C A C T I & S U C C U L E N T S

Kelsey Kinane

C A C T I & S U C C U L E N T S

A Field Guide to Designing Your Garden

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

1 About Succulents

3 Blue Chalk Fingers

5 Per le Von Nurnberg

7 Zebra

9 Sedum Je l ly Beans

1 1 Nussbaumerianum

1 3 About Cact i

1 5 Pr ickly Pear

1 7 Old Man

1 9 The Pincushion

2 1 Bunny Ear

2 3 Crested Myrt le

2 5 Plant Nurser ies

S U C C U L E N T S

Succulents make great house plants because they grow under many different light and water conditions. Some are found growing under rocks, crevices or even under bigger plants. Find a window or shelf with lots of sunlight or bright light and you will have a happy plant. Indoor succulents don’t require as much water as outdoor plants.

Succulents | 2

BLUE CHALK FINGERSSUNNeeds heat and full sunshine; atleast eight hours of direct sunlight daily. Too little light will cause weak, elongated leaves.

SOILThis tropical succulent requires fast-draining soil, preferably one that is sand-based with some organic matter incorporated.

WATERINGOnly needs little watering. During the intense heat of summer, it only needs an inch of water weekly, but during the fall and winter, this plant doesnt need more than an inch of water every two to three weeks.

TIPSSucculents growing in patio containers or house plant pots should be moved outdoors in late spring. Bring indoors before winter. Never overwater.

Succulents | 4

PERLE VON NURNBERGSUNRequires partial to full sunlight. It is adaptable to low lighting but also sustains well in bright light with high heat.

SOILPlant in fertile free draining soil or a cacti well drained mix.

WATERINGOnce established, it only requires little watering. During the warmer months, water once every week. During the winer, water once every 2–3weeks.

TIPSThis succulent is tolerant of a wide range of conditions including extreme heat to frost. If the pedals begin to wilt and wither, this means they are drained of moisture. To prevent this from happening, keep out of the heat for long periods of time.

Succulents | 6

ZEBRASUNRequires bright indirect sunlight, but not in actual direct sunlight. It can survive without minimal light.

SOILThe soil should be completely dry before you water the plant.

WATERINGIt requires a small amount of water – about 1/4 of a cup maximum. During the summer, you should water typically every 3 weeks. In the winter months you should water every few months, as there is less light absorbing the water.

TIPSThis succulent can be prone to mealy bugs. Inspect your plant every so often. If you notice these little pests, spray the plant with a soapy dishwasher mixture for two weeks.

Succulents | 8

SEDUM JELLY BEANSSUNPrefers direct sunshine or very bright filtered light for optimum growth. Sunrooms and greenhouses are preferable. This succulent is very drought tolerant, heat tolerant, cold tolerant, and will grow in shade to full sun.

SOILRequires fast draining soil. Grows best in a balanced liquid fertilizer.

WATERINGOnly requires watering two or three times a month depending on light intensity and temperature.

TIPSAlthough not seen in the photo, the more sunlight this succulent receives, the pinker the leaves become. When grown in full sun, the leaves are almost red. Be careful when handeling, the leaves will fall off easily.

Succulents | 10

NUSSBAUMERIANUMSUNRequires a minimum of four to six hours of direct sunlight per day for successful growth. Though they can survive in partial sun locations, sedums perform best in sites with full sun exposure.

SOILGrows with a half-strength solution of a balanced, water soluble fertilizer in the early spring.

WATERINGRequires water only during dry spells that last longer than two weeks. Provide no more than 1 inch of water each time.

TIPSIf you’re experiencing unseasonably cold temperatures, this succulent may wilt and discolor. In areas where temperatures are below 25 degree, it should be grown indoors.

Succulents | 12

C A C T I

Cacti | 14

All cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. Cacti are a group of plants that are not only easy to grow, but offer a variety of shapes, color and form. They can be grown in any well-drained area. They require little maintenance. They make excellent houseplants and many varieties may be grown outside.

HABITATCourse, well-drained soil in dry, rocky flats or slope, in areas where the soil is sandy or gravelly.

