Succulent Plants Book Pdf

[Boleslao Drinker]

Succulents are not a taxonomic category, since the term describes only the attributes of a particular species; some species in a genus such as Euphorbia, or family such as Asphodelaceae may be succulent, whereas others are less so or not at all. Many plant families have multiple succulent species found within them, more than 25 plant families.[4] In some families, such as Aizoaceae, Cactaceae, and Crassulaceae, most species are succulents. In horticultural use, the term is sometimes used in a way that excludes plants that botanists would regard as succulents, such as cacti. Succulents are often grown as ornamental plants because of their striking and unusual appearance, as well as their ability to thrive with relatively minimal care.

The underground organs, such as bulbs, corms, and tubers, are often fleshy with water-storing tissues. Thus, if roots are included in the definition, many geophytes would be classed as succulents. Plants adapted to living in dry environments such as succulents, are termed xerophytes. Not all xerophytes are succulents, since there are other ways of adapting to a shortage of water, e.g., by developing small leaves which may roll up or having leathery rather than succulent leaves.[8] Nor are all succulents xerophytes, as plants such as Crassula helmsii are both succulent and aquatic.[9] Succulents allow themselves to go a long ways without any or low water necessary.

Some who grow succulents as a hobby may use the term in a different way from botanists. In horticultural use, the term succulent regularly excludes cacti. For example, Jacobsen's three volume Handbook of Succulent Plants does not include cacti.[10] Many books covering the cultivation of these plants include "cacti (cactus) and succulents" as the title or part of the title.[11][12][13] In botanical terminology, cacti are succulents,[5] but not the reverse, as many succulent plants are not cacti. Cacti form a monophyletic group and apart from one species are native only to the New World, the Americas, but through parallel evolution similar looking plants in completely different families like the Apocynaceae evolved in the Old World.[citation needed]

A further difficulty for general identification is that plant families are neither succulent nor non-succulent and can contain both. In many genera and families, there is a continuous gradation from plants with thin leaves and normal stems to those with very clearly thickened and fleshy leaves or stems. The succulent characteristic becomes meaningless for dividing plants into genera and families. Different sources may classify the same species differently.[14] Species with intermediate characteristics such as somewhat fleshy leaves or stems may be described as semi-succulent.[15]

Horticulturists often follow commercial conventions and may exclude other groups of plants such as bromeliads, that scientifically are considered succulents.[16] A practical horticultural definition has become "a succulent plant is any desert plant that a succulent plant collector wishes to grow", without any consideration of scientific classifications.[17] Commercial presentations of "succulent" plants will present those that customers commonly identify as such. Plants offered commercially then as "succulents", such as hen and chicks, will less often include geophytes, in which the swollen storage organ is wholly underground, but will include plants with a caudex,[18] that is a swollen above-ground organ at soil level, formed from a stem, a root, or both.[7]

The storage of water often gives succulent plants a more swollen or fleshy appearance than other plants, a characteristic known as succulence. In addition to succulence, succulent plants variously have other water-saving features. These may include:

Other than in Antarctica, succulents can be found within each continent. According to the World Wildlife Fund, South Africa is home to around a third of all succulent species, most residing in the succulent Karoo biome.[21][22] While it is often thought that most succulents come from dry areas such as steppes, semi-desert, and desert, the world's driest areas do not make for proper succulent habitats, mainly due to the difficulty such low growing plants or seedlings would have to thrive in environments where they could easily be covered by sand.[23]

Australia, the world's driest inhabited continent, hosts very few native succulents due to the frequent and prolonged droughts[citation needed]. Even Africa, the continent with the most native succulents, does not host many of the plants in its most dry regions.[24] While succulents are unable to grow in these harshest of conditions, they are able to grow in conditions that are uninhabitable by other plants. In fact, many succulents are able to thrive in dry conditions, and some are able to last up to two years without water depending on their surroundings and adaptations.[25]

Occasionally, succulents may occur as epiphytes, growing on other plants with limited or no contact with the ground, and being dependent on their ability to store water and gaining nutrients by other means; it is seen in Tillandsia. Succulents also occur as inhabitants of sea coasts and dry lakes, which are exposed to high levels of dissolved minerals that are deadly to many other plant species. California is home to close to hundred succulent species that are native to the state, many of them live in coastal environments.[26] Potted succulents are able to grow in most indoor environments with minimal care.[27]

There is a thriving illegal trade in cacti and succulents.[28][29] In South Africa, several species of succulent have been threatened with extinction due to poaching from the wild for the black market and mining related activities. The plants are mainly sold to collectors in Asian countries, where there has been a high demand for them.[30][22] Since 1974, it is illegal to be in possession of protected succulents such as the Conophytum without authorisation in the Western Cape and Northern Cape, the two South African provinces where they grow.[30]

Succulents are favored as houseplants for their attractiveness and ease of care. They have been cultivated as houseplants since at least the 17th century.[39] If properly potted, succulents require little maintenance to survive indoors.[40] Succulents are very adaptable houseplants and will thrive in a range of indoor conditions.[41] For most plant owners, over-watering and associated infections are the main cause of death in succulents.[42]

Succulents can be propagated by different means. The most common is vegetative propagation. This includes cuttings where several inches of stem with leaves are cut and after healing, produce a callus. After a week or so, roots may grow. A second method is division consisting of uprooting an overgrown clump and pulling the stems and roots apart.[43]

A third method is propagation by leaf by allowing the formation of a callus. During this method, a bottom leaf is fully removed from the plant often by twisting or cutting. The leaf then dries out and a callus forms preventing the leaf from absorbing too much moisture and rotting. This method typically takes up to a few weeks to produce healthy roots that would eventually create new plants.[44] The vegetative propagation can be different according to the species.[45]

While most succulents love direct sun, if yours is sitting in the same exact spot day after day, it's likely that only one side is getting enough light. Caro and Rose suggest rotating the plant often. Succulents will lean towards the sun, so rotating them will also help them stand up straight. (Leaning may also be a sign that they need to be in a sunnier spot.)

Mealybugs are another pest succulent owners have to deal with. Overwatering and overfertilizing are the common causes of mealybugs. In this case, move infected plants away from other succulents and spray with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol.

Haley is a Wisconsin-based creative freelancer and recent graduate. She has worked as an editor, fact checker, and copywriter for various digital and print publications. Her most recent position was in academic publishing as a publicity and marketing assistant for the University of Wisconsin Press

Luckily, most succulents are considered non-toxic to pets. However, there are some varieties, like aloe, pencil cactus, kalanchoe, jade plants, and more that can be poisonous, so it's important to do your research before bringing a new succulent around your pets.

As emphasized above, over-watering is a much bigger concern than under-watering for these plants, and the most common reason for a dying succulent is root rot. If you notice your plant has root rot, make sure to address the issue as soon as possible, by treating and trimming the infected area.

Yes, succulents are generally great plants for beginners because they don't require much attention. However, as stated above, overwatering can quickly lead to the downfall of your succulents. So, be sure to water your succulents only when their soil is dry, rather than following the same watering schedule used for your other houseplants.

I remember before meeting Sara I'd buy a cactus at some random store, plant it in soil (a big no no, read our planting guide here), place it in the middle of the room with minimal light (How could you, Ashley?), and water it whenever it looked sad (that is wrong too, check out our basic care tips here). So if you are treating your succulents like this, don't worry. I was once where you are. Just having a love of the plant and a motivation to learn is all it takes.

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