Daigle - DIY Succulents

Avon, Massachusetts

To my mom and dad for all of the sacrifices they have made and for always encouraging me to follow my dreams...

To my husband for loving me unconditionally and supporting me in doing what I love...

And to my precious children Brodie, Bailen, Avrie, and Bastian, for giving me purpose and inspiring me to live every day intentionally.

From your local coffee shop to department store windows, succulents seem to be making an appearance everywhere lately. Their stunning colors, geometric shapes, and resilience make them appealing to everyone, including those who dont consider themselves as having a green thumb. Succulents are flourishing beyond your garden and are taking center stage as the go-to plant for weddings, gifts, crafting, home decor, and much more! If youre looking for dozens of ideas on how to use these amazing plants in a variety of areas of your life, this book is for you.

I received my very first succulent plant as a Mothers Day gift from my sister-in-law. It was a lovely green echeveria in a terra cotta pot she had painted turquoise. She used chalkboard paint to create a spot on the pot where she chalked in a little heart. It was adorable and I loved it dearly. Summer quickly approached and I thought my new plant would just love it out in the hot sun. After all, succulents grow in the desert, right? I decided to place it in direct sunlight in the midsummer heat.

Unfortunately, I hadnt done my homework on caring for succulents. Before long, the poor thing was scorched beyond recognition. It was done for. As I was about to throw it away, I spotted a tiny baby plant growing on the stem under the shriveled leaves. I didnt know anything about succulent propagation, but I pulled off the small pup and planted it. I was totally amazed when it started growing roots and flourishing all on its own! This is when I realized how incredible succulent plants are, and since then Ive fallen in love with caring for them and watching them grow and multiply.

I was so fascinated by succulent propagation that I wrote my first blog post on the topic, not knowing if anyone else even cared about the subject. I started my blog Needles + Leaves (www.needlesandleaves.net) with my sister-in-law, Krista Mares, as a way to combine her passion for crafting and my love of succulents and photography. Its the perfect outlet for us. To my surprise, hundreds of thousands of people each year come to our blog to find out how to propagate and craft with their plants. Its so awesome to be able to share the knowledge I have gained with succulent lovers all over the world.

This book is divided into two parts. is an introduction to caring for succulent plants. We will discuss common varieties of succulents, where to purchase them, how to pot them, the three essentials to growing healthy succulents, as well as how to propagate succulents from cuttings and leaves. Most of the projects in this book are considered living art; therefore, you should know how to care for and maintain the plants as they grow over time. Succulent propagation is very useful when you need many plants, especially small babies, for a variety of projects.

of this book is divided into five chapters: For the Home, In the Garden, Succulent Accessories, Succulent Holidays, and Celebrating with Succulents. Some of our projects will be simple, such as planting succulents in teacups, while others will be more involved (think power tools!). Dont worry, thougheven beginners can tackle the more difficult projects.

Whether youre new to the world of succulents or have enjoyed them in your home for years, this book will provide information and inspiration to take your plants to the next level. Feel free to take my ideas and make them your own by using different plants or adding your own personal touches. Are you ready to get your hands dirty? Lets dig in!

Succulents are rising in popularity, and with good reason. Their beauty and resilience make them perfect for creating tasteful, sophisticated, long-lasting works of living art. Although succulents have a reputation for being impossible to kill, there are some basic guidelines you should follow to keep your plants healthy and looking their best. In this chapter, youll learn about some of the most common types of succulents and how to care for them.

Succulents are plants that have thick leaves, stems, or roots that store water in order to survive extended periods of drought. Their leaves and stems are often called juicy because they are capable of holding a lot of liquid in them.

Although they are commonly thought of as desert-dwelling plants, succulents are actually grown all over the world in many different climates. They have become a very popular houseplant in recent years because of their reputation for low maintenance. Their durability and ability to propagate easily make them the ideal plant for use in crafting and the types of arrangements we will create in this book. They come in many different colors, shapes, and sizes, so there will always be a succulent perfect for your project.

Succulent Cafe in Oceanside, CA

There are thousands of varieties of succulents available today. You might be overwhelmed when you see the number of options available at your local garden center, but the following breakdown will help you zero in on what variety is best for your needs.

Echeverias are gorgeous rosette-forming plants that come in a variety of shapes and colors. From pointy to round, curly to ruffled, their leaves provide an endless array of geometric beauty. Best suited for USDA hardiness zones 811, their leaf colors can intensify with colder or warmer temperatures throughout the year. (To find your growing zone, visit http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/.) They range in diameter from 1" to 20". Some echeverias reproduce on their own by shooting off pups, which can be wiggled off and replanted. Echeverias have shallow roots, so they will do well in containers lacking depth.

Like echeverias, graptopetalums are rosette-forming succulents. They have thick leaves that can change color depending on the amount of sun exposure they receive. For example, Graptopetalum paraguayense, when placed in full sun, can appear bleached out, pink, orange, and even whitewhile the same plant kept in the shade might be a darker bluish gray with opalescent tips hinted with purple. Graptopetalums should be handled with care, as their leaves snap off quite easily. Over time, they tend to grow long stems as their lower leaves wither and fall off and new growth develops from the center of the rosette. They will grow very long and cascade unless you cut them off and replant them. Graptopetalums will do best in USDA hardiness zones 711.