Flat-leaved mesembs
I found these in a neglected corner of the property some months ago. Once upon a time, there was a planted garden outside my front gate but now it's just a wilderness of alien invasive plants, grass and the odd long-suffering survivor. Tackling that mess is on my to-do list, along with 99 other things. When succulents are water-stressed, they go red and these leaves were a deep purple. I transplanted them to a corner that I have reclaimed and they greened up and started flowering
They gradually spreading into an attractive ground cover and retain a purple leaf margin and stems but the leaves have reverted to a more normal colour. While the purple was interesting, I knew it wouldn't last. I'm trying to fill my garden with as many succulents as possible so that I don't waste a lot of water keeping them alive.
A beautiful flower and plus that he is not cranky.
It will be beautiful when it grows. There will be a green carpet with flowers!
Kudos on your green thumb. Very nice plants. My grandmother also had a green thumb that alas I have not inherited. I have more of a black thumb and my plants tend to die. Even plants people have told you can't kill like hostas and hens and chicks did not survive. I look forward to reading your blog in hopes what is left has some chance of survival. Thanks for the article I enjoyed it.
Oh dear. Green thumbs are actually quite easy to acquire: they require good observation and education, that is all. Know your plants and what they need, then observe their condition closely and adjust things like watering and light accordingly. Don't be shy to ask for tips
You may have opened Pandora's box by allowing me unlimited questions. Lol.
I do have one question to start. In my garden is a tea rose plant that refuses to flower. Instead it puts out shoots that end up being six feet in height. I've been cutting them back in the hopes the plant will instead produce flowers or at least spread out. Thank you in advance.
It sounds to me like the graft has died and the long stems are suckers from the rootstock. Are they very thorny?
Basically, the flowering roses we buy have fairly weak roots so instead the stems are grafted on to wild rose root systems. Those may send out shoots occasionally but if that is all you are seeing, the graft isn't doing anything any more. If you know someone who knows roses, get them to look at it to ascertain whether the graft is dead or perhaps was overpruned and is still there but needs nurturing
If the graft is the woody center section that part is dead for sure. I was looking at it yesterday and it is growing some sort of mushrooms. I think I may have to just dig that one up and start with a fresh one. I've had it for nearly 20 years. Thank you for the reply.
Mushrooms are a bad sign. Sounds like you need a new plant. I hate it when such old plants die. After all that time, they feel like old friends
Especially as it was a mother's day gift from my children when we moved into our house. For sentimentalities sake I may move it to a less visible are, let it grow those suckers and put a new one in its place.
That is also a plan. You may get briar roses in time
Its a great idea to fill your garden with succulents, specially if your'e water wise.
I seem to have seen the plant, but I do not know the name
Youre getting there, am sure it'll be beautiful when done, not to mention the low maintenance
Nice photos :)