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Indoors and out
While all these succulents may be grown outside during summer, they prefer a minimum winter temperature of 5-7°C, so must be brought under cover. Many of them, including the agaves, echeverias and aeoniums mentioned, will withstand colder conditions if kept on the dry side. In a greenhouse, maintain a frost-free enevironment, be sure there are no drips from the roof and withhold water from November through to late March. In a conservatory where temperatures are higher, keep the compost barely moist from autumn through to Spring. Many succulents will thrive in a centrally heated house in winter and summer.
Succulents make excellent candidates for single speciment plantings and look superb viewed at close range where all the intricacies of leaf shape and colour can be fully enjoyed. Warm terracotta pots, either plain or with a simple pattern, are ideal. Painted pots are also attractive but, for a more modern look, use silver containers where the gleaming metallic finish enhances the glaucous succulent leaves. Finish off with a mulch of fine gravel, frosted glass or slate chippings.
Mixed plantings are often extremely pleasing. The small, ground hugging rosettes of echeveria beautifully complement stately agaves. Echeverias also make attractive partners for more colourful non-succulents. Try the large Echeveria secunda 'Gigantea' with pink or apricot diascias - both love the sun and the colour combination can be stunning. Finally, try bronze-leaved aeoniums underplanted with the yellow daisy flowers of sanvitalia.
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