Many Southern Arizona backyards feature succulent plants thanks to their low moisture needs and distinctive aesthetic appeal. If you do maintain succulents in your landscape, one care tip to know is how to stress a succulent. While stress sounds like a negative thing for your backyard plants, it can actually bring out some of the most brilliant and bright colors in your plants. In addition, when done correctly, it can be perfectly healthy for your succulents. Here’s what you need to know.
Stressed succulents may showcase amazing features.
Succulents may become stressed due to heat, cold, changes in soil nutrients, and changes in moisture. When certain succulent plants become stressed, you may see more brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow in their leaves. Stress can also lead to an abundance of flowers in your succulents. However, when stressed too far, succulents may begin to rot and die off. The key is in balancing stress cycles for your plants.
Not all succulents respond well to stress.
Another key to stressing succulents is knowing your individual plants. Some will show stress better than others. Most aloes and crassulas show vibrant color changes under stress. Additionally, some kalanchoes, euphorbias, sempervivums, sedums, aeoniums and echeverias stand up to stress conditions with pleasing color changes. If you’re unsure if a succulent is a good candidate for stressing, contact your local landscaper for tips.
Succulents should be stressed seasonally for best results.
When you stress out your succulents, they should be well prepared with ideal soil, moisture, and heat conditions beforehand. Stressing is typically a seasonal process, so plants will be greener in winter and red, yellow, and orange during summer and fall.
If you’re looking for exceptional landscape maintenance or a water-wise Tucson landscape design, call Complete Landscaping at (520) 323-8918. We provide specialized landscaping services to create beautiful outdoor living spaces that suit Southern Arizona’s hot, desert climate.