Very new to Succulent Plants

Hi,

Need advice on succulent plants. I'm aware that some succulents are hardys, but as yet I haven't look for any yet, as I've work to do before I'm ready to buy any.

In my front garden, my dad is busy building me raised beds and a deck. I've decided to have a centre piece in the deck and grow succulent plants. It will be 1.2m x 1.2m.

Questions:-

Is it just grit these plants grow in or do you mix grit with soil?
Over winter do they need covering?
As I live in Northumberland, we get a lot of winds, will I need to be careful?

Any information would be helpful

 

Well there are an awful lot of succulents and some are bone hardy, some ok with a bit of shelter and those that stand no chance out side all winter.

They need some soil with the grit, but if you get high rainfall, especially in winter you need a good proportion of grit.

Wind can actually be a good thing with these kind of plants as the last thing they want is dampness lingering.

I think mainly, untill you decide on what plants you intend growing, only general information can be given.
Its a good start though.

 

Winter wet is the big problem with succulents so a perspex cover for the winter could be useful and super, excellent drainage is obviously a necessity.

Sempervivums could suit you.

 

@pete @kindredspirit Thanks for the information and a type of succulent to look at. Yeah at the moment general information is what I'm after, because I've been of succulent plants websites reading and getting conflicting info, like succulent plants are not hardy and best suited in pots to move inside for winter, media needs to be peat+soil+grit or just grit. This is why I asked on here in-order to get better advice.

Perspex covers. Would you have enclosed or open-ended covers?

Would you have half grit & half soil?

 

Is it possible to grow Alpine plants in amongst succulent plants?

 

I tend to think 50:50 grit and soil might be good in your area, not sure how much rain you get.
But you can always add water you cant take it away as such.

Along with sempervivums as mentioned a lot of sedums are pretty hardy.
I grow Aloe striatula outside in just my normal garden soil, so it stands a chance with better drainage.

 

Know where you're coming from, some of the saxifrages are slightly succulent, and rosette forming.
Worth a try.

 

@pete I've just come across Sedums as your email came in, so I think I've a lot of reading to do. For some reason, the north east is thought of having a lot of rain, but where I live we don't get half the rain that gets forecast. It's the wind that hits us the most.

 

Open-ended perspex covers, not enclosed. You need air flow.

Alpines and Succulents go together wonderfully. I grow them together.

50% soil. 50% Grit would be good.

Wind is no problem. Wet is.

 

Here's a succulent grown outside. Delosperma Cooperi.




Here are Sempervivums, Lewisias, which are both an alpine and a succulent, and Bevan's variety Armeria.
Lewisias HATE wet, so notice the gravel/soil mix stuck in between perforated volcanic rocks.

 

Thanks @kindredspirit for the photos. I'll make a note of them in my plant note document to remember them.

Yeah, I will do 50-50 soil & grit.