>> HI THERE, I'M TOM SPENCER.

THIS WEEK ON CENTRAL
TEXAS GARDENER,

UP CYCLE CONTAINERS FOR CREATIVE
SUCCULENT DESIGNS WITH ERIC

PEDLEY'S SPIN AT
EAST AUSTIN SUCCULENTS.

AND THEN THE SUCCULENTS WITH
THE BOB BARTH'S GREENHOUSES AND

GARDENS.

DAPHNE SHOWS OFF SUMMERTIME
PORTULACA AND TRISHA SHIREY

CRAFTS ARRANGEMENTS
WITH SUCCULENT PLANTS.

LET'S GET GROWING,
RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.

>> SUPPORT FOR CENTRAL TEXAS
GARDENER COMES FROM GEOGROWERS,

OFFERING CUSTOM SOIL
BLENDS FOR LAWNS, GARDENS,

XERISCAPING AND ORGANIC
LANDSCAPING SUPPLIES.

MORE INFORMATION
AT GEOGROWERS.NET.

>> AS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF
THE AUSTIN CACTUS AND SUCCULENT

SOCIETY, BOB BARTH HAS IMPACTED
OUR PERCEPTIONS AND GARDENS.

FIND OUT WHAT STARTED HIS
FASCINATION AND WHY IT'S

IMPORTANT.

>> BOB BARTH IS AN EXPLORER.

HE VENTURES BEYOND THE BORDERS
WITH PLANTS THAT UNITE OUR

GLOBAL COMMUNITY TO DISCOVER
THEIR PURPOSE AND APPRECIATE

THEIR BEAUTY.

ON HIS HILLSIDE PROPERTY
SHARED WITH PARTNER NOREEN,

HE GROWS COLD HARDY CACTI
AND SUCCULENTS IN THE GROUND.

OTHERS RESIDE IN GREENHOUSES
WHERE HE GROWS AND PROPAGATES

PLANTS CHOSEN FROM UNIVERSAL
WHOLESALE NURSERIES.

HIS PASSION IS ALSO TO EDUCATE
AND PRESERVE PLANTS THAT ARE LOSING HABITAT,

AN INTEREST THAT GERMINATED WHEN
HE WAS A BIOLOGY PROFESSOR AT

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.

>> BACK IN THE EARLY '70'S THEY
WERE DOING A SERIES OF INFORMAL

CLASSES AT U.T., AND ONE OF THEM
WAS ON CACTI AND SUCCULENTS.

AND I HAD I THINK JUST BEFORE
THAT PICKED UP A FEW CACTI AT

LOCAL NURSERIES AND THOUGHT
THEIR SHAPES AND TEXTURES WERE

REALLY INTERESTING.

>> MEETING LIKE
MINDED GARDENERS,

THEY FORMED THE AUSTIN CACTUS
AND SUCCULENT SOCIETY TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES AND OTHERS.

THROUGH MEETINGS ONLINE AND SEMI ANNUAL SALES, THEY FOSTERED

ENTHUSIASM THAT CONTINUES TO GROW.

>> MAYBE IN PART BECAUSE OUR
CLIMATE SEEMS TO BE DRYING OUT,

THAT CACTI AND SUCCULENTS
HAVE BECOME MUCH MORE POPULAR,

THERE'S A LOT MORE VARIETIES
AVAILABLE NOW WHICH ARE ACTUALLY

REASONABLY COLD HARDY
AND CAN BE GROWN OUTSIDE.

WHEN I FIRST STARTED THIS
LITTLE GARDEN ALONG MY DRIVEWAY,

YOU COULD GET SO TALLS,
AGAVE AND OTHER THINGS,

BUT SINCE THAT TIME SO MANY
OTHER POSSIBILITIES ARE NOW

AVAILABLE.

>> AS A BIOLOGIST BOB
WANTED TO KNOW MORE.

IN A WIRE CAGE GREENHOUSE HE
STUDIES PLANTS LIKE ALOES.

>> ALOES ARE NATIVE TO SOUTHERN
AND EAST AFRICA AND ALSO THE

ARABIAN PENINSULA AND
THE ISLAND OF MADAGASCAR.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT
HERE MAINLY ARE HYBRIDS.

>> CALIFORNIA GROWERS HAVE
HYBRIDIZED VARIETIES WITH

INTRIGUING COLORS AND TEXTURES.

ALOES WANT GOOD
SUNLIGHT AND DRY SOIL.

IN SOUTH AFRICA THEY
ARE GARDEN PLANTS,

BUT MOST NEED PROTECTION FROM
HARSH WINTER COLD IN TEXAS.

>> IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND
AROUND HERE WHEN YOU HAVE ALOES

BLOOMING THEY WILL BE
VISITED BY HUMMINGBIRDS.

>> RELATED TO ALOE IS HAWORTHIA, ANOTHER COLD TENDER PLANT TO BE PROTECTED IN WINTER.

