Tacoma — Succulents have become the “Go dry in January” plant as they share the traits of drinking very little after the holiday season.
You may see signs of spring bulbs in your outdoor garden now, but make this the week of planning a future landscape that requires less water and less weeding by adding some succulents to your indoor and outdoor space.
If you can’t make the Tacoma Home and Garden Show running now through Sunday at the Tacoma Dome, you can still learn a bit more about succulents from these most-asked questions.
Will my succulent survive the winter if I leave it outdoors in my Tacoma garden?
That depends. Succulents are a varied lot of plants, and some such as Hens and Chicks (also known as a common houseleek), Sedum “Angelina” and yucca “Gold Band” will survive even freezing temperatures in the Pacific Northwest. Others such as the exotic-looking echeverias need protection from the frost over the winter.
The best way to tell how hardy your plant will be is to read the label — or if there is no label, take a picture of the plant or check images of succulent plants online until you can identify what type of succulent or sedum you have. Then you can look up if the variety needs winter protection.
How does one protect tender succulents over the winter in the Puget Sound area?
Winter protection means forcing your sedum or succulent plant into dormancy by withholding water. Stop watering in September to harden up the plants. Then either dig them from the ground or move potted plants into a cold but not freezing location so they go to sleep. A frost-free garage is a good spot. Once a month or so over the winter you can add just a bit of water to the soil if the plant looks shriveled. In late spring, bring the plants back into the sunlight and gradually begin to water more often. If you set your succulents out on a patio and a late May frost is expected, cover the plants with a cardboard box or move them close to the house for warmth.
What succulents make the best groundcovers to block out weeds in a sunny spot?
Groundcover succulents need to be frost proof as you will not want to protect them over the winter. Sedum “Angelina,” Hens and Chicks and Sedum palmeri are good choices for accents plants, but a low-growing thyme such as “Elfin Thyme” can be used to fill in large areas because the thyme will be low-growing and thicker to crowd out weeds.
To use thymes and sedums as a lawn substitute, you will need to add several inches of sharp gravel with sand. This provides a fast-draining base for plants that tend to rot in our wet winter weather.
Is it true sedums will never need watering?
Not true! Sedums, yuccas, succulents, thymes and other drought-resistant plants need careful watering as they become established and then during the summer months they may require water during times of drought.
