For the month of July, Clermont Garden Club member, Gwen Carter, shared a potted plant of succulents containing Haworthia {Asphodelaceae), Kalanchoe (Crassulaceae), Echeveria (Crassulaceae), Graptopetalum (Crassulaceae), Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus senilis), and Moon Cactus or Chin Cactus (Gymnocalycium mihanovichii) with Clermont City Hall. The plants were accented with 2 American Flags in celebration of Independence Day, July 4th. City Hall Receptionist, Ray San Fratello accepted the plant.
Succulents are members of the family Crassulaceae and are characterized by very thick fleshy leaves and by water storage tissues in the leaves and stem. Cactus is simply a succulent that can store moisture but is placed in a separate category, Cactaceae. Conversely, not all succulents are cactus.
Care of your succulents:
- Make sure your succulents get enough light about 6 hours per day depending on the succulent.
- Rotate succulents frequently to discourage leaning.
- Water when the soil is dry. Overwatering can kill succulents. Water the soil directly until water runs out drainage holes. Do not use a spray bottle to water succulents. Misting can cause brittle roots and moldy leaves.
- Best Temperature is 65 degrees Fahrenheit – 90 degrees Fahrenheit not lower than 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Succulents are excellent starter plants because they are low maintenance.
Ray San Fratello accepts Gwen Carter’s loan of a succulent planter to City Hall for July
