Thriving Succulents: Indoors and Outdoors

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by Jackie Manchester-Kempke 

I enjoyed having succulents in the house long before I added any to my landscape. Living in Michigan, gardeners have fewer species to choose from that can survive our winters; however, there are many choices of sedums and sempervivums that thrive here, which add texture and color to our perennial gardens. Many bees visit mine!

There was an unsightly area (too large!) on the upside of my circular driveway that has been in transition for five years now. It was a huge undertaking for me alone. The “grass” was sparse with several species of hardy “Do-Not-Wants” and a few nice clumps of red clover overtaking it. Add three 25-feet pine trees and a medium-sized maple. I disliked mowing it and decided to begin altering the area. I chose some different sedum and stonecrop varietals for the first section I tackled. I no longer remember their names, but their coloring and sizes were distinct and made for an eye-catching planting along with the rocks placed here and there.  

Since then I have added Angelina stonecrop, various sempervivums, and more large Stonecrop varietals. These, with grasses like Big Bluestem in the back, interspersed with Black-eyed Susan and Blazing Star, do well and look charming. A very positive aspect of succulents outdoors (as well as grasses and native wildflowers) is that once they are established they do well in times of drought. Autumn Joy is a late-season blooming Stonecrop, which is important for the pollinators. 

Whenever I see a display of indoor succulents, it’s difficult to pass by. They are “cute” or dramatic or interesting-looking, as well as easy to grow. Plants that can thrive with some neglect appeal to me. Unlike my friend Toni, who had a whole table of African violets she pampered, I prefer houseplants that add some life to a room but demand little. I also think that having an aloe in my house that soothes mild burns makes sense. Beauty and practicality. These days my only 365-day houseplants are succulents and a cactus that share some space with a couple geraniums I overwinter. When I leave for a week or so I am not worried if they will survive, even with the heat turned down to 62 degrees. I come back, give them water and a pep talk and all is well.

Succulents are easy plants to propagate. I have seen how-to videos online that show how to propagate succulents by gently pushing the edges of leaves you have removed from a plant into some prepared soil. These “DIYs” pop up now and then when I am at my computer, so check out YouTube if that sounds like an experiment you would like to try.  

Succulents do not do well in regular soil because it’s too heavy and can hold more water than a plant can tolerate, leading to rot at the roots. Before I understood that too much water can negatively affect a plant just as much as too little, I lost a plant or two. Rather than mixing soil when repotting, I now buy a bag of succulent/cactus soil at my local feed store. The work and cost of buying, then mixing the various components for my few plants is not worth the work for me, but if someone reading this would prefer to mix soil, see the two soil mixes below taken from two different websites. There is also a list of sound practices for raising succulents. I enjoyed noticing that that grower’s advice echoes our training as MSUE Master Gardener Volunteers! 

Six guidelines for beginners:

  1. Pick the right plant for the space/light you have.

  2. Water only when completely dry. The site suggests using a water meter or a wooden chopstick pushed into the drain hole on the bottom to see if there is still moisture there. Water until some drops come from the drainage hole.

  3. Use the correct pot: porous with a drainage hole.

  4. Use fast draining soil. (I’ll give two different mixes below)

  5. Provide the necessary temperature and light: 60-80 degrees. 4-6 hrs of light.

  6. Remove dried or rotten leaves to prevent insects moving in!  

Succulents Box Soil Mix

  • 3 parts regular potting soil

  • 2 parts coarse sand

  • 1 part perlite or pumice

  • Mix well 

The Spruce Soil Mix

  • 1 part coconut coir

  • 1 part commercial or garden soil (by volume not weight)

  • 2 parts 1/8” pumice

  • Slow-release fertilizer as per the manufacturer’s instruction

     

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Ruth Walker

Creative and targeted programs that make an impact are the hallmark of experienced marketing professional Ruth Steele Walker. Focusing on results that improve the bottom line, she accelerates projects from conception to implementation with a mastery of writing, production, placement, budgeting and coordination.

During more than 25 years with Foremost Corporation of America, the nation's leading insurer of manufactured housing and recreational vehicles, Walker consistently produced effective communications programs that resulted in increased net written premium. Her expertise in crisis communications was a vital part of Foremost's exemplary customer service in the wake of hurricanes, floods and earthquakes. Walker specializes in communications targeting the 50+ demographic, with an emphasis in communications for the 65+ segment.

Among other achievements, Walker developed communications for the merger of Foremost and Farmers Insurance, addressing audiences including customers, employees, trade and consumer media. For Foremost's 50th anniversary, she created a celebration program of internal and external promotions, special events, recognition and a 162-page commemorative book.

Earlier in her career, Walker was a newspaper reporter, a TV and radio producer, and worked in national sales and traffic at network TV affiliates. Walker earned a BA in journalism from Michigan State University and an MS in communications from Grand Valley State University.

She and her husband Scott operate a small vineyard in Michigan's Leelanau Peninsula, producing premium vinifera wine grapes. The vineyard has been the largest local supplier for Suttons Bay wine label L. Mawby, recently named one of the world's top producers of sparkling wines.