Aeonium Love

Aeonium has been a successful year round succulent in my yard. It is such a lovely plant forming rosettes of succulents atop branching stems. I have grown them for years in full sun. Those have stayed fairly compact, with the branches being a cool sculptural feature. Last summer I planted two small 4" and 6" aeonium starters in a new bed. The bed gets morning and afternoon sun, and unknown to us at the time, a broken leaking sprinkler head that provided constant water even through winter. Those grew atleast 10 times their beginning size in less than year. They have turned into large aeonium bushes, stems hidden under large lush rosettes.
Aeoniums are cool season, winter growing succulents. They hunker down in heat and go dormant, still looking lovely. They LOVE Water, obviously flourishing with the excess we unknowingly provided them. I have never lost one to frost or heat intolerance. Snails love them though, so sprinkle bait.
Propagate your aeoniums by snapping off a branch and tucking it in the ground. Easy!
Photos show the difference in their growth habit depending on where I have them planted. I like both looks, though it's very exciting to finally have the huge lush aeonium bushes. 

Aeonium bushes left and right, getting morning and afternoon sun and excess watering

Aeonium Tabuliformae

Aeonium Schwarzkopf

new cuttings rooting in a succulent cone

One aeonium plant with different color variations

new Schwarzkopf plantings

Aeonium in full hot sun with less water, keeping it sculptural and small

Gift plant from a vendor at the Sacramento Cactus and Succulent show. Aeonium Leucoblepharium

Aeonium Schwarzkopf

Aeonium Cyclops

The tiny Aeonium Silver Edge starter back in July 2012.

a peek under the large bush showing the branches.

aeonium canariense "silver edge" -huge amount of growth since July 2012.

Ghost plant, invisible plant.

I spent part of today removing rocks and filling in color around the graptopetalum paraguayense (the mass of white rosette type succulents pictured below). It really is the "ghost plant". It is lovely when you can see it. Unfortunately it blends right in with the river rocks, and looks less than exciting on dirt. I built up an area behind it and planted some sanseveria that needed a home. I was hoping that would help draw your eye to it. NOPE. I filled in the lovely yellow sedum nussbaumeranium with lonely sprigs from other places in the garden. Um, nope. Ok. So I added some  blue Echeveria sproutlings. They will reach atleast 8 inches across. Now if they would only grow fast. My mom got me an Echeveria gibbiflora ruffles yesterday, so that found a new home. I'm still not happy with the look.

A few new ideas.  I MAY pull the graptopetalum out at some point and use it for a dramatic pot. Or maybe, find a sedum that contasts really well and under plant it. It's also getting leggy. I may cut the rosettes off and stick them back in the ground (easy propagation!) All leaves that fell off have been tucked in the dirt around it. Maybe a tighter bunch would help. What an annoying, yet lovely, little white plant.

After pictures and before picture. Yep, you still can't see it.

Easy Propagation of Succulents

     Succulents are very easy to propagate. Some leaf attachments are very fragile and will drop off with the lightest touch. Those leaves however will drop and root where they fall. If you are trying to spread a plant around you can pull some lower leaves and stick them in the ground. They will also grow. I have read to let the ends seal up for a day or two before planting, but I am too impatient, and just stick them in the ground.

a fallen sedum nussbaumeranium leaf sprouting

Sedum robrotinctum leaf sprout

old dead leaf sprouting in rocks and leaf mulch

    Stem cuttings will also grow roots. I have a graptopetalum paraguayensis (ghost plant) that I accidentally broke off a large branch of. I stuck it in dirt and it grew. That is how I always add additional plants now. Sedum, echeveria, aeonium, cactus etc... Be careful not to overwater causing rot. If rot happens, cut off the rotted tissue and replant.

Cactus pad that fell off, already rooted.

broken bit of graptopetalum

     Aloes and Agaves will send "pups" up from the base. Those are easily separated by pulling them out at the base. They will already have roots and are ready to be planted.

aloe with a lot of pups

easy removal of pups

aloe saponaria and pup

nice roots on this aloe saponaria pup

      Sedum of various sorts is an easy ground cover. It spreads by shallow roots. You can easily pull up pieces to add elsewhere in your garden. Even large chunks can be cut out and moved. Just take your shovel and lightly cut about an inch into the dirt under the piece to be moved.

sedum angelica

Sempervivum Cone

I had the idea the other day to create a small cone to hang hens and chicks (sempervivum) on the fence. I had extra fine gauge mesh left over from creating a cinder block sculpture so I decided to give a try. It worked out beautifully.

Get some fine gauge mesh at your hardware store. Cut into a rectangular / square shape. Roll into a cone shape and squeeze the bottom together. I also folded the back rough edge under to keep the sharp wire edges from cutting me.

Fill half way with pebbles, add a bit of cactus and succulent mix mixed with pebbles.

Hang your cone on a nail where you would like it placed. Smash ends to keep soil and pebbles in place.

Take out your sempervivum and flip it over. Clean off roots, clean up dead or drying leaves, then tuck gently into the cone. Add more pebbles and soil and to hold it in place.

Now you have a lovely hanging sempervivum bouquet.

I am in zone 9b. Hot summers, a little rain, light freezes. I have had trouble with sempervivum either burning up or rotting. This last year I have found a successful way of growing these. For me, I take the soil off the roots and gently place in a mostly gravel mix. Roots just barely touching dirt. Morning direct sun only, bright light always, to keep color and help with growth. Very Light water. I have many spreading hens and chicks finally!