4 minute read
MAGICAL SUCCULENTS
MAGICAL SUCCULENTS
These easy-to-grow gems are perfect for new (or seasoned) gardeners
By Lorraine Hunter
YOU DON’T NEED a yard to garden. With so many people living in condos, apartments and even rented rooms today, house gardening has become a thing! All you need is a porch or balcony, a windowsill or a table with a grow lamp.
Succulents are the perfect plants for growing in such areas. Ask TBG workshop instructor Molly Shannon who founded Canadian Succulents seven years ago with her sister Alex. Originally fascinated by the bright colours, different varieties, symmetry and resilience of these plants they began gathering and propagating them and the business has mushroomed over the past few years.
“Succulents are magical and they look like gems,” Molly says. “They are beautiful, easy to maintain and so simple to propagate that anyone can do it.”
Not just a trendy houseplant, however, succulents also help purify the air, removing toxins and releasing oxygen. Many, such as agave and aloe vera have healing properties and are used to treat cuts and burns. Caring for these tiny treasures can reduce stress and they make great gifts especially when planted together in micro dish-gardens.
Molly knows of what she speaks. She has more than 300 succulent varieties including cacti in the greenhouse she rents “down the road” in Uxbridge.
What began as a side hustle grew during the pandemic to become a thriving business which grows and creates succulent designs for weddings, centrepieces and favours, corporate events and gifts, as well as hotel and office greenery.
With a background in teaching, Molly gives workshops on designing with and growing succulents to horticulture groups, private parties and more. She attends markets and answers a lot of questions about growing succulents both in person and on social media. “I am always willing to help,” she says. Molly has a newsletter, a website, is active on Instagram and answers emails everyday to get as much correct information out there as possible.
She uses social media to promote the business, doing videos on succulent design, care and propagation and
Succulent collection in shallow heart-shaped clay pots.
has over 20,000 followers on Tik Tok. More than a million people have viewed her care videos.
A workshop she presented at the TBG in March sold out so quickly that she gave two more in April.
People, particularly young people, are attracted to succulents says Molly because “being able to care for and propagate these lovely little plants makes them feel successful and gives them the confidence to grow other things.”
After discovering succulents, herself, “my plant world exploded,” says Molly. Her workshops are popular, she believes “because people want to be creative. They want the autonomy to create their own things even if they have limited space. They want ownership.”
Molly has encouraging words for new gardeners (or even seasoned ones like me) who feel badly if they happen to kill a plant. “I have killed so many succulents. You have to kill a lot of plants to grow your green thumb,” she says.
“Never feel bad if you kill a plant. Do your research and change your methods. Persistence is a testament to your gardening skills.”
Molly grows her succulents in shallow, heart- and othershaped clay pots made by a friend in North York. She breaks the rules by having no drainage holes in her pots, “People find them too messy, especially with irregularly shaped pots with no pot trays to put under them,” she explains.
Succulents have fleshy stems and leaves that can store water, allowing them to survive periods of drought in their natural environments. Molly makes her own porosity soil and waits until it dries out completely before watering her potted succulents. “Over watering is what kills them,” she says.
Look for information on how to care for succulents, transition them outdoors for the summer, how to propagate them and more on Molly’s website at www.canadiansucculents.net
PHOTOS: ZACH BARANOWSKI AND MOLLY SHANNON
