Heatwave