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Re: Succulents/Lavendar/Soil for Medit-Plants

At 11:46 AM 3/3/98 -0600, William M. Groth wrote:
>Hello everyone,
>
>One thing we are experimenting with is putting Cacti/Succulents out in 6"
and 
>8" clay pots on a wood privacy fence.  So far my suggested plants for
>Houston's 
>HOT/HUMID climate were Sedum, Crassula, Echeverias, Haworthias, or
>Stapelias.  
>Do any of these fit in the category of a Mediterranean plant.

William - 

Sedums and Crassulas often do well in our Mediterranean area, depending
upon the species.  Many also grow easily in the ground and tolerate
heavy soils as long as they do not sit in bog-like conditions.  My own
soils is very heavy but the land slopes steeply, facilitating drainage.
Haworthias and Stapelias will perfer perfect drainage, tending to rot
more easily.  They also don't tolerate crowding with more herbaceous
plants.

Species which grow easily for us: 

Crassula ovata (syn C. argentea - the Jade Tree) is almost 
too common, but look for C. o. pallida (smaller & paler leaves) and
a deep pink form called 'Pink Beauty'; Crassula multicava (the Fairy
Crassula) is a vigorous ground cover, blooming heavily this time of
year (winter) even in shade; C. corymbulosa is small but makes a big
impact in full sun where the leaves turn fiery orange-red; C.
lycopodioides makes 'watch-chain' like stems of a bright yellow
green, easy and vigorous; C. tetragona looks like miniature pine
trees with vertical stems clothed in linear leaves at the top; Sedum
dendroideum is a low, shrubby plant with thick, yellow green leaves
and bright yellow flowers in winter (now), some forms are larger or
smaller, some tinted heavily with red - I have one with interesting
subtle 'tesselations' on the upper leaf surface; S. rubrotinctum looks
like tiny red beans, carpeting the ground with a suffusion of red-orange
and bright green; S. album is a vigorous green carpet with bright white
flowers in spring; S. spectabile and related forms often tolerate 
typical garden conditions and grow easily in mixed borders.

Many of the above are favored by snails and slugs because of their
juicy leaves and stems which also keep these pests 'cooler' than other
plants, so be on the watch!

>One thing I am looking at is Soil mixes.  I have had one review regarding
the 
>quality/usefulness of Scott's Cacti & Succulents Soil Mix and I thought I 
>would throw it out to the general group for discussion.   Will it be alright 
>to use it with Sedum spectabile and the "Stonecrop Sedum in pots?  What
about 
>using it when repotting Crasula (both Jade plants and a dwarf crassula
called 
>"Tom Thumb"?  I have seen Sedum & Crassula, but what about the other 3
Genus? 

A problem I forsee with 'pots on the fence' is drying out too quickly.
This is fine for these types of plants, but they may not thrive if they
spend more time dry than moist.  In really strong sun, they may languish
completely.  You may wish to stick to a moderately draining mix since
it will be hard to waterlog these pots, and you might wish to add some
polymer gel to aid the plants in getting through the dry periods.

>Also, having to do with soil & growing conditions I have wanted to do some 
>cultivars of lavendar in pots as they do not seem to do that well in the
>garden
>here in Houston, TX.  It has to do with heat and humidity I think.  However,
>some people have told me it can be done if you prepare the soil with
something
>more like that for cactus/succulents.  That would mean a soil mix with a good
>bit of sand, then put small gravel over the top around the plant sort of like
>cover on the ground.  What do you think 

Since many of our garden soils in our area are basically clay, we also
have trouble with plants requiring good drainage.  One method is to
abend the soils and create 'berms' - a raised mound of earth in which
to plant.  This type of soil grading can help create a bit more
privacy in exposed areas, and define space on a flat terrain.  It also
benefits plants such as Lavender who prefer better drainage.  Raised beds
are also an option.  Add lots of organic material and a good deal of
coarse, gritty mix of a variety of sizes (builder's sand and multigrade
pea gravel are good, as well as decomposed granite and similar local
products).  A gravel or wood chip mulch is beneficial.

Growing these plants lean may not give you the instant effect you
might desire, but it will provide better looking and longer lived
specimens.

 Sean A. O'Hara                     sean.ohara@ucop.edu
 710 Jean Street                    (510) 987-0577
 Oakland, California 94610-1459     h o r t u l u s   a p t u s
 U.S.A.                             'a garden suited to its purpose'
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