DIY Network

Greenhouse Gardening: Dividing Succulents and Pest Control A guide to growing cold-sensitive succulents From "Weekend Gardening" episode WKG-413

One of the primary benefits of having a greenhouse is to get a jump on the growing season. A greenhouse can also be beneficial to cold-sensitive plants such as succulents. Not only can succulents safely winter in a greenhouse, the environment also offers an excellent place to shelter and further develop young succulents removed from larger plants.

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Time spent so far: 5 hours.

Figure A

1. Before dividing and repotting succulents, Maureen Gilmer mixes together equal amounts of perlite and sand with half as much manure, which she then combines with an equal amount of potting soil.

2. Next, she begins to separate an overgrown pot of flamingo-head gasteria (Gasteria x hybrida). When succulents become overgrown in their pots, water flows over and off the roots rather than being absorbed into the plant (figure A).

3. Using a sharp knife, Maureen opens up the rootball and removes young shoots. Due to the high water content of succulents, to prevent rot possibly developing at the site of the cut, new shoots and their roots should be left exposed to air for as long as four days to harden off the break points (figure B) (figure C).

Figure B

Figure C

4. Maureen adds fresh soil to a clean pot, makes several deep depressions in the soil and places a new shoot in each of the depressions. After pressing the soil in place around the shoots, she adds approximately 1/2" of fine gravel to the top of the soil; the weight of the gravel will help hold the shoots upright, keep the soil in place during watering and ensure quick water drainage away from the plant at the point where the plant meets the soil line, the site at which most plant rot begins (figure D).

5. Whiteflies can be a problem in greenhouses, especially on plants like pink flowering maple (Abutilon hybridum 'Roseus'). Commercially prepared chemicals, sprayed over the tops and up underneath the leaves, can coat the leaves and kill whiteflies. Before applying pest control, remove the plant from the greenhouse and let the foliage dry before returning it to the greenhouse (figure E).

Figure D

Figure E

Time spent: 3 hours.

Time spent so far: 8 hours.

RESOURCES :

Ace Hardware Supplies
To locate the nearest Ace Hardware to your home, click here.
Ace Hardware
2200 Kensington Ct.
Oak Brook, IL 60523-2100
Toll-free: 866-290-5334
Website: www.acehardware.com

Plants from Ball Horticultural Company
Various plant material
Ball Horticulture Company
Website: www.simplybeautifulgardens.com

Soil Amendments
Soil amendments
Whitney Farms
Website: www.whitneyfarms.com

Plants from Monrovia Horticultural Craftsmen
Monrovia Horticultural Craftsmen
Website: www.monrovia.com

DeWalt power tools
DeWalt
Website: www.dewalt.com/us/core/

Landscaping Services by D&J Landscaping
D & J Landscaping
E-mail: DJLandscaping@sbcglobal.net

Plants from Hines Horticulture
Website: www.hineshort.com

Greenhouse equipment
EnviroCept Greenhouses, Etc.
Website: www.greenhouses-etc.net

Planting box composite wood
The Trex Company
Website: www.trex.com