCULENTS
SHOPPING GUIDE
living CHANDELIER • BRIGHTEN A SPOT, INDOORS OR OUT, WITH A PORTABLE DISPLAY OF JEWEL-TONE AIR PLANTS.