>> THEY ARE ALL
FROM SOUTH AFRICA.

SOME ARE HYBRID OR NATIVE
SPECIES IN SOUTH AFRICA.

THEY COLOR UP NICELY
WITH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SUN.

AND THE NICEST THING ABOUT THIS
PARTICULAR FACILITY IS IT GETS

SUN IN THE MORNING AND
IT'S SHADED BY AND LARGE IN THE

AFTERNOON.

IN HABITAT THEY TEND TO GROW
UNDER A SEMI DESERT SHRUBS AND

THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> COLD TENDERED PLANTS MOVE
TO A TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED

GREENHOUSE IN WINTER WHERE
BOB GROWS PLANTS YEAR-ROUND.

FROM TALL TO TINY HE GROWS
MULTIPLE GENERA AND SPECIES OF

SUCCULENTS AND CACTI.

HE REPRESENTS NEW WORLD
PLANTS LIKE CACTI AND AGAVES.

FROM THE OLD WORLD HAWORTHIAS,
ALOES AND SUCCULENT EUPHORBIAS.

ANOTHER GREENHOUSE
SITS ATOP THE CARPORT,

AN IDEA FROM ONE OF HIS GRAD
STUDENTS TO GET THE SUNNIEST

SPOT FOR CACTI AND OTHERS.

HIS FASCINATION WITH
THESE DISTINCTIVE PLANTS?

>> IT HAS TO DO WITH THEIR
UNUSUAL SHAPES, UNUSUAL COLORS,

TEXTURES AND SO FORTH.

>> SOME OF THEM ARE ASTROPHYTUM.

>> IT'S A SMALL GENUS OF CACTI,
THERE ARE ONLY ABOUT A HALF

DOZEN SPECIES BUT THERE ARE
GOOD SUBJECTS FOR HYBRIDIZATION,

AND THE THING SO INTERESTING
ABOUT THE ASTROPHYTUMS SOME OF

THEM ARE TOTALLY SPINELESS.

OTHERS HAVE A FEW SPINES, BUT
THEY HAVE INTERESTING PATTERNS

OF WHITE MARKINGS ON THE
SURFACE OF THE PLANT.

AND IF YOU MAKE HYBRIDS YOU
CAN GET ALL KINDS OF REALLY

INTERESTING PATTERNS.

>> THE MELOCACTUS ARE
JUST AS DISTINCTIVE.

IN HABITAT THEIR FLOWERS ARE
POLLINATED BY HUMMINGBIRDS.

>> IT'S A GENUS OF CACTI THAT IS
FOUND IN SEMI ARID AREAS IN

THE TROPICS.

A LOT OF SPECIES IN BRAZIL.

AND BASICALLY IT'S A TYPE OF
CACTUS THAT LIVES FOR AWHILE AS

A VEGETATIVE, TYPICAL
LOOKING CACTUS,

BUT WHEN IT DECIDES THAT IT'S
MATURE IT STOPS THE NORMAL

VEGETATIVE GROWTH AND PUTS ON
THIS BRISTLY STRUCTURE ON THE

TOP OF IT CALLED A CEPHALIUM.

AND OUT OF THAT BRISTLY
STRUCTURE WILL COME THE LITTLE

PINK FLOWERS AND THEN THE
LITTLE PINK FRUITS THAT DEVELOP AFTERWARDS.

>> OTHERS THAT WOULD GROW UNDER
SHRUBS AND HABITAT EXPOSE MORE

OF THE SKIN FOR PHOTOSYNTHESIS.

COLORATION ON SOME ECHEVERIA
PROTECTS THEM FROM ULTRAVIOLET

LIGHT.

>> IT'S A WHITE POWDERY SUBSTANCE THAT THE PLANT

PRODUCES AS IT DEVELOPS ITS LEAVES.

THE POWDER IS ONLY GENERATED
AS THE LEAF IS DEVELOPING AND

ONCE THE LEAF IS FULLY DEVELOPED IT WON'T PRODUCE ANY MORE POWDER.

>> BOB GROWS HIS IN THE
WIRE CAGED GREENHOUSE.

A HOME GARDENER CAN JUST
PROVIDE MORNING SUN.

>> BECAUSE THEY DO NEED THE SUN
TO KEEP THEM FROM ETIOLATING,

TO KEEP THEM FROM GETTING
LEGGY AND COLORS ON THE LEAVES.

MOST OF THE ECHEVERIA COME FROM
HIGHLANDS IN MEXICO WHICH MAKES

THEM A LITTLE TOUGH TO GROW HERE
IN TEXAS BECAUSE IT'S SO HOT IN

THE SUMMERTIME.

>> SUCCULENTS BY THEIR VERY NAME
HAVE DEVELOPED STRATEGIES TO

STORE WATER WHEN ITS SCARCE.

