Are Succulents Really Brown Thumb-Proof?
I suppose I’ve always been somewhat of an indifferent gardener, which may seem like an odd thing for a farmer’s daughter to say. When I did, I was more a vegetable gardener, since growing your own seems the only way to get decent tomatoes. But when my garden became contaminated with some nasty tomato disease, I gave up the garden altogether. In recent years, I’ve even turned over the landscaping to a private company. The only gardening I still do myself is the border around the tree in front of my house and some containers on the porch. They do need watering, however, which is problematic when I’m traveling for long periods of time.
So in January when I saw the lovely succulent plants on QVC and learned that they rarely require watering and are so hardy they can be left out on the porch in the box until time for planting, I was intrigued. Seemed like a no-brainer. I’m a Florida snowbird until mid-May. My two boxes of succulents were mailed to Toledo last week. Will they still be alive when I return? The QVC host practically guaranteed it. I did notice quite a few complaints about them on the website, though. So we’ll see. If not, I will get my money back.
What’s a Succulent?
From thespruce.com:
There are over 10,000 succulent plants, which include cacti. Many are native to South Africa and Madagascar and the Caribbean. Succulent plants have thick, fleshy leaves, stems or roots. This is one of the ways they have adapted to dry conditions by taking advantage of whatever water is available and holding onto it for later use. When full of water, the leaves can appear swollen. When they are becoming depleted, the leaves will begin to look puckered.
Other water conserving features you may find in succulents are narrow leaves, waxy leaves, a covering of hairs or needles, reduced pores, or stomata, and ribbed leaves and stems, that can expand water holding capacity. Their functioning is fascinating, but most are also quite attractive, too. They are perfect for dry climates and periods of drought anywhere, but many are not cold hardy below USDA Zone 9. Even so, they can be grown as annuals or over-wintered indoors. Several make great houseplants. Grow them all year in containers and you can just move the whole thing in when the temperature drops.
My Giveaways
1 random commenter will win this lovely garden-themed charm bracelet and another will win a signed print copy of The Ultimate Escape, Book 1 in my Lady P Chronicles. Book 2, A Home for Helena, turns one year old on March 29, and Lady P and I are celebrating by reducing the price and offering a Rafflecopter contest. All of my contests are international.
A Home for Helena
Believing that she has been misplaced in time, Helena Lloyd travels back two hundred years in an attempt to find out where she belongs.
Widowed father James Walker has no intention of remarrying until he makes the acquaintance of his daughter’s lovely new governess.
Lady Pendleton, a time-traveling Regency lady herself, suspects that these two belong together. First, however, she must help Helena discover her true origins—and hopefully, a home where she belongs.
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The Blog Hop
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About Susana
Susana Ellis has always had stories in her head waiting to come out, especially when she learned to read and her imagination began to soar.
A former teacher, Susana lives in Toledo, Ohio in the summer and Florida in the winter. She is a member of the Central Florida Romance Writers and the Beau Monde chapters of RWA, Maumee Valley Romance Inc., and is a member of the infamous Bluestocking Belles.
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Susana's Parlour 
I love gardening, and yellow Daylilies are hardy flowers.
My email is meowcat_21@hotmail.com
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Unfortunately even succulents are not safe with me.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
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Ha! Ha! I think you’ll get your money back, but please update. If there that good I can raise them. Beautiful bracelet some talented patient person made it!
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Karen! You’re the winner of the gardening bracelet! Congrats!
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I can attest to the fact, they are not brown thumb proof but if you pay a little attention they will survive, maybe. I either over water or underwater. I have one plant that survives. Even it calls out in desperation to me at times. I have lost my share of succulents over the years. As I said, they are survivalists so you might have success. I have given up. Good luck!
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Tommie, you’re the winner of the print copy of The Ultimate Escape! Congrats!
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me i have right now over 250 bulbs and then i m going to get more i have the succulent all veer ut side during the summer i put them cowboy boot for my memorial garden which sit in front of porch
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I love flowers, but I also am not good with plants. I just can’t keep them alive.
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I love gardening. I have lots of different flowers but no succulents. Beautiful bracelet.
jean60212@gmail.com
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Thanks for doing the hop! I love flowers but they all die when I plant them. rc12d@yahoo.com
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I always wanted to have a garden but it sounds like it requires a lot of work. Thank you for doing the hop
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I love this hop! I learn many new things every year. So many recipes, gardening tips, and new authors and their books. I will have to try a few succulents. They are pretty all together in a garden space.
Judy Cox
magnolias_1(at)msn(dot)com
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I’m a known succulent killer! Even they aren’t safe with me. Thank you for such a great Hop. That charm bracelet is just lovely. Already signed up for your newsletter. Following on facebook and twitter. Sharon catwoman-1(at)comcast(dot)net
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Thanks for the chance.
magic5905 at embarqmail dot com
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interesting hop
bn100candg at hotmail dot com
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I love the information you give.
Thank you,
Christina / whistleinthewind74@hotmail.com
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I need to get some of those. I love the pink on some of them. Lrskt@yahoo.com
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Thanks for the amazing giveaway!
elizabeth(at)bookattict(dot)com
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I’m not great with flowers. But what flowers we do grow have to be low maintenance and in a pot. Otherwise, our dogs will dig them up! turtleemiwee(at)hotmail(dot)com
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I didn’t know much about succulents prior to reading this post. They do seem to be the popular choice of plant, however. Not entering the individual giveaway this time.
pailofpearls@gmail.com
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We live in the desert so we love our Succulents. Thanks for the giveaway. jeanna_massman@hotmail.com
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Thanks for the giveaway! 💖
bunnyclem(at)gmail(dot)com
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good luck with the succulents! thank you for the chance and participating! vipersweb(at)gmail(dot)com
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Thanks for being part of the blog hop! I’ve never tried succulents before. I have a very sad air plant I bought from Etsy. I think it’s still alive, but it’s not thriving that’s for sure.
I’m not sure I’m good with plants that require special care. LOL! 🙂
cchant86 @ yahoo.com
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