Photograph by Caroline C. Kilgore
Gardener and artist Kurt Straudt, who founded Southeast Succulents in Decatur in 2009, shares his tricks for growing a trendy mini garden of desert-loving plants this spring.
Three is the magic number.
In a small container, combine a trio of succulents, pairing a tall plant, a trailing plant, and an eye-catching plant. Straudt’s picks for the season: jade, with its tree-like shape; string of pearls, which spills out of the pot; and the spiky, pinkish echeveria.
No sun, no problem.
Succulents are known as sun-lovers, but some—like South African Haworthias—can survive in low-light environments. “They make good desk plants, even if your office lacks windows,” Straudt says.
Grow your own.
“Propagation is very easy; you don’t need to be an expert gardener,” Straudt says. His tip: Gently twist off the leaf of an existing plant, place it on top of the soil, and watch it grow.
Photograph by Caroline C. Kilgore
This article originally appeared in our April 2017 issue.