CACTI AND MOST OF THE EUPHORBIAS
STORE IT IN THEIR STEMS.

ECHEVERIA STORE IT IN THEIR
LEAVES WHILE OTHERS STORE WATER

IN A BALL SHAPED STRUCTURE
CALLED THE CAUDEX.

SOME STRATEGIZE TO RISE
THE NEXT GENERATION.

>> THE LITHOPS ARE A GENUS OF
PLANTS FOUND IN NAMIBIA AND THEY

HAVE AN INTERESTING
GROWTH CYCLE.

THEY CONSIST OF TWO LEAVES FUSED
TOGETHER WITH A CRACK BETWEEN

THE TWO.

AND IN THE FALL OF
THE YEAR FOR US,

WHEN WE GROW THEM
IN CULTIVATION,

THE FLOWER BUD COMES OUT OF THAT
CRACK BETWEEN THE TWO LEAVES.

A NEW PLANT STARTS DEVELOPING
INSIDE THE OLD ONE,

SPLITS THE OLD ONE OPEN AND
GRADUALLY SUCKS ALL THE MOISTURE

OUT OF THE OLD PLANT.

>> SPINES MULTITASK.

>> SPINATION CAN HAVE A
VARIETY OF DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS.

OF COURSE, IT CAN PROTECT THE
PLANT FROM HERBIVORES BECAUSE

IT'S NOT SO PLEASANT FOR AN
ANIMAL TO TRY TO EAT BECAUSE

THEIR SPINY.

THE SPINES CAN ALSO SHADE THE
PLANT AND THEY CAN ALSO SERVE TO

COLLECT MOISTURE WHICH THEN CAN
DRIP DOWN AROUND THE BASE OF THE

PLANT.

AND THEN THE ROOTS GET
ACCESS TO THE MOISTURE.

>> IN HIS GREENHOUSES BOB CAN
PROTECT FROM TOO MUCH WATER LIKE

FLOODING RAINS.

BUT SUCCULENTS DO NEED MOISTURE.

IN SPRING AND FALL, HE
WATERS EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS.

IN SUMMER OFTEN ONCE A WEEK.

IN WINTER IT'S MONTHLY OR EVERY
SIX WEEKS DEPENDING ON SUNLIGHT.

>> ALONG WITH PROMOTING
GARDEN WATER CONSERVATION,

BOB'S GLOBAL CONNECTION TO
PLANTS AND THE WILDLIFE THAT

DEPENDS ON THEM IS SIGNIFICANT.

>> I THINK IT HELPS US TO
REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO

PRESERVE HABITATS AND PRESERVE
SPECIES, MUCH AS WE CAN.

MADAGASCAR IS A CASE IN POINT
BECAUSE A VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE

OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS THAT OCCUR
IN MADAGASCAR ARE FOUND NOWHERE

ELSE IN THE WORLD.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO TRY TO SAVE AT LEAST SOME OF THE HABITAT.

THERE ARE LOTS OF CONSERVATION
ORGANIZATIONS THESE DAYS THAT

ARE WORKING IN THAT DIRECTION.

I THINK WE'RE MAKING
SOME PROGRESS.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR
SHARING YOUR GARDEN WITH US.

NOW WE'LL BE TAKING A LOOK AT
SOME OF THE COOLEST CONTAINERS

YOU HAVE EVER SEEN.

I'M JOINED BY ERIC PEDLEY
FROM EAST AUSTIN SUCCULENTS.

WELCOME TO CENTRAL
TEXAS GARDENER.

WELCOME BACK, I SHOULD SAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR
HAVING ME AGAIN.

>> I'M DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU
HERE BECAUSE WE ARE SURROUNDED

BY PROBABLY THE MOST UNIQUE
COLLECTION AND THE MOST

BEAUTIFUL COLLECTION OF
CONTAINERS I'VE SEEN IN A LONG,

LONG TIME.

SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING
ABOUT CREATING A REALLY VARIED

SUCCULENT GARDENS USING SOME
KIND OF UNUSUAL SETTINGS,

IF YOU WILL.

>> WHATEVER YOU CAN
FIND, YOU CAN FILL IT.

>> WELL, YOU HAVE FOUND
SOME VERY COOL THINGS.

I JUST WANT TO START PEOPLE
OFF WITH JUST A VISUAL SAMPLE,

SOME VERY VINTAGE LOOKING TOYS
HERE SERVING DOUBLE DUTY IN A

SENSE.

>> YEAH.

IT MIGHT BE KIND OF SINFUL TO
PLANT UP SOMETHING THIS OLD,

BUT HE ALREADY HAD DRAINAGE
HOLES AND COULD DRIVE AROUND TO

MORE LIGHT OR LESS LIGHT AND HE
WAS CARRYING AROUND BIG APPLES

OR CABBAGE SO IT'S A FUN
LITTLE THING TO PLANT IN.