LOCATIONDeserts of American southwest, predominantly from California to Mexico.

SIZECan grow up to 7 feet tall

FLOWERS & FRUITMost have red, yellow, or purple flowers, and fruit.

FUN FACTSThere are 15 different species of prickly pear. and they are the state cactus of Texas. Packrats often build dens at the base of these plant, which then provides protection from some of its predators.

PRICKLY PEAR

Cacti | 16

OLD MANHABITATRequires a well-drained soil mix (more so than many other cacti), and a lot of bright sunlight, which encourages growth of the hair.

LOCATIONGuanajuato and Hidalgo in eastern Mexico.

SIZEMay grow to 5–15 m tall. Very slow-growing, it can reach ceiling height, but only after many decades.

FLOWERS & FRUITThe flowers are red, yellow, or white, though the plant may not flower until 10–20 years old. Flowering is unlikely indoors.

FUN FACTSAlthough the “white fur” looks soft, it conceals very sharp spines

Cacti | 18

THE PINCUSHIONHABITATDesert, grasslands, and woodlands on dry, gravely limestone hills, rock crevices, and several other types of sedimentary and igneous substrates.

LOCATIONSouthwestern USA, Mexico, and Cuba.

SIZECan grow up to 2.4 inches tall and 2 inches wide.

FLOWERS & FRUITFlowers may have a variety of colors, while the fruits are always red. Flowers bloom in April and May.

FUN FACTSThere are 23 species of this cactus.The US Fish and Wildlife Service has listed the pincushion cactus as an endangered species since October 26, 1979.

Cacti | 20

HABITATRequires gravel or sandy flats, mesas, hillsides. In some places, it is a landscape plant.

LOCATIONNorth and Central Mexico.

SIZEGrows from about 1.5 foot to about 2 feet tall, spreading to about 6 feet wide.

FLOWERS & FRUITThe lemon yellow flowers are 1 – 2 inches in diameter and bloom from Spring to Fall. It has green spineless edible fruit, 1-1/4 inches in diameter and dry when ripe.

FUN FACTSThis cactus does not have spines, but has white or yellow glochids that are 2–3 mm long in clusters.

BUNNY EAR

Cacti | 22

CRESTED MYRTLEHABITATCan be found in temperate and tropical environments, but is mostly seen in southwest Ameriaca.

LOCATIONNative to Mexico, but also grows from California down to Texas. SIZEWhen mature, the plant will grow up to fifteen feet high and if left untrimmed almost that wide.

FLOWERS & FRUITFlower petals can be white with purple sepals, and the fruit is edible, bluish to purple, and tastes simular to blue berries.

FUN FACTSThere are more than 1000 species of this cactus.

Cacti | 24

A R E D BA R N G A R D E N C E N T E R12881 Pond Springs Rd(512) 335-8093

R E D S P R I N G S N U R S E RY3601 Bee Caves Rd(512) 328-6655

T H E G R E AT O U T D O O R S2730 S Congress Ave(512) 448-2992

T H E N AT U R A L G A R D E N E R8648 Old Bee Caves Rd(512) 288-6113

S H OA L C R E E K N U R S E RY2710 Hancock Dr(512) 458-5909

C O U N T RY S I D E N U R S E RY13292 Pond Springs Rd(512) 249-0100

S L E D D N U R S E RY1211 W Lynn St(512) 478-9977

I T ’ S A B O U T T H Y M E11726 Manchaca Rd(512) 478-9977

E M E R A L D G A R D E N5700 W Highway 290(512) 288-5900

S U N S H I N E L A N D S C A P E2002 Ranch Road 620 S(512) 263-5275

B I G R E D S U N1311 E Cesar Chaves St(512) 480-0688

E A U S T I N S U C C U L E N T S801 E Tillery St(512) 947-6531

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H U D S O N B E N D

L A K E W AY

B E E C A V E

L A K E H I L L S

A U S T I N

D E L V A L L E

B U D A

C E D A R PA R KR O U N D R O C K

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