Horowhenua StarA fockea edulis is just one of many succulents you can grow in your tunnelhouse.
Horowhenua succulent afficionado Anastasia (Ana) Carlson has hundreds of varieties, many of them small. But she has a few monsters, mostly huge cacti.
Ana Carlson with a euphorbia stenoclada.
Photo Janine Baalbergen
Ana was born in Los Angeles and grew up in San Diego. She and husband Stephen have been in New Zealand for 13 years and decided four years ago to move to a lifestyle block just north of Levin, allowing her passion for succulents and cacti to flourish.
She has since put in a vege patch and a flower garden.
“The Horowhenua climate is much better for my cacti,” she says. “We used to live in Tawa and growing succulents there was really hard. At least here in Horowhenua there is sunshine most days, even if it is only a few minutes.”
She started collecting succulents years ago and as a volunteer at Wellington’s Botanical Gardens she was given many plants by others.
“They would say, ‘here, this is from where you grew up’.”
While at the botanic gardens she grew fuchsias and ferns, but at some stage succulents became all the rage, as did houseplants, and she ended up with more and more plants.
“I had so many that I began trading with other collectors and in 2017 started a business, mostly by mail order, joined the local branch of the cactus and succulent society to learn more.”
She swaps plants with other growers, she propagates or grows from seed.
“I recommend anyone interested in either cacti or succulents to join a society. It was really good for me. I made a lot of friends there and learnt a few new skills, too.”
One fellow succulent grower in the Manawatū branch is a potter and is now teaching other growers how to throw pots on a pottery wheel.
Joining a club, any club, helps your mental health, she says.
“We share tips, ideas, prices, and we check up on each other. The plants themselves also have a wholesome effect on you if life’s pressures get too much.”
A lot of succulent growers have large collections and when something happens to you, the plants often go uncared for too long, so Ana suggests making arrangements with friends and family to look after them, or to find another grower who might want to take them home.
Collecting succulents is fairly easy, she says.
“Succulents thrive on neglect. Many people pamper them too much. Everyday watering for example will kill them. They come from desert climates after all.
“Many can go without watering for weeks, especially in the winter.”
There are many different genus, and species, and each requires special treatment, she says.
“Water, light, drainage and airflow are vital for succulents, so apartment life can be really hard on them.
“Also having too many plants together is not good as that impedes airflow. They do perspire [release moisture] and that can create a humidity trap underneath, which will kill them.
“Ventilation and circulation of fresh air are everything.”
While succulent growing can be addictive, Ana says to go easy.
“Just treat yourself to something you like the look of. Don’t spend too much money. Learn more about them from other growers and enjoy the calming effect they have on you.”
She says succulents are xerophitic plants, meaning they thrive in harsh environments and go without a lot of resources. They encompass a lot of plants, including sansevierias and bromeliads.
“It means they have ample storage of water and nutrients stashed away.”
Ana says propagation of succulents is relatively easy.
“Often you just pick a leaf and put it on the soil and it will grow roots, but for some you need a branch and I grow many from seed.”
To find out more go to Facebook: gardenana23
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