>> WELL, I WOULD SAY ABSOLUTELY.

AND THE NICE THING ABOUT
PLANTING SUCCULENTS IN THESE

KINDS OF THINGS IS THAT IT
DOESN'T NEED TO BE CONSTANTLY

WATERED.

EVEN SOMETHING THAT IS AS
DELIGHTFUL AS THIS YOU'RE NOT

REALLY DESTROYING IN A SENSE.

>> EXACTLY, YEAH.

WE TRY NOT TO WATER HIS BODY,
JUST WATER THE PICKUP TRUCK ONCE

A WEEK OR SO.

AND IT SHOULD DO WONDERFUL.

IT'S A SHALLOW CONTAINER SO IT
WILL EVAPORATE MOISTURE REAL

WELL AND IT'S GOT LOTS
OF DRAINAGE IN IT.

IT'S PERFECT.

>> WELL, IT IS PERFECT
LOOKING RIGHT HERE ON OUR SET.

AND IT HAS A COUSIN UP
THERE, WHAT'S HE DELIVERING?

>> HE'S DELIVERING SOME
WATERMELON AND OTHER FRUIT AND

WHATNOT.

>> OKAY.

>> HE'S NOT QUITE AS OLD
AS HIS RED FRIEND THERE.

>> OLD OR YOUNG THEY'RE
BOTH VERY CHARMING.

AND YOU'VE BROUGHT ALONG A
LITTLE COIN DRAWER AND WE'LL

SHOW PEOPLE -- YOU USE ALL
SORTS OF THINGS THAT YOU FIND IN

ANTIQUE SHOPS.

AND I THINK ON CURBSIDES SOMETIMES.

>> EXACTLY.

I FOUND THIS IN AN ANTIQUE SHOP
FOR REAL CHEAP AND IT ALREADY

HAD A DRAINAGE HOLE.

I COULD DRILL ANOTHER HOLE, BUT
IT'S PROBABLY SUFFICIENT WITH

HOW SHALLOW IT IS.

IT MAKES A UNIQUE PLANTER AND WE
HAVE ONE PLANTED UP OVER THERE

THAT I'M SURE YOU CAN
SHOW A PICTURE OF.

>> IF YOU'RE GOING TO DRILL INTO
METAL OR SOMETHING THAT'S LIKE A

GLAZED CERAMIC OR GLASS, YOU NEED A SPECIAL DRILL BIT.

>> YEAH, A DIAMOND DRILL BIT
CAN PRETTY MUCH DRILL THROUGH

ANYTHING.

IF YOU'RE GOING THROUGH A BIG
HULK OF METAL YOU WANT TO USE A

METAL BIT, BUT THIS IS GREAT
FOR GLASS AND EVEN WOOD YOU CAN

DRILL THROUGH.

WE USE IT FOR EVERYTHING.

AND THEY ARE
EXPENSIVE, ABOUT $15.

BUT THIS CAN MAKE A LOT OF ITEMS
THAT YOU HAVE LAYING AROUND

GREAT PLANTERS.

IT'S A GREAT TOOL TO HAVE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SPEAKING OF GREAT PLANTERS AND
TOOLS WE HAVE THIS WONDERFUL

TOOL BOX AND BEAUTIFULLY
DISPLAYING THE PLANTS AND ALSO

SOME COOL ROCKS AND THINGS.

>> YES.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH WOOD
IS IT CRACKS OVER TIME WHEN YOU

WATER IT.

YOU NEED TO HAVE INSERTS.

I FOUND THIS PLANTER THAT HAS
FOUR SECTIONS AND THEY EACH HAVE

A PLASTIC INSERT
SO IT'S PERFECT.

WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF SLAG
GLASS IN THERE AND JUST SOME

DIFFERENT ROCKS TO ACCENT IT.

AND IF YOU FIND A LARGE PIECE OF
SLAG GLASS YOU CAN JUST THROW IT

IN A TOWEL AND HAMMER IT INTO
SMALLER PIECES THAT ARE MORE

USABLE.

AND THE SAME GOES
FOR PETRIFIED WOOD.

IF YOU HAVE A REAL LARGE PIECE
YOU CAN ALWAYS JUST USE A HAMMER

AND BREAK IT DOWN.

>> I WANT YOU TO SHOW THE
OTHER SIDE OF THIS, THE COLORS.

THEY'RE REALLY SOMETHING ELSE.

>> THIS IS FOUR MILLION-YEAR-OLD
INDONESIAN PETRIFIED WOOD.

>> AND IT'S AVAILABLE
COMMERCIALLY.

>> IT IS.

IT SHOULD BE PRICELESS
BEING THAT OLD, BUT YEAH,

IT'S AVAILABLE.

>> AND IT MAKES A PERFECT ACCENT
OR COUNTER POINT TO A LOT OF THE

PLANTINGS THAT YOU HAVE HERE.

