Tasks – I had three different succulent projects to tackle this month. I enjoy doing these types of projects in the winter as it is nice to work with plants in some respect while the garden outdoor slumbers.
1. My succulent bowl had a diseased plant and some open spaces
2. My old jade plant needed a little pruning and a larger pot
3. I had rooted a standard jade stem in my dwarf jade plant (it was handy…) and it was time to remove it.
Tools -None of these are necessary but I find them very useful for indoor repotting,
- A tiny trowel that makes it easy to remove a succulent from a bowl without disturbing other roots.
- A plant mat to catch soil and water, making indoor repotting a bit less messy, especially for large plants that are more easily tackled on the floor.
- Secateurs – for sharp cuts that don’t compress the stem like scissors do
I have had the succulents in this bowl going for three or four years now. I put the bowl outdoors in summer and bring it in when the temperatures drop. Most years I need to add another plant or two either because I have switched to a larger bowl, or as is the case this year, I lost a plant to disease. I used a solo succulent I had in the sunroom and bought a new addition as well. I rearranged a few of the existing plants to accommodate larger spaces for the new ones and added some fresh soil. I think it looks much better.
1. Succulent Bowl
2. Jade Plant
I have had this jade plant for over 20 years. It has been reduced to half its size in a moving mishap, and made lopsided after breakage by a kitten pounce (not the cat in the photo). I pruned a few of the less sturdy stems off so the plant will bush out and I can use the stems to start a new plant.
3. The dwarf jade separation and new plant start…
The dwarf jade was getting crowded out by the standard cutting. The cutting had rooted well but was easy to remove from the side as the roots were not entwined. I repotted the dwarf jade plant, adding a bit of soil.
I replanted the rooted standard jade plant into another pot with cuttings from the mother plant. I could have put the rooted cutting in a separate pot, but I like the asymmetry of putting them together. To use the cuttings to make a new plant, remove most of the leaves on the stem and poke it into the soil. Do not water for a couple of days to prevent the stem from swelling with water. I also like to trim the tops above a junction to produce two new stems for a bushier plant.
Everyday Cheer 