Succulents -
The Water Savers
by Rich Sherman, Southern California Gardening Guru of Myrtle Creek Nursery, Fallbrook, CA

A succulent is a plant which has the natural ability store water in its body or roots. They usually have fattened leaves or thick stems filled with stored water, which allows them to live through long periods without moisture. Having less leaf or surface area that is exposed to the air where moisture can evaporate, the store the water, using it when needed--and saving the gardener water.

Succulents are one of the most unique, diverse and fascinating plant groups. They cope well as indoor plants, living through periods of neglect, requiring very little care throughout the year. Outdoors, they provide interest to a landscape or as a patio container plant.

A lot of succulents have adapted to dry locations with scarce rainfall, however, others come from moist, tropical forests and live high in the trees, rooted to the bark. Others live happily in high elevations, surviving frequent drops in temperatures and still others live in along ocean shores exposed to heavy fogs and occasional sea spray.

Cacti are one type of succulent, having spines, roots and flowers that grow from small nubbin-like structures called areoles. Succulents that have spines growing directly out of the body of the plant are not true cacti.

When purchasing succulents, always look at the base of the plant at the soil line for any discoloration or softening. These are signs of rot, a disease that destroys the roots of the plant over several months. If there are signs of new growth, make sure it is not thin and pale as this shows the plant has been poorly grown and is weak. Succulents are usually very free of pests or disease, but make sure there is no evidence of scale (non-moving insects appearing as raised tan or brown dots) or mealy bugs (non-moving insects with cottony grey or white spots), as these pest can move through an entire collecting, infecting all plants.

Most succulents have a definite growing and resting or dormant season. Knowing your plants cycles is important. Most succulents have their active growth period during spring and summer, becoming  dormant in fall and winter. They should be warm, fed and watered while growing and cool, non-fed, and dry while dormant. Make sure you find out where your plants come from originally, and what the cycles are, so you can care for them properly.

Most succulents require bright or strong light and sandy soil--but always check as the succulents coming from tropical forests or coastal regions require different conditions.