I wrote in my last SOS SOS 22nd February that I am running out of space for my collection and to solve this I bought even more succulents which should arrive from France this week. Having spent 4 to 5 hours checking over some of my Echeverias for any sign of rot or damage, repotting some of them and moving them to different shelves and greenhouses in the garden to get more sunlight. I have now realised that you can never have to many succulents.

I make sure that all my Echeverias are kept in the garden over winter. They are all placed in cold frames with polystyrene pads for installation or min greenhouses. I do this so even in the depth of winter they get some natural light. Of course some people do use grow lamps in the house but I have literally have that many plants it would be to complicated and stressful to make sure that they have the same amount of light.

The soil mixture I use is 50% compost and 50% gravel it I don’t think I have got this quite right as I lost a few to rot over the winter. This winter I think I am going to repot most of them using a mixture of 20% compost and 80% gravel. I do not water the plants over winter of I can help it. When I do water succulents I only use rain water as this makes the colour of the leaves more vibrant, healthier and shinier.

When I was “grooming” my Echeverias on Sunday I took the following photos which I thought I would share with you.

1. Echeveria Chrissy n Ruan

2. E. Kirov

3. E. Colorata f Lindsayana

4. E. Mebina

5. E. Agavoides White Sirrus

6. E. Cassyz

7. E. Alba Aloha

8. E. Ben Badis

9. E. Yangjin

10. E. Perle Von Nurnberg

11. E. Red Gilva