Our tips

Each season you will find in this section of the website our tips for growing succulents.

 

Summer

During this season the most plants vegetate, thus for cares and attentions it is a rather quiet period. Plants should be watered often (even twice weekly) for in nature this is the rain season. If for some reason this is not possible, this does not cause a problem for succulents. Let's not forget that it is almost impossible for a succulent to die of thirst! It can, however, easily die for too much water.

Some exceptions during the summer are some species as the living stones, which should not be watered until the first blooms.
Summer is an excellent period for grafts.

 

Autumn

Even autumn is a relatively quiet season for caring and heeding succulents.

For those who live in the Riviera or in regions where the climate is mild, it is possible to leave the plants outdoors (cactaceae, crassulaceae ecc.) for the time being, however waterngs should be diminished: it is always better to water the plants in the morning so that during the day they will have time to dry.

In autumn, the thermal excursion between day and night, as well as some days of sunshine, help the colouring of many species outdoors: generally the crassulaceae are an explosion of colours!

As for caudiciforms (plants from South Africa and Madagascar), the should be brought indoors or in verandas, since the temperature they can withstand should never fall below a minimun of 14°C.

All types of cactaceae that are brought indoors should have a totally different treatment. They should not be placed near sources of heat, but in full light, possibly in front of a window: their ideal temperature is between 2°C to 8°C to respect their winter rest period.

Many cactaceae ( especially the soft type as the Lophophora) begin to deflate during autumn: they are beginning their rest period and are diminishing their water reserves. This does not mean that they are thirsty, and should thus be watered moderately. September, October and November are the months of the fantastic flowering of the Mesembryanthemaceae (Lithops, Pleiospilos etc. )

 

Winter

Even plants go into hibernation. There's no problem for those of you who have a glass house; for those who havent't, just leave them indoors making sure that the temperature isn't too high (the ideal temperature is between 8 and 12 degrees). The ideal place is therefore the less heated rooms, preferably well-lighted.

Concerning the Testudinarie and most of the Caudiciformis never forget that the place where they rest must necessarily have a temperature of at least 14 degrees. Succulents must always stay in a well lighted place.

 

Spring

It's the season of glowing surprises. During this period, infact, cactuses and succulents give us surprising flowering for those who not yet know much about this wonderful and fascinating world.

The potting started at the end of February can be carried on and after the second half of March we can place the less delicate plants on the window-sill, making sure to take them back in if the nights are too cold.