Sinful Succulents: Are Your Plants Causing These Problems
While they're all fun and happy most of the time, every once in a while plants can bring out the worst in people. Maybe they may not actually be one of the seven deadly sins, but they sure can cause people to commit most of the sins.
This may seem a bit silly, but the more I thought about it, the more true I realized it is. Don't believe me? Read on! In case you don't know the “Seven Deadly Sins” are: lust, envy, greed, gluttony, sloth, wrath, and pride.
Lust
Lust can also be defined as a strong desire for something. How many times have you been browsing Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook or other blogs and seen amazing photos of succulents and succulent gardens? How many times have you then suddenly wanted to go buy a bunch of succulents? I know I have.
Envy
Lust generally leads into envy, defined as desiring to have something that belongs to someone else. Walking around Southern California you'll be confronted with a gorgeous succulent garden on nearly every street. When I see these beautiful gardens I always thing to myself, “I wish I lived here!” I've never been so tempted to steal in my life than when I see a huge garden full of rosettes. They wouldn't notice if I just clipped off one, right? What is it about these plants that makes me think so irrationally? They'd probably share if I asked, but I'm usually too embarrassed or shy to do so.
Greed
… intense and selfish desire for something. This goes along with the others, but who doesn't want more succulents? Especially when you see collections like this with bright pinks, purples and blues. It can definitely spark some selfishness and a strong urge to get as many succulents as possible.
Gluttony
Gluttony is defined as habitual greed. Succulents are addicting. Even when I have a lot it seems I always see a plant I don't have and want to add it to my collection. I'm constantly reminding myself that I have plenty of plants, more than I need even, and yet I still find myself buying more and thinking about buying more. Plus, I almost always have some leaves propagating. They're just so fun!
Sloth
And then there's sloth… While succulents often make you want to work hard in the garden, they tend to cause slothfulness in other areas. Have you ever found yourself perusing Pinterest looking at succulent gardens or doing some online succulent shopping on Etsy? I know I have! Dreaming about new plants and pottery has definitely caused me to put off things I should have been doing.
Wrath
Wrath doesn't come along too often but it can definitely come! A couple of things I can think of… Slugs eating my succulents, accidentally knocking an arrangement off a table and destroying everything, having plants tip over in the car and spill dirt all over… I guess I've had a few run-ins with being upset about succulents. Usually though, they just make life happy!
Pride
Finally, we have pride: a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements. I don't know if this is necessarily a sin, but I've definitely been proud of most of my succulent arrangements and projects. After putting so much effort into growing succulents it's only natural to want to show them off; they're beautiful!
Save Your Succulents With This Critical Watering Technique And Look Like A Pro
A big part of keeping succulents healthy is providing them with the right environment. You'll want to pay attention to the soil they're in, how much sunlight they're getting, and most importantly, how often you're watering them. The method and frequency of watering succulents are critical to preventing rot while encouraging lots of new growth.
Get more succulents for free with this simple propagation technique
One of the best things about growing succulents is how easily they propagate (grow new baby plants). Propagating succulents from leaves is extremely fun and a rewarding way to get more plants without having to buy new ones. Learning this simple technique can be quite addicting but may help keep your plant budget on track.
Expert Tips for Creating Stunning Succulent Arrangements
Figuring out which succulents to combine together to make a beautiful arrangement can be daunting. But with these tips from succulent design experts you'll be able to put together crowd-pleasing arrangements easily, whether it's in pots or in the ground.
Has Your Succulent Lost Its Color?
The succulents in this list can all tolerate low light. But most colorful succulents won't fare so well. There are a number of factors that help keep your succulents colorful, including how much light they get. Even some of these "low light" succulents will look a little better with more light. Find out how to give your succulents healthy stress and bring out their brightest colors.
This article originally appeared on Succulents and Sunshine.