>> CAN REALLY MAKE
AN ARRANGEMENT.

ONE COOL ROCK OR PIECE OF
WOOD CAN MAKE AN ARRANGEMENT.

>> OR A BEER CAN.

>> SURE.

>> SPEAKING OF WHICH,
RIGHT HERE NEXT TO ME,

THIS IS A VERY AUSTIN
PIECE, I WOULD THINK.

>> YES.

CASEY HAS GOTTEN REALLY OBSESSED
WITH MAKING THESE WITH HIS

DREMEL AND THE ROUTER AND A
LITTLE WOODWORKING AND HE BOLTS

THEM IN AND IT'S A NEAT
AUSTIN THING TO DO.

>> SO HOW OFTEN WOULD
YOU WATER THESE GUYS?

>> WELL, THAT'S A REALLY
SMALL OPENING THERE.

I WOULD WATER
THOSE TWICE A WEEK.

UNLESS YOU'RE IN A SHADY HEAR
AREA, THEN YOU CAN WATER LESS.

>> WE HAVE ALL SORTS OF THINGS
HERE FROM OLD COFFEE CANS TO

VINTAGE LOOKING HORSES
AND GLAZED CERAMICS,

BUT THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT
THEMES I THINK YOU'VE GOT HERE.

>> SURE.

YOU CAN GO REALLY LUSH AND
FILL OUT A POT AND IT'S A GOOD

PROPAGATOR THAT YOU
CAN MAKE CUTTINGS OFF.

OR YOU CAN GO REALLY STARK AND
KIND OF DESOLATE AND DESERTLIKE

AND MODERN WITH A LOT OF OPEN
SPACE OR JUST ONE ROCK AND ONE

PLANT.

YOU CAN KEEP IT
KIND OF MYSTICAL.

>> ZEN.

>> ZEN IN A COFFEE CAN.

I THINK THAT WOULD WORK.

THAT ESTHETIC IS SOMETHING
THAT I REALLY LIKE,

BUT I ALSO LIKE THE FUNKY RETRO
LOOK THAT A LOT OF YOUR PIECES

SEEM TO HAVE.

>> YEAH.

THAT'S A SHABBY CHICK CHIKAGE
WITH THE ROCKS AND THE

ARRANGEMENT THERE AND IT HAS
ROAD KILL IN IT WITH REINDEER

MOSS TO KIND OF BRIGHTEN IT UP.

>> WELL, THAT BEAUTIFUL RETRO
LOOKING VASE IS REALLY COOL.

WE HAVE A VARIETY OF TOOL
KITS THAT YOU'VE BROUGHT.

AND THE ONE THAT IS BLOWING ME
AWAY AND I WANT YOU TO DESCRIBE

THIS FOR OUR VIEWERS BECAUSE IT'S PLANTED ALL THE WAY UP INTO THE LID HERE.

>> SURE.

I ALWAYS LOOK FOR A LID THAT
WILL HOLD ITSELF OPEN AND NOT

FALL BACK ALL THE WAY.

THEY USUALLY HAVE AN INSERT IN
THERE THAT YOU CAN DRILL AS WELL

THAT MAKES A GREAT PLANTER.

SO YOU CAN FIT A LOT OF NEAT
THINGS AND GET CREATIVE WITH

SOME WOODS AND MOSSES
AND ROCKS AS WELL.

>> A LOT OF THESE PLANTS WILL
DO TO IN THE SHADE, WON'T THEY?

>> THEY WILL.

AND IT'S NOT IDEAL THAT THE
MANFREDA IS IN THERE.

BECAUSE THE MANFREDA WILL COLOR UP MORE RED IN SOME SUN,

BUT IT WILL STILL LIVE WELL BUT
YOU WON'T GET THE NICE COLOR.

WE DO HAVE A LOT OF SHADE
PLANTS IN THE ARRANGEMENTS.

>> THIS ONE SHOWS OFF BOTH LUSH
AND STARK ALL IN ONE CONTAINER

REALLY.

AND THE USE OF THE STONES AND
IT'S AN ART FORM UNTO ITSELF

REALLY.

>> THAT'S MORGAN'S STYLE.

SHE LOVES TO USE A LOT
OF WOODS AND MOSSES.

>> AND PEOPLE SEE THESE
THINGS AND THEY THINK GOSH,

THAT LOOKS SO COMPLICATED.

MUST BE REALLY DIFFICULT
TO TAKE CARE OF.

>> NO.

YOU'RE JUST DRILLING
'EM, THROWING DIRT IN,

THROW THE PLANTS IN AND THEN
THROW SOME TOP DRESS AND YOU CAN

GET AS CREATIVE AND GET
COMPLEX AS YOU WANT TO,

BUT IT'S A GOOD THING TO DO
TO REPLANT YOUR PLANTS AND GET

CREATIVE, HAVE SOMETHING TO DO.

