Re: Bulbs and succulents

---

I've always liked the idea of growing bulbs in pots mixed with other perennials, especially succulents.

Two issues I see, though.

1.  Although the succulents won't suffer if the soil goes dry (as so often happens in pots), the bulbs will require considerable water during their growing period (winter).  The succulents may suffer from the extra water.

2.  Bulbs in pots are usually good for but one season.  They don't usually return for a second showing and on.

Joe

Joe Seals
Landscape Designer, Horticultural Consultant
Pismo Beach, California
Cell: 805-550-9272
Home/Office: 805-295-6039

--- On Sat, 7/19/08, Ben Wiswall <benwiswall@pacbell.net> wrote:

From: Ben Wiswall <benwiswall@pacbell.net>
Subject: Bulbs and succulents
To: "medit plants forum" <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Date: Saturday, July 19, 2008, 3:13 PM

Hi all,

I'd like to try growing a few rare, expensive, touchy-about-water bulbs, and was thinking about companion planting them with succulents in pots.  For instance, growing Calochortus albus in a pot with Dudleyas in a well-draining medium, or a Brunsvigia orientalis in a pot of Echeverias and Graptopetalums.  Has anyone had experience with this?  Succulents in pots of sandy soil in my experience do well with weekly watering, but is this too much for the bulbs?  Would a clay soil and two-week irrigation be preferable?

Any advice would be welcome before I waste money and kill rare bulbs.

Thanks!

-Ben Wiswall