For the Love of Succulents
Succulents have been growing in popularity for the past few years. And not just for one reason, but quite a few
Published in: The Times of India
Date: 27/04/2017
Written by: Divya Menon
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They are tiny, they don’t take up much space, they do not need any major maintenance, and to top it all, they look good in any space you decide to put them in. Plus, they have a charm that seems to appeal to hardcore plant lovers and newbies alike.
Succulents are by no means new on the plants circuit, but they have gained immense popularity in the last few years, and are now available in myriad shapes, sizes and colours. “Succulents have always been a genre of plants that have a lot of variety. But appreciation of these tiny and subtle looking plants has been happening only in the last few years. People have begun to see the immense aesthetic potential that succulents have. I have had clients request entire succulent walls. A canvas like that is fantastic to work on since there are so many ways to make one particular arrangement work,” says Sheeba George, a landscape artist. From creeper succulents to hanging succulents to the more common flower like succulents, there are a number of varieties available today. And since they come in a variety of colours and textures, the combinations one can work with, are endless.
Even for those who are worried that they might have black thumb, succulents are the best plants they could have since they need minimal maintenance. “Succulents are basically variants of the cactus plant, which means they are already heavy in water content. The trick to having a healthy succulent is to plant them in pots that have good drainage. These plants usually need to be watered only once a week or so, but one has to take care to not let the soil completely dry out. Also, they do need sunlight to grow well, but they grow best in semi-shaded areas,” says Amritha Singh, customer care, Harith Tharang. No extensive knowledge of gardening or tools are required to take care of succulents, which makes them all the more appealing to most people who do not have the time or the inclination to take care of plants.
There are many ways succulents can be used to spruce up any space. Whether it is a pop of green on your work desk, a pretty arrangement on your window sill, an elaborate centerpiece for your coffee table or it occupies the pride of place in your garden, succulents can completely change the look of a place. “It makes for a great gift too. Since they come in so many shades of green, pink and purple, they look really unique. Plus, they are tiny, so they take up very less space. A few years back, we started getting enquiries for succulents so despite being a gift shop, we started stocking them. Earlier they used to come in simple plastic pots, but these days there are many quirkily designed planters available that are made specifically with succulents in mind. At our store, one can choose to buy just the plant too, but most of the succulent sales we make are the combos. Succulents and cute planters are a great match and most people seem to love gifting and receiving them,” says Harrsh Vanjani, owner, Ekta Gifts.
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