No.not just cacti and not just at home. Within the huge world of succulents there are many that are perfectly suited to balcony life, others are perfect to be planted directly in the garden. Very colorful, they are particularly easy to care for, also suitable for those who do not have a particularly developed green thumb, and also ideal when going on vacation, because their fabrics naturally create internal water reserves.
Succulents, the most suitable for outdoors
Not all succulents are better off inside the houses, for some types the “outdoor life” is essential. This is why balconies, terraces and gardens are their ideal habitat. They are perfect for decorating outdoor spaces without making too much effort to maintain.
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1. The cactus, the best known
Therefore, among the most suitable for this purpose is the inevitable cactus, the best known species. Very adaptable, some species of cacti are perfect for indoors, while others give their best outdoors; spring is the ideal time for their flowering and the flowers have a chalice or star shape and are in the most disparate colors.
2. Drosanthemum, the plant that loves summer
Beautiful and colorful, Drosanthemun is a succulent with colorful flowers, red, yellow, purple, lilac, pink and even multicolored. Perfect for outdoors, loves direct sunlight – therefore ideal in a garden or on a balcony where it is well exposed – and blooms especially in summer, in a real riot of colors.
3. Rebutia Minuscula, the Bolivian cactus
From the Cactaceae family, this plant is native to the Bolivian and Argentine desert. It has an unmistakable shape because it is rounded, it is small in size and therefore suitable for balconies and terraces. The period of maximum flowering occurs twice a year, in spring and autumn and it is characterized by a carpet of orange, yellow and red flowers.
4. Crassula, with white star-shaped flowers
Originally from South Africa, it is ideal if you have rocky or porous soils. The peculiarity are the fleshy and slightly hairy leaves that guarantee protection from both the sun and the cold. The flowers, which bloom in the warmer months, are star-shaped and are red or an intense white.
5. Echeveria, the rose-shaped plant
Typical of the most difficult and difficult soils, this succulent plant is famous for its shape that recreates a blossoming rose. Its ideal period is the hottest months because it needs direct sun, which is why it blooms between late spring and summer. The flowers have the peculiarity of blooming on a long stem, are bell-shaped and can change color from the center to the edges, in a mix between yellow, orange or red.
Instructions for use, that is, how to care for succulents
Succulents they tend to be “self-managed”, that is, they are easy to care for thanks to their adaptability and above all they do not require particular attention, even as regards the water, which they are able to preserve thanks to their particular fabrics.
When choosing them it is essential to find plants compatible with your soil or balcony. In fact, although they do not require particular soils, it is important that there is good drainage. In addition, they often need to be planted in full sun, in fact they need a lot of natural light. And depending on the climate, they have to be covered during the cold season if low temperatures or very abundant rains occur. Finally, between the end of winter and the beginning of spring they must be fertilized in order to guarantee a rich flowering.
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