>> YOU SAID THROW SOME DIRT IN,
BUT I KNOW YOU DON'T THROW JUST

ANY DIRT IN THERE.

AND ACTUALLY ADDING THE CORRECT
SOIL IS REALLY PROBABLY ONE OF

THE KEY THINGS HERE, RIGHT?

>> WE MAKE A MIX THAT'S
REALLY FAST DRAINING,

BUT IT'S REALLY
NUTRITIOUS AS WELL.

WE USE A LOT OF CYPRESS MULCH
AND GRANITE AND PEARLITE TO MAKE

THINGS DRAIN REALLY QUICKLY.

ONE OF THE MAIN PROBLEMS PEOPLE
HAVE HAD THEY SAY THEY KILL

SUCCULENTS, THEY BUY THIS
NURSERY POT THAT'S JUST A BLOCK

OF PEAT.

AND WHEN YOU'RE WATERING IT'S
NEVER SATURATING THE ROOTS,

JUST GOING DOWN THE SIDES.

WHEN YOU REPOT INTO A GOOD MIX
YOU CAN SATURATE THE ROOTS AND

GET DOWN FOR THE
PLANT TO GROW WELL.

REPOTTING IS A NUMBER ONE THING
WHEN YOU BUY A PLANT FROM A

NURSERY AND MAKING THE
ARRANGEMENTS IS A GOOD WAY TO DO

A FUN THING AND ALSO
HELP THE PLANTS OUT.

>> WHEN YOU REPOT, DO YOU BREAK UP THE ROOTS A LITTLE BIT?

>> SURE.

IF IT'S ROOT BOUND OR IF IT'S A
BLOCK OF PEAT, THEN BREAK IT UP.

IF IT'S A FRAGILE PLANT THAT
DOESN'T HAVE VERY MANY ROOTS,

DON'T MESS WITH THE ROOTS.

YOU DON'T NEED TO.

>> EXACTLY.

OKAY.

WELL, AGAIN, THE VARIETY IS JUST
ASTONISHING FROM REALLY SMALL TO

VERY BIG.

AND YOU HAVE THAT BARREL
LIKE THING OVER THERE.

WHAT IS THAT?

>> THAT IS JUST A BIG OLD OIL
BARREL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND WE'VE THROWN A BIG BLOCK
OF STYROFOAM IN THERE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO
WASTE THAT MUCH DIRT.

YOU CAN PUT A POT UPSIDE
DOWN, PUT A LOG IN THERE,

A BLOCK OF STYROFOAM TO MAKE
IT LIGHTER AND IT WILL STAY LESS

WET FOR LONG PERIODS IF IT'S NOT
ALL RICH SOIL GETTING MUCKY IN THERE.

>> AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO
SPEND A FORTUNE TO DO ALL THAT.

FROM CRACKER BOXES TO SOMETHING
THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR GARAGE

RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT YOU'VE GOT TOOLS IN.

IF YOU WANT THAT COOL
RETRO LOOK YOU CAN DO IT.

>> YOU CAN.

>> ERIC, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

YOUR EAST AUSTIN SUCCULENTS
IS ON TILLERY STREET.

>> YES.

>> LOCATED WITH THE TILLERY
STREET PLANT COMPANY.

>> 801 TILLERY.

>> I HOPE PEOPLE WILL
CHECK YOU OUT DOWN THERE.

WE ALSO HAVE THE AUSTIN CACTUS
AND SUCCULENT SOCIETY SHOW AND

SALE COMING UP.

I KNOW PEOPLE CAN
CHECK THAT OUT.

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR PLANTS.

THEY CAN ALSO FIND
THEM AT YOUR PLACE.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT.

COMING UP NEXT IS
OUR FRIEND DAPHNE.

>> HI, I'M DAPHNE RICHARDS.

OUR QUESTION THIS WEEK WAS
INSPIRED BY SOME SPIRITED

DISCUSSION ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.

WE KNOW IT'S TOO HOT AND
DRY TO PLANT RIGHT NOW,

BUT WHAT IF WE MUST OR IF
WE'RE STARTING A FALL VEGETABLE

GARDEN?

HOW DO WE BEST PROTECT
OUR NEW PLANTING.

ALTHOUGH SOME PLANTS
LIKE LANTANA, OKRA,

BIRD OF PARADISE AND OTHER HEAT
LOVING TOUGH GUYS WILL NOT BAT

AN EYE IF YOU PLANT THEM
IN MID SUMMER IN TEXAS,

MOST PLANTS WILL STRUGGLE.

THE SUN HERE IS JUST TOO BRUTAL,
BUT SOMETIMES IT'S NECESSARY TO

PLANT IN SUMMER AND THE GOOD
NEWS IS THAT YOU CAN HELP YOUR

PLANTS TRANSITION.

IT WILL TAKE A
LITTLE BIT OF EFFORT,

BUT WILL BE WELL WORTH IT.

ALL YOU NEED TO DO
IS BUILD A SIMPLE,

EVEN CRUDE SHADE
STRUCTURE FOR THEM.

TO KEEP OUT SOME OF
THE BURNING SUNLIGHT.

A VERY EASY WAY TO DO THIS IS
WITH PVC PIPE AND SHADE CLOTH.

YOU CAN FIND AT MOST HOME
IMPROVEMENT STORES AND

NURSERIES.

PVC PIPE IS EASY TO CUT.

AND THEN JUST DRAPE
SHADE CLOTH OVER THE TOP.

YOU CAN ALSO USE THINWOOD AND
STAKES THAT CAN BE HAMMERED INTO

THE GROUND.

SHADE CLOTH COMES IN
DIFFERENT WEIGHTS,

KEEPING VARIOUS
AMOUNTS OF LIGHT OUT.

ABOUT 30% SUN BLOCKAGE
SHOULD DO THE TRICK.

MAKE SURE THERE'S PLENTY OF
AIR CIRCULATION AND THE PLANT.

IF YOU'RE PROTECTING A VEGETABLE
GARDEN YOU MAY CHOOSE TO LEAVE

THE SHADE CLOTH ON UNTIL
TEMPERATURES FALL BACK INTO THE 80'S.

ALTHOUGH VEGETABLES CAN HANDLE
MORE LIGHT AND YOU CAN REMOVE

EARLIER ONCE THEY'RE ESTABLISHED
THE PLANTS WILL BE LESS STRESSED

IN A BIT OF SHADE.

ALTHOUGH TOO MUCH SHADE WILL
INHIBIT THEIR ABILITY TO FRUIT,

SO DON'T OVER DO IT.

IF YOU'RE SIMPLY PROTECTING
A LANDSCAPE PLANT,

A FEW WEEKS UNDER THE
SHADE SHOULD DO IT.

ANY RUDIMENTARY SHADE
SURE WILL DO THE TRICK,

SO DON'T GET TOO FANCY.

MAKE SURE THE WIND WON'T
PICK IT UP AND BLOW IT AWAY.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF GREAT
SUCCULENTS TO HIGHLIGHT THIS

WEEK.

PORTULACA AND APPEAR
CONTINUE I CAN'T,

BOTH OF WHICH ARE TYPICALLY
CALLED ICE PLANTS.

ALTHOUGH WE ALL DO IT I DON'T
HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT USE THE

COMMON NAME FOR PLANTS CAN OFTEN
LEAD TO CONFUSION AND WITH THE

COMMON NAME ICE PLANT THIS SEEMS
TO BE ESPECIALLY TRUE AS MOST

ANY SUCK LINT PLANT THAT
SPREADS ALONG THE GROUND,

THRIVES IN HEAT, GROWS IN ROCKY
SOIL AND HAS BEAUTIFUL LEAVES

AND FLOWERS IS
CALLED ICE PLANTS.

MOST WILL DO WELL
HERE IN CENTRAL TEXAS,

ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER.

BUT SOME SPECIES DON'T
TOLERATE OUR COLD WINTERS,

SO BE SURE TO DO YOUR
RESEARCH BEFORE YOU PLANT.

IT IS ALSO KNOWN AS HEARTS
AND FLOWERS SO YOU CAN FIND IT

PRETTY EASILY AND BOTH IT AND
PORTULACA ARE EASILY GROWN.

PORTULACA FROM SEED AND APPEAR
10 I CAN'T FROM CUTTINGS.

YOU CAN TAKE IT RIGHT FROM THE
GROUND AND IT WILL COVER IN NO

TIME.

WE HAVE ANOTHER AMAZING
VIEWER PHOTO FROM JASON.

TO DO IN YOUR GARDEN THIS
WEEK CHECK FOR SPIDER BITES.

WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU, SO
PLEASE VISIT US AT KLRU.ORG/CTG

WITH YOU'RE QUESTIONS AND PLANTS
OF THE WEEK FROM YOUR GARDEN.

>> THANKS, DAPHNE.

NOW LET'S CHECK IN
WITH TRISHA SHIREY.

>> SUCCULENT ARRANGEMENTS ARE
REALLY ALL THE RAGE NOW FOR

EVENTS, BRIDAL PARTIES, THEY
EVEN SHOW UP IN BOUQUETS AND

BEAUTY NEARS FOR WEDDINGS.

SUCCULENT ARRANGEMENTS
CAN BE KIND OF EXPENSIVE.

THEY'RE VERY SLOW GROWING.

SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO USE THEM
FOR A PARTY YOU WOULD HAVE TO

PLAN WELL AHEAD OF TIME.

