Life

Serious About Succulents

Learning How to Propagate

My love affair with succulents and air plants has officially entered the obsessive stage. I just doubled my beloved assortment yesterday at a wonderful shop in Atlanta called The Collective, a co-op that offers a medley of goods from local artists, craftspeople and entrepreneurs. They carry a sweet array of succulents from Southeast Succulents that completely captured my heart and had to come home with me. 

After I returned with my new treasures, I noticed that a few of my existing plants had become quite leggy and has sprouted babies. It was time to get serious about succulents. I've read that propagating is a great way to easily multiply your plants and grow your collection without spending  a lot of money. In case you're wondering what propagating is, it's simply creating a new plant from an existing one.

My main concern  with attempting to propagate was my absolute lack of a green thumb. Both my Mom and Grandmother could pinch a leaf off a dying bush on the side of a road and turn it into a blooming, lush sight to behold, while succulents are pretty much the only plant I can keep alive for longer than a couple of months. So I figured I would share my first attempt at propagating, and if it works for me, then anyone can do it! 

I repotted my existing plants while providing homes for my new array. If a leaf dropped off in the process, I set it aside and carefully twisted off any new growth or extra long pieces. I laid them out to dry for a day, an important step to make sure that the ends dry completely and callouses over. If planted while wet, it may rot and die. Then I created a temporary home for the bits and pieces inside a disposable Tupperware container. I filled the bottom with pebbles for drainage and then placed dampened Miracle-Gro Potting Mix for cactus, palm and citrus on top. Anything with a stem, I stuck into the dirt to develop roots and simply laid the leaves flat down on the dirt. The leaves will grow roots and automatically find their way into the dirt. Once roots have been established, I'll move them into their own individual pots to continue the growing process. If all works as planned, they'll make sweet little gifts this Fall!    

Country Roads

Dirt roads, hay bales, muscadines, miles and miles of peace and quiet – that's what you get when you visit my Mom and Dad's home in the country. Since their passing, my brother takes care of the homestead and it now serves as a peaceful retreat from every day life. Out on the back roads of rural Georgia, time seems to stand still. 

I love exploring the land with my boys and sharing stories of their Granny and PawPaw. There's not much to do other than stroll along the pine needled paths, sit and rock on the front porch, and watch the muscadines grow – a welcome change from the usual bustling days at home.  

Pennsylvania Dutch Hex Sign