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 don’t 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 you’re 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 Mother’s 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 hadn’t 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 didn’t 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 I’ve 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. It’s 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. It’s 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. Part 1 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.
Part 2 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!). Don’t worry, though—even beginners can tackle the more difficult projects.
Whether you’re 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? Let’s dig in!