It's not easy being green....especially when it's snowing outside

I have been chomping at the bit to start planting my spring garden, but up until this weekend the weather here had not been cooperating.  (We're just getting over an unseasonably cold spell here in South Carolina and I know a lot of you have gotten some snow that you were not expecting.)  So, to tide myself over until spring, I've been working on a little indoor gardening. 

Succulents!!!

These little beauties are easy to find (at your local garden or hardware store for around $3.00 a piece) and are extremely hard to kill (which is good if you forget to water them like I do).  They are very low-maintenance, requiring only a bit of sun and infrequent watering.

This is what succulents should look like.  The plants are usually compact with smooth, swollen leaves.

Aren't they pretty?  This a great deal if you want a large assortment to start your own succulent garden.

And this is what your plant will look like if you forget to put it in a sunny window.  Plants will extend from the dirt and reach up towards the sun if they do not get enough light, especially in winter.

This guy sat in a shady corner of my kitchen for weeks.  Poor little guy!

But not to worry, you have not ruined your succulents if they send off shoots.  In fact, this is the perfect opportunity to start new succulent plants.


Just cut off a leaf at the base of the stalk.

The research I've done on these little guys says you should let them rest 3 days in a sunny spot for a scab to form over the end of the leaf.  I let this batch set out for 2 weeks, until they sprouted roots.  Although, I have also had luck propagating them by putting them directly from cutting into the ground.

Some even started to form new plants.

Micah found this single leaf on the front porch from last spring, where I used to keep my succulents.  A leaf must have fallen off and decided it wanted to live.  I'm telling you, these suckers are resilient!

Then, just press the leaf into a patch of unoccupied soil.  Soak with water, and let it sit in a sunny spot.  In a couple of days a new, compact set of leaves will form on the end of the leaf and eventually blossom into a new, perfect succulent plant.

These plants are approximately 3 months old.  They started as 2 single leaves, and sent off a stalk, that eventually produced a flower.

I planted my succulents in vintage tin molds and a copper bowl I found while thrifting, but any container will do.  I hope this inspires you to start a succulent garden of your own!!!