At first I thought they were sort of ugly.
But then I looked at them a bit longer and thought that maybe they were not so bad after all.
In fact – some of them were quite pretty.
The thing about succulents is that they really do not need much water.
Of course, if they get more water than they bargained for, they will not just wither and die either.
Did you know that growing your own succulents is really easy?
You simply lay a leaf or three down on a bed of soil in a little pot with the plant’s pointy bit facing outwards, and give it a few drops of water every now and then. They are not even too fussy about the water – believe it or not.
After a while teensy tiny little leaves will start growing in the middle of the pot.
And it does not take too long either.
Perfect teensy weensy succulents.
In fact, it is incredibly rewarding
The crazy thing about succulents is that some of them are good for various things – like the Bulbinlella for instance.
Bulbinella, a common garden plant, is the ideal plant to have in the garden if you have children because it is a remedy for most knocks and scrapes.
This hardy plant grows easily in many places.
It has a nice bright yellow flower.
The Bulbinella leaf can be crushed softly between your fingers. The clear sap squeezed from the leaf should be used for the following problems: wounds, rashes, burns, itches, ringworm, cracked lips, cuts, boils, eczema, insect bites, cold sores or acne.
The same goes for Pork Bush which is more commonly known by its Afrikaans name, Spekboom (Portulacaria afra). It is also pretty fabulous stuff.
Not only is it a proudly South African plant but it is also a water-wise plant that survives on less than a litre of water a year.
Poultices made from the leaves can be applied to acne, blisters, corns, insect bites, sore feet and sunburn.
Apparently chewing Spekboom leaves several times a day can successfully treat high blood sugar levels.
These plants would make great Christmas presents – but you’d need to start growing them in little pots now!
Have fun.
Sibo
