Succulents and Cacti – it’s easier than you think!

by Debra Anchors

A succulent rock garden

Cacti and succulents often seem intimidating, but they are actually forgiving plants that respond to a gardener’s attentions by multiplying freely (succulents) or bursting into bloom (cacti).  Because they require little water, succulents are a great choice for rooftop gardens.





Soil:  Despite their association with the desert, these plants survive in soil, not pure sand. An ideal medium for both cactus and succulents consists of one-third each sterile potting mix, pea gravel, and compost.

Drainage:  Root rot is the most dangerous enemy to cacti and succulents.  Use pea gravel or coarse sand to ensure good drainage.

Light:  Outdoors in the north, plant cold-hardy succulents in full sun; in the south, give them filtered light.  Indoors, set plants in a south-facing window.

Water:  Easy does it.  Cacti and succulents have a great ability to store water, and need only a little additional moisture from us.  Let soil dry out almost completely before watering.

Humidity:  The dryer, the better.

Food:  As a rule, cacti and succulents require very little supplemental feeding, if any.

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazine, Gardening Life.

Thank you for stopping by to spend time in my garden.  If you liked the article, please take a moment to let me know. I will be delighted if you would suggest Gardens Inspired to your friends, follow me or subscribe to my Blog.

Leave a legacy, but garden like you’ll live forever! 
-Debra

Did you like this post? Please recommend it to other readers by selecting the g+1 box, below.

Image credit - Mark Turner

Use rainwater in your garden

by Debra Anchors

Illustration by Don Bousquet

It’s no joke:  Roof runoff can be captured in a rain barrel and used later for irrigation, which not only reduces the amount of polluted water flowing down storm drains, but also helps conserve water.








Consider the benefits of harvesting rain water for your garden:

• Rainwater is free
• Rainwater is a clean, chemical-free source of water for plants
• Rainwater seeps into the soil, pushing salts from tap water down and away from the plant’s root zone
• Rainwater allows for better root growth and water absorption, increasing the drought tolerance of plants
• Rainwater harvesting reduces off-site flooding and erosion by holding rainwater on the site
• Harvesting rainwater reduces dependence on ground water and the amount of money spent on water
• Rainwater harvesting is an efficient water conservation tool

Please note that, from a public health standpoint, any standing water in rain barrels should be screened to keep mosquitoes from breeding. 

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazine, Gardening Life. 

Thank you for stopping by to spend time in my garden.  If you liked the article, please take a moment to let me know. I will be delighted if you would suggest Gardens Inspired to your friends, follow me or subscribe to my Blog. 

Leave a legacy, but garden like you’ll live forever! 

-Debra

Did you like this post?  Please recommend it to other readers by selecting the g+1 box, below.

Make fragrance a focal point with these classic flowers

by Debra Anchors

Fragrant flowers lure us into the garden, and keep us there.  The spicy scent of lily-of-the-valley may remind us of a favorite neighbor, while a whiff of honeysuckle transports us back to childhood summers in the country.  We accept the beautiful aromas of the garden as gifts meant for us personally, even though they are intended strictly for the birds and the bees.  Nearsighted pollinators rely on fragrance to guide them to nectar-filled blossoms;  like us, they may become intoxicated and find themselves unable to leave a favorite flower.  Just as some insects are attracted to specific plants, we humans have our individual preferences. What are yours?

Gardenia - Image by Harley Seaway

These heavy fragrances can dominate a room when they are cut and brought indoors or planted beneath a window:

- Oriental lilies (Lilium)
- Tuberoses (Polianthes)
- Mock orange (Philadelphus)
- Gardenia
- Flowering tobacco (Nicotiana   alata)

Peonies

Subtle fragrances announce their presence without shouting:

- Lily-of-the-valley

- Roses

- Peonies

- Violets (Viola)

- Bearded iris (Iris x germanica)

- Four-o’clocks (Mirabilis jalapa)

- Sweet peas (especially heirloom varieties)

Magnolia - Image by Kevin Frates

Spicy scents have lent their heady, intriguing aromas to gardens for centuries:

- Magnolias

- Salvias

- Garden pinks (Dianthus)

- Heliotrope (Heliotropium)

- Freesias

- Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum)

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazine, Gardening Life. 

Thank you for stopping by to spend time in my garden.  If you liked the article, please take a moment to let me know. I will be delighted if you would suggest Gardens Inspired to your friends, follow me or subscribe to my Blog. 

Leave a legacy, but garden like you’ll live forever! 

-Debra

Did you like this post? Please recommend it to other readers by selecting the g+1 box, below.