Ever pick up a succulent and notice a white powder on the leaves? You touch it to see what it is and it leaves behind a streak. This powder is called Epicuticular Wax or Farina. 

   Epicuticular wax is a coating of wax that forms a white or bluish film on the leaves and stems of succulents. Giving it a ‘frosted finish appearance’. Think of it like a raincoat or sunscreen for your plant!

      Although not all succulents have this powdery film, it is more common in succulents than other plants. There are quite a few plants out there that have this film, but none of them have as much of the film on their leaves as succulents do. 

Science Behind it
      Epicuticular wax forms as tiny microscopic crystals that develop on the plant's cuticle.This wax acts as a protective layer from things such as the sun, water, insects, etc. It actually is the highest type of nature protective layer from UV lighting for plants.  It is not harmful to the plant to remove this film, but try to avoid it. If the epicuticular wax layer gets wiped off by accident, don’t worry. It will come back within some time.

How it Affects Watering
      If you have ever watered your succulent and saw that the water beads up, that’s part of the protective wax layer! Crazy, right? The film collects foreign particles such as dirt and microbes and beads them into the water so that the water can roll all the foreign particles off the succulent. This is also known as the Lotus Effect.

Useful Information
      The film is also a great way to tell if your plant is healthy! It shows hints of temperature, humidity, and disease. For example, if you look at your succulent and you see that the film is blotchy in spots, this could b=mean that the temperature is off or the humidity is too high. If your succulent has a nice even layer of the film, that sucker is happy!

Summary
    Epicuticular wax is a protective layer from foreign particles and helps maintain moisture loss. The white film is beneficial to the plants overall health, but is not harmful if removed. 

        Leave a comment in the section below if this was helpful, or if you have any questions! Also, don't forget to check out our variety of succulents under Shop Now!

When we got to trade shows or craft shows we always bring our 14" succulents and everyone is always amazed! They always ask us "how do you get your succulents so big?". The answer is alot simpler than you think.

The first thing to know about succulents, when trying to get them big, is the basic care, such as watering. In one of our previous blogs, we talked about how much water is enough and how much is too much. So, for any information on watering, check out our other blog posts.

The next thing to be aware of is the type and amount of lighting you are giving/can give to your succulent. Many people do not know that succulents can go outside in the summer, so make sure you do that for optimal lighting! The actually prefer being outside. Succulents LOVE sunlight and that's a big factor in if your plant will grow big or not. So, the best place for succulents, in this case, is to keep them outside in the sun, if the temperature outside does NOT go below freezing.

Now, the biggest thing to know about growing big succulents is how to upsize! Upsizing is a huge part of this process because if you upsize the plant into a pot that is too big, your succulent might rot.

Here is some information about upsizing you'll need to know...

1. When upsizing, make sure to use the next biggest pot. Use a pot that is about 2-4 inches wider than your original pots diameter. For example, if you have a plant that is in a 4" pot, upsize to a pot that is no bigger than a 6" pot. You also do not want a pot that is noticeably too deep for your plant. Meaning, a 6" deep pot should be upsized to a pot that is no deeper than 8"-10".

2. Watering can be a bit tricky when upsizing your succulent. You do not need as much water as the pot can hold when the plant is freshly planted. If you water the freshly planted succulent the same way you did before upsizing, then there would be excess water and the plant might rot. Water the plant directly where the plant is located in the center of the pot until your succulent has rooted into the available soil around and below it. Use the same watering technique as you did before upsizing. Once you start to see that the plants roots are growing and filling out the pot, then you want to increase the amount of water.

There is a large amount of variety in the world of succulents. One of the most commonly known one is the "String of Pearls". 

The description is conveniently right in the name! This succulent looks like a bunch of peas tied to a string. This succulent has a sister plant that is called "Variegated String of Pearls". The only difference between the two plants is that the variegated version has a pink and white tint to the pearls!

The best part about "String of Pearls" is that they are extremely easy to care for. Unlike most succulents, they can be watered quite frequently. The pearls actually get their shape from holding water inside. So, if you ever see your string of pearls shrivel up, you'll know it's time to water. 

Planting "String of Pearls" is quite easy as well. They are a hardier plant, meaning they won't fall apart, and they work well with every other type of succulent. "String of Pearls" works in any type of container, as well. The most popular planter for this succulent is a hanging basket. The way that this succulent flows down is quite a sight to see! 


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If you have an questions about "String of Pearls" or succulents, feel free to leave us a comment or email us!

Succulents are on the rise in today's modern world. Luckily, we are here to provide these beautiful plants!

But, first things first. In order to keep them bright and beautiful, you'll need to know some of the basics. The nice thing for you is that these plants are SUPER easy to take care of and we have mastered caring for them.

Let's start with watering. A commonly known method for watering is the ice cube method and if you use that method, make sure you keep reading! Succulents are not like normal plants, they are structured differently and require a different watering regiment. Succulents do not need to be watered frequently but DO need a sufficient amount of water, when it's time. So, make sure the soil is COMPLETELY dust dry before you water, and when you do water, soak it. We typically tell people, if the planter is small enough, fill up your sink, with cool water, and fully submerge your planter. After a few seconds of it bubbling, pull it out and let it drain through the hole of the planter at the bottom. If your planter doesn't have a hole, slowly tip the planter to the side and let the excess water drip out.

You can typically wait between 2-3 weeks before having to water your succulent. 

Now, the reason these plants don't need frequent watering is because the leaves hold water, letting the plant have access to water when it needs it. So, if you see that the leaves of your succulent are starting to look dry and shriveled up, you know it needs water. But, don't worry. Succulents are pretty hardy so it should make a full recovery! 

Leave a comment in the section below if this was helpful, or if you have any questions! Also, don't forget to check out our variety of succulents under Shop Now!