Thursday, December 06, 2012
Mark and Gaz
Brrrr... it's cold outside but never mind, it's warm inside and I have some small plants to sort out...
One of the things I've been doing recently to keep the gardening bug ticking over during this relatively quiet period is I've been buying small succulents. I've been buying them gradually over the past few weeks and it's always nice to find a little package every so often by the front door every time I get back home from work.
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| Mangave 'Bloodspot' - can't get enough of this pretty Agave macroacantha x Manfreda maculosa (?) hybrid |
I call them my tiny treats and teeny treasures, and yet none of them were dear, making very little dent in my pocket.
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| and another one that I can't get enough of - Agave schidigera 'Shira Ito no Ohi' - I'd have ten of these please! (if I could!) |
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| Agave schidigera 'Black Widow' |
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| and another Agave schidigera 'Shira Ito no Ohi' |
As they are so small they are what I also call 'investment plants'. I'll take care of them and let them grow on and once they get big enough they will be displayed in the garden. I'm not a fervent agave and aloe collector as such, opting to only buy the ones that appeal to me rather than buy everything just to tick a box. But if I do like something I'd much prefer to have several of the same thing rather than just have one (if it's possible). I find that having several of the same thing makes it easier to be creative with them (especially with succulents), ties in areas of the garden better if used as a linking plant, and generally gives a better impact if together in the same area. Not to mention having the sense of security that if you do lose one, you have several back ups to make up for it.
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| Ohhh so what's in the box?? |
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| Another Mangave 'Bloodspot' (this is my third one already, with the first being in the greenhouse) |
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| And another Agave schidigera 'Shira Ito no Ohi' - I did say I'd have ten of these if I could (seven more to go...) |
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| Aloe nobilis 'Variegata' - just to throw in some variety |
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| And I finally have one, yay! Agave 'Blue Glow' - a cross between Agave ocahui and Agave attenuata. If I do spot a bigger one in the spring I'd definitely get one. But for now I'm content having one, even if it's just tiny |
Speaking of being displayed in the garden, it will be awhile before any of them will be big enough to make an impact, either solitary in containers or mixed planting on a pot (they will just disappear/get swamped due to their tiny size) but with a bit of extra pampering these succulents do size up fairly quickly. And boy am I looking forward to that!
Mark :-)
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
Fantastic! I love what you got so far. They are cute little things for now. I love the Hens and Chicks here because of the little care required of them and they are hardy here so they stay outside and are evergreen, but you have some that are really special.
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
Hi Cher, Echeveria Hens and Chicks are cute succulents aren't they? Great to hear it's hardy for you. Our wet winters tend to be the main problem here when it comes to growing succulents permanently outdoors but with a rain shelter that's worth a try.
DeleteI can totally relate, especially since agaves are my favorite plants. You have the beginnings of a gorgeous collection there. The Agave schidigera dwarfs are rapid growers and they maintain their beautiful form as they get bigger.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite recent agave purchases is Agave 'Sun Glow', a yellow-margined spot of 'Blue Glow'. I also love Agave bracteosa 'Monterrey Frost'.
Hi Gerhard, I do love my agaves and discover new ones I like and covet all the time (courtesy of bloggers like you :)). I'm still on the look out for a Monterrey Frost here but they have been TC'd successfully and shouldn't be long now before it becomes more available here. Agave 'Sun Glow', now that's another beauty I'd want!
DeleteI like this "investment" plant idea. So many of my landscape agaves started out this way. They really do size up fast. An excellent wintertime strategy!
ReplyDeleteThanks Denise! With a bit more pampering they do size up quick and I'm so looking forward to when they get much bigger. It's nice to hear that some of the specimens you used in your landscape creations have started out as small plants, which is extra admirable!
DeleteNice pretty treasures. It's always fun to open boxes and it will be fun to watch them grow.
ReplyDeleteAt first I wondered where you could keep such large plants, then realized they all stay small and not are not anything like the 275cm monsters I am used to.
Hi Shirley, these agaves tend to stay compact and a more manageable size indeed, especially they will be kept in pots. I like opening boxes of newly bought things and gifts, like Christmas every time :)
DeleteSuper cute mini plants guys! From little things, big things grow. The Aloe nobilis 'Variegata' & Mangave 'Bloodspot' look great. I've seen the Agave 'Blue Glow' on Candy's blog, & it's an awesome looking plant! Good luck with the babies! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Ngeun! I'm looking forward to these succulent getting to a decent size, although it will take some time. I've seen some of the Blue Glows that Candy and other bloggers have featured and it's a gorgeous Agave!
DeleteI wonder how difficult it would be for us to share plants? I'm guessing all of these babies came from sellers in your own county? Do you know what hoops incoming plants have to jump through?
ReplyDeleteHi Loree, it's not that difficult especially with much smaller plants. I have bought plants from the US before, as long as there's the usual phyto certificate then there's usually no problems. So far the ones I've recently bought all came from one seller in the UK :)
DeleteGreat money saving idea - mature Agaves are so expensive, your patience will be rewarded!
ReplyDeleteHi Martin, they can be expensive indeed especially the rarer and slower growing ones. They do size up fairly quickly with a bit of extra pampering :)
DeleteBuying new plants always keeps the gardening spirit alive! Love the variegated one, and definitely think you should get 7 more a.s.a.p.! :)
ReplyDeleteOhhh 7 more would be nice!
DeleteYour babies are adorable! What a fun way to stay involved with gardening when it's soggy outside.
ReplyDeleteAnd a comfy way too, shopping and opening the package inside a warm house (but still have to pot them on outdoors but that usually can wait a bit later) :)
DeleteI used to love escaping into my greenhouse in winter when outside it was cold and nothing was growing - such fun! Some great new plants.
ReplyDeleteA bigger greenhouse would be great, one that still had enough walking space left during winter :)
DeleteHow exciting. I do love getting parcels especially those with plants in. Am at seed ordering stage at the moment, ordering from Jungle Seeds this weekend as they have a 30% sale on
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding me of their sales Helen, when I get the chance I'll have a look. Bought seeds from them before and was pleased with them :)
DeleteI am fond of your new tiny treats and can imagine how easy it is to get into such things. My latest Auriculas mail ordered, were not intended to be tiny treats, worked out that way though.
ReplyDeleteHi Alistair, yes very easy to get into succulents, nice to collect too :) oops, sounds like the auriculas you ordered turned out smaller than expected, hopefully it will bulk up nicely next year
DeletePlant parcels are wonderful, and I can quite see how succulents could become an addiction. Maybe once I have the main garden up and running...
ReplyDeleteYes Janet, it's so easy to get into succulents. Not into cacti but do like mainly agaves and yuccas. Once you get your new garden settled and running you may find more time to collect other plants, perhaps succulents as well :)
DeleteOh what fun - little plant treats will make the winter pass more quickly. I'm sending off for seeds and dreaming of warmer days.
ReplyDeleteDreaming of warmer days too Anna! Roll on spring :)
DeleteThose are already plenty, at least to me because i don't have them and am not planning to have. But i love to look at them in anyone's garden. By the way Mark, I love the posts by Loree in her site, i learned more of your garden in just those 2 posts, it somehow showed the summary of AE and i can visualize the total picture! Beauty is really always in the eye of the beholder! And another by the way, haha, at the start of the post i already guessed who is writing and i was right!
ReplyDeleteWell done Andrea for guessing :) and glad you enjoyed Loree's post!
DeleteVery cute, and so nice to have some little gardening treasures to look forward to during the winter! I wish I could keep some houseplants inside for the winter, but my cat eats them. I have a couple terrariums, though, to give me a little garden fix!
ReplyDeleteLittle treats like these does help keep the interest ticking over during the colder months. The terrariums you have seems ideal for getting tender but moisture loving plants :)
DeleteI absolutely adore succulents!!!! They truly are an investment because they can really spread! How wonderful to get home and find the little plants waiting! Very cute! I hope you will post their progress :)
ReplyDeleteI will do indeed :) It will be slow during the next few months but come spring they may grow much, much quicker and I'm looking forward to that!
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