Potted succulents don’t ask for much (and that’s the way I like it)
Potted plants green up my patio, deck, and porch, and I often plunk them into garden beds as focal points. But being in Texas, mine aren’t packed with flowering annuals or perennials that require daily or twice-daily watering. Instead they showcase water-thrifty plants like succulents, cacti, even foxtail fern — plants I can leave to their own devices in 100-degree heat and not fuss about them for a week or more.
Here are a few of my faves.
Variegated squid agave (Agave bracteosa ‘Monterrey Frost’) thrives in bright shade, with blue-green sedum (Sedum reflexum ‘Blue Spruce’) frothing at its feet.
A standard squid agave — this one’s at least 13 years old — has spread its tentacles across a 3-foot stock-tank planter, reaching for more light under an exuberant ‘Tiny Fern’ bamboo.
Speaking of tentacles, I adore this Tentacle Pot, and a wavy-armed Tillandsia xerographica is the perfect partner along with a couple of decorative octopi. Indoors, tillandsias require regular misting. But outdoors in the shade in Austin’s muggy summer, mine needs misting only a couple of times a month.
In a blue pot in a mostly shady bed, a ‘Spotty Dotty’ mangave shows off its freckles.
But I think its coloring would be even better in more sun, so I may try to find a new spot for it.
A steel planter on the garage wall catches my eye whenever I walk by, thanks to a turquoise Buddha accent.
If you’ve wondered what happened to my Moby pups — bulbils I harvested from my dying whale’s tongue agave, Moby — here’s one of them. Four remain from the original six I kept, and I recently repotted them into bigger pots. I’m keeping them in reserve for the next time a big agave dies and I need a replacement.
I’m feeling pretty pleased with this hanging container, which I replanted a month or two ago with succulent cuttings and a ‘Bloodspot’ mangave I grew from a bulbil. Now the dusty blue echeveria is blooming!
Good ol’ succulents — so easy to grow, and they’re a gift that keeps on giving.
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Digging Deeper
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Thing pot is something to shout about especially with the red flowered blooming echeveria( i think) And congratulations on the success of your Moby bulbils. I regret I didn’t put mine in a pot but planted it outside when I though it was big enough. I’m afraid it didn’t survive.
I may well end up having an extra to give you one day, Jenny. I’m holding onto my surviving four for now, just to ensure I have a replacement when the day comes that I lose one of my big ones. But I won’t need all four if they all make it a few more years. 🙂
I love succulents. I would have a whole lot more of them – in pots- if I had a way to overwinter them. Fun to see all of yours.
Overwintering is a challenge for me too. Every year I swear I won’t add any to my collection that aren’t winter hardy, but, well…
I finally got one of Moby’s pups in the ground here. I didn’t want to plant it until it was of size that I thought it could stand up to winter. There’s another growing on in a container, just in case.
Oh how cool! I’m glad yours have made it this far. Hope Moby Jr takes off for you!
Your succulent pots look great especially the squid one. Have been dividing my potted agave’s and have lots of pups. Would love to put them in the ground but alas they aren’t hardy. Some of the hardier ones live in our garage over the winter others tucked indoors where I get to enjoy them all winter.
It’s fun to grow them in pots but challenging to move them inside when they get big. 🙂
I would love to be able to send you a picture of the Moby clone you gave me. It had a rough time last year when the squirrels knocked it into the pond a couple of times, but looks pretty great now. Still in a pot and probably will be for a while since he lives in Denton. It’s very dear to me!
Despite being named for a famous whale, I’m sure Moby Jr. was pretty surprised to find himself swimming in your pond! I’m glad he survived. What a trouper! When it gets bigger, you might try it in the ground, if you dare. I’ve definitely seen whale’s tongue agave growing in-ground in Dallas, and also in Raleigh, NC, which is 7b. The one in Raleigh was growing on a good-sized gravelly berm for winter drainage, which is key. Winter wet is the killer, not necessarily the cold. So if you do plant it out (I recommend in late spring), build up a gravelly little hill of your own to plant it on, and mulch it with gravel, not wood mulch.
And yes, I’d love to see a photo of him! I’ll email you.