Not Everyone Has A Green Thumb (nor do they need it)!

If you like having container plants around your home or patio but you just don’t have a green thumb, try some plants that thrive on neglect!

Plants like cacti, succulents, aloe and sotols are amazingly tolerant of human forgetfulness, hot, baking sites, and even outright abuse, and will thrive where other potted plants fail. Drought-adapted plants have many different forms, colors, and textures, which can add a dramatic sculptural beauty to any garden or yard. However, more importantly for those without a green thumb is that these plants conserve water resources and will save you time normally spent during these hot summer months trying to keep flower from wilting and dying.

When it comes to choosing pots, glazed ceramic and natural clay are the best choices for these heat tolerant plants. You will need to make sure you match the plants’ root mass and have ample drainage holes when selecting the container. Minimizing the size of the container keeps the soil mass smaller, resulting in it drying out quickly. Most of these plants come from habitats where the soil is as scarce as rain, so they are quite happy in tight quarters. It will become obvious, even to the novice, when it is time to upgrade certain plants to larger containers.

Spending a little time upfront by using the right soil mixture will also reduce problems and demands on your time in the future. The plants we are discussing will require little care and water if you use a soil mixture of 50 percent per gravel and 50 percent compost and pine bark. These plants will be healthier if you allow the soil to dry out completely and then, when you do water, soak them throughout.

Even though these plants like it dry, they need to be watered and fertilized periodically. It is critical, however, that you give them a dry spell between watering. Dry time can last days or even weeks, with no harm done to the plants.

So, if you are the non-green-thumb gardener, try a few of these choices for container plants: Yucca, Silver Jade, Devil’s Tongue, Mannillaria, Bishop’s Cap, Century Plant, , Pink Ice, Moss Rose, Aloe, Rosettes of Echeveria, and all types of cactus and agave plants, or ask your garden center for other choices.

Most important, if you want to spruce up your patio or home’s entrance but just don’t have the time or the coveted green thumb, the plants described in this article are perfect container plants for you and they will thrive on your neglect day in and day out throughout the summer.

Vicki Ward
PCAM®, CMCA®, AMS®
President
Principal Management Group of Houston
Houston, TX