Designing with SucculentsHow to incorporate succulents and cacti into your garden design
There are n’t many places where you could stop in for a cup of coffee and impart with a succulent flora . In fact , the magical little Succulent Café in Oceanside , California , may be one of a kind . Its courtyard is a lush fantasy land , feature a delicious array of plants everywhere you look , all growing in unique containers , from older tennis shoe to string up lanterns .
The owner of the café , Peter Loyola , enjoys make vertical succulent arrangements like this one which combines multiple succulent miscellanea and pieces of driftwood within a wooden skeleton . Photo by : Kole Montross .
Owner Peter Loyola reveal a rage for succulent about 10 years ago , when he embarked on a projection to transform his backyard into a drought - kind landscape . “ I select succulents over cactuses because I did not need my young boy to get horn in while they play in the yard , ” he allege . “ Plus , succulent ease up me a all-embracing range of colors , textures , sizes and Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe to select from , from miniature species to heavyweight , from symmetrical to rosette - shaped , leave of absence , to angry alien - like forms . My choices were endless . ”
Several hundred musical arrangement are on showing , many of which can be purchased . Succulent Café owner Peter Loyola enjoys decorating the wall with upright succulent arrangements , often framing them like works of art . Photo by : Kole Montross .
What started as a hobby before long became a business . Loyola commence selling succulent placement at his sis ’s bakery during Valentine ’s Day and Mother ’s Day and they would quickly betray out . “ My customers would say that my agreement were a work of nontextual matter and I should have them available year - round . Those tolerant words and constant feedback run me to what is now Succulent Café , ” he enjoin .
Today , his café has several hundred succulent plant in blood line , including many unusual varieties . Some of Loyola ’s favorites let in hen and dame ( Sempervivums ) , euphorbias , crassullas , haworthias and sedums , to name a few .
Loyola constantly challenges himself to come in up with unusual container for his arrangement , such as this former tennis shoe . “ If I have to tweak or do some engineering to a container to hold grunge , it will eventually have a succulent in it , ” he says . Photo by : Kole Montross .
For the tyro nurseryman , most succulents are sluttish to grow and quite forgiving , Loyola says . “ Succulents require lineal sun for a few hours a day , but also enjoy the tone . I water my succulents once a hebdomad . In general , they prefer xerotes between waterings . ” His preferred planting spiritualist is merely a plain potting commixture with lend plant food .
An old lantern becomes a charming container for hang back succulent . Photo by : Kole Montross .
Loyola especially enjoys create vertical succulent musical arrangement , from small framed pieces to giant rampart hangings . “ With gardening space being an issue , going vertical is the trend and the hereafter , ” he says . To create his succulent wall , he uses cuttings and insert them through whatever model he has select . He then lays the plant frame of reference horizontally for a few weeks until the plants take root before standing the human body vertically . “ you could test this by draw in the succulent . If there is resistance that mean your succulent is root and is ready to stand vertically , ” he says .
A succulent display doubles as a window cornice . Photo by : Kole Montross .
Where does Loyola fall up with the unique ideas for his presentation ? “ Honestly , I do n’t have any trick or secret when it come to put an placement together , ” he tell . “ I feel like my thinker and fingers go on automobile pilot . It just fall naturally . ”
Succulent Café is turn up at 322 N. Cleveland St. in Oceanside . For a computer menu and hours , see their websitehere .
