Aside from starting my own homestead and learning how to propagate hens and chicks, I have also taken an interest in growing succulents! Succulents are plants that have fat, fleshy leaves. They don’t need to be watered that often, since they store water in their leaves. Many succulent varieties come from dry areas of the tropics and deserts. Some succulents even have health benefits, such as aloe vera and the common houseleek.

(Common Houseleek)

Since all succulent varieties have similar needs, here’s how to take care of them:

1. Succulents need bright light. To figure out whether your plant is receiving enough sunlight, check the leaves. Some succulents will scorch if suddenly exposed to direct light. The leaves will usually turn brown or white as the plant dies out. A succulent that is not receiving enough sunlight will also start to stretch. It will have an elongated stem and widely spaced leaves. To fix this, you can prune the plant and provide it with adequate sunlight.

2. Succulents are actually pretty good at handling the cold. Since desert nights are cold, succulents thrive when nights are colder.

(Succulent cuttings)

3. Water your succulents regularly in summer, but in the winter, limit watering to every other month. Succulent plants are dormant in the winter. When your plant is over-watered, they are soft and discolored. To save it, you can check the roots. If they’re brown and rotted, cut away the dead parts and repot the plant into drier potting soil. You can also take a cutting and propagate the plant. To do this, take a sharp knife and cut away the part of the plant you would like to propagate. This could be a stem, or a leaf. Allow the cutting to dry for 24 hours until it forms a scab. Then, simply plant the cutting cut side down. You should see roots start to form in a few weeks. If you are under-watering the plant, it will stop growing and start to shed its leaves.

(Succulents in vintage teacup)

4. Succulents should be potted in a fast-draining potting soil designed for cacti and succulents. If you can’t find that type of potting soil, you can create your own by mixing a normal potting mix with perlite to increase drainage.

5. As for fertilizing, you can fertilize your succulents like any normal plants, but limit it only to summertime. Do not fertilize succulents in the winter.

(Purple Echeveria)

Photos: Cactus Jungle, Succulents and Sunshine, Hirondelles Blog, Etsy.

It happens to all of us, you forget to water your plants, or you accidentally give them too much sun. Pretty soon you start to notice them wilting or turning brown, but don’t worry! That plant might still be salvageable! Read on to find out!

1. Look the plant over carefully for any signs of life. If the stems or roots have a hint of green and aren’t brittle, that’s a sign the plant is still alive.

2. Trim off any dead stems and leaves. If there is no green remaining, leave the main part of the plant stem.

3. Water the plant thoroughly. If it’s necessary, add more soil to the pot.

4. Place the plant in a sunny window. Avoid places that are too cold or too hot, it could prevent the plant from growing.

5. Mist the plant every day, ensuring that the soil is moist and in 3-4 weeks you should start to see signs of life.

Photos: Plant Shed, Ed Place.

Getting that perfect lawn doesn’t require magic or even toxic fertilizers. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is! Read our 5 simple tips and you’ll be on the road to a perfect lawn that will make your neighbors green with jealousy!

1. Getting Rid of Yellow Patches

Those yellow patches you see on your lawn are usually just the result of a low spot, which means the dirt there is lower than the rest of your yard. These spots appear after a heavy rain, and the grass suffocates in the standing water. You can try spreading a layer of compost over the spot to raise it up to the level as the rest of the lawn. You should soon see new grass start to sprout. But what about yellow patches from our beloved pets? There is a few things you can do to fix this problem. You can water the area thoroughly after your dog has urinated on the spot, or you can add regular household sugar to the patch. The high carbon in sugar neutralizes the high nitrogen in dog urine. Just throw a handful of sugar over the spot and you should soon see new grass start to grow!

2. Don’t Cut the Grass too Short

Grass cut short responds by growing faster. Don’t cut more than a third of the grass’ height at one time. If you cut any deeper, you’re damaging the grass, and will take a few mowing cycles to recover fully.

3. Leave the Clippings

Don’t bother raking and bagging the clippings – leave them where they fall. The clippings will fertilize the soil, and if you cut your grass often, they’ll be short and work their way back into the grass without leaving a mess.

4. Don’t Mow a Wet Lawn

You should never mow a lawn while it’s wet because the water will compact the soil and then the roots won’t be able to breathe. The grass will die and you will start to see bald patches on your lawn.

5. Water Well, But Infrequently

If you water your lawn daily, it encourages shallow roots and will waste water. Here are 3 ways to check if your lawn needs watering: the grass has a blue tinge, the soil resists when you push a screwdriver into it, and footprints on the lawn remain compressed.

6. Getting Rid of Weeds

The best way to get rid of weeds is to grow thick grass. By taking care of your lawn and observing it closely, the problem can resolve itself. If you only have a few weeds, simply pull them out.

7. Don’t Water Your Grass at Night

The best time to water your grass is pre-dawn or early morning. Watering at night doesn’t let the grass dry out before the dew falls, and prolonged moisture puts your grass at risk for disease.

Photos: Call Northwest, Speciality Lawn Care GA, Go Mow.