Gardens can be hard to maintain when you’re always at work. Especially in a work-from-home set-up, when you’re expected to be online at all times of the day, keeping an eye on your garden and watering it might be the least of your concerns, or you don’t have the time to be worrying about it.
And when you’re growing a garden in a climate that’s constantly hot and dry, where the soil dries up faster than you can water it, the constant need to water your garden can be exhausting, especially when you need to be doing something else.
Why You Should Choose Succulents
And what about the weather? Living in Utah means that you know all too well just how dry it can get. When you don’t have time to water your plants or don’t feel like doing it, you might find yourself hoping for rain to do the job for you. But in dry places, you could go days or weeks without rain, leaving your garden dry and wilted.
If you’re finding yourself agreeing so far, then the answer is simple: succulents. Succulents have become something of a trend in recent times. Nearly everyone is growing a succulent or two indoors or somewhere in their house, and they’re especially popular in hot desert places. Aside from looking pretty, they come pretty cheap and are very low-maintenance. They can withstand long periods of heat, being desert plants, and don’t need as much water.
Watering Them
If you’re a busy person who doesn’t have the time to be maintaining your garden, a succulent garden is perfect. Not only do you spend less time watering it, but in the desert climate, where it hardly rains, you won’t need to worry about them getting less water either. You can water them once a week, once every two weeks, or even once a month, depending on the succulent. They’re low-effort and thrive off of neglect, so you don’t have to worry if you forget to water them once or twice.
Succulents grow best the less they’re watered, as they have sensitive roots that can rot with too much watering. Of course, that doesn’t mean that they don’t need water ever. You still have to water them to make sure they live long, just not as much as other plants. If you’re still afraid of over-watering, don’t worry.
Unless they show obvious signs of under-watering, such as dry, dead leaves and droopiness, you can give them as little water as you want till you feel more comfortable giving them more. With succulents, it’s best to use the soak and dry method. This means waiting till the soil is completely dry before watering them fully again. Always remember that an under-watered succulent is better than one that’s over-watered. An under-watered one can still be saved, but an over-watered one might not last unless you propagate its parts.
Using the Right Containers
Most people usually keep succulents in their own pots and containers, so they can easily bring them inside when it rains. But you can still grow your succulents outdoors. The good thing about dry weather all year round is that you don’t have to worry about rain.
If it rains, you can always just cut back on your watering for that week or month. But just in case it rains particularly heavy, make sure that your succulents are planted in well-draining soil that doesn’t hold water for too long, so the roots don’t start to rot. Whatever the case, an outdoor succulent garden has never stopped anyone, and when you’re in a place that hardly rains, it’s all the more encouraged.
And, of course, getting to pick out and arrange your succulents is half of the pleasure of getting them. There are a ton of varieties to choose from, from the flower-like echeverias, the hardy snake plants, and of course numerous types of cacti, and selecting the right ones to put in your garden could all be a matter of climate and design. If you’re still unsure, you can contact a horticulture expert to help you pick out which succulents are best for your outdoor garden and which ones thrive in your area’s particular temperatures.
Whatever the case, nurturing your own succulent garden is its own reward. Having one during tough times can be helpful, especially when what we need more than anything is an escape from our busy work-from-home lives. The pointers mentioned above are some things to remember if you want to start this kind of garden. Take the time to learn how to create and maintain one.