BUT I'VE GOT SOME IDEAS TO MAKE
SUCCULENTS EASY TO USE IN FLOWER

ARRANGEMENTS AND THE NICE THING
IS YOU CAN POT THESE UP AND GROW

THEM EVEN AFTER YOU USE THEM.

THE EASIEST THING TO DO I FOUND
IS JUST TO TAKE THE DECORATOR

BEADS THAT YOU SOAK IN WATER,
MAKE SOME CUTTINGS OF SUCCULENTS

AND STICK THEM INTO THE BEADS.

AND THIS WILL LAST
FOR SEVERAL WEEKS.

YOU CAN MIST IT AND YOU JUST
BASICALLY STICK THAT STEM IN,

THE BEADS HOLD UP THE
SUCCULENTS AND SUPPORT THEM,

KEEP THEM MOIST.

AND THEN YOU CAN TAKE
THESE OUT, POT THEM UP.

THESE ARE JUST A DECORATIVE
PIE PAN BUT YOU COULD USE ANY

CONTAINER THAT YOU LIKE.

I LIKE TO TAKE SUCCULENTS AND
YOU CAN USE THEM FOR NAME CARDS

OR FOR MENU CARDS.

IF YOU'RE HAVING A BUFFET YOU
CAN PUT THE NAMES OF THE FOODS

ON THE CARD.

THIS DOESN'T NEED WATER,
IT DOESN'T NEED SOIL,

SO IF IT GETS KNOCKED OVER
DURING YOUR A PARTY IT'S NOT A

PROBLEM.

AND THEN CAN YOU ALSO JUST TAKE
CUTTINGS OF SUCCULENTS AND PUT

THEM IN FLORAL FOAM
FOR ARRANGEMENTS.

NOW, THIS CONTAINER HAS THE
GREEN FLORAL FOAM THAT I'VE

SOAKED AND THAT I'VE JUST
STUCK THE SUCCULENTS IN TO IT.

AND SOMETIMES YOU WILL NEED TO
HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA STEM

FOR THE SUCCULENTS LIKE THIS ONE
HAS A VERY THICK STEM SO I'VE

USED A FLORAL PICK TO STICK IN
AND THAT STICKS INTO THE FOAM

QUITE EASILY.

SOMETHING LIKE THIS THAT DOESN'T
HAVE MUCH OF A STEM YOU COULD DO

THE SAME THING, JUST PUT A STICK
IN THERE AND THAT WORKS QUITE

WELL.

YOU CAN ALSO TAKE WIRE AND I'VE
JUST INSERTED WIRE INTO THE STEM

IN A COUPLE OF PLACES AND THEN
I WRAPPED THAT WIRE WITH FLORAL

TAPE.

AND THIS TAPE
STICKS ON TO ITSELF.

IT'S NOT STICKY.

BUT IT DOES STICK TO ITSELF AND
IT ACTUALLY CAN BE PUT IN WATER.

SO YOU CAN EXTEND THE STEM AS
LONG AS YOU WANT AND HAVE THAT

EVEN GO DOWN INTO WATER.

IF YOU WANT TO TAKE IT UP
A NOTCH YOU CAN ALSO PAINT

SUCCULENTS.

NOW, DESIGN MASTER PAINT IS
A PAINT THAT CAN BE USED ON

FLOWERS AND PLANTS AND
IT DOESN'T HARM THEM.

SO YOU CAN MAKE
SOMETHING MORE SPARKLY,

BRING IN YOUR WEATHER COLORS.

I'VE DONE A TWO TONE EFFECT WITH
SILVER AND PINK AND COPPER AND

PINK FOR THESE ARRANGEMENTS.

THAT TAKES IT UP A NOTCH.

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GET A
LITTLE FANCY YOU CAN SPRAY THE

SUCCULENTS AFTER YOU PUT THE
SPRAY PAINT WITH A LITTLE BIT OF

SPRAY GLUE FOR GLITTER AND
SPRINKLE GLITTER ON THEM FOR

EVEN A MORE
DECORATIVE SUCCULENT.

SO I HOPE YOU WILL TRY SOME
DIFFERENT IDEAS FOR SUCCULENTS

AND ENJOY THESE.

FOR BACKYARD BASICS,
I'M TRISHA SHIREY.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

>> FIND OUT MORE AT KLRU.ORG/CTG
AND JOIN US ON FACEBOOK.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, I'LL
SEE YOU IN THE GARDEN.

>> TO LEARN ABOUT
TODAY'S PROGRAM,

WATCH ONLINE AND FOLLOW CTG'S
BLOG, CHECK OUT KLRU.ORG/CTG.

>> SUPPORT FOR CENTRAL TEXAS
GARDENER COMES FROM GEOGROWERS,

OFFERING CUSTOM SOIL
BLENDS FOR LAWNS, GARDENS,

XERISCAPING AND ORGANIC
LANDSCAPE APPLIES.

MORE INFORMATION
AT GEOGROWERS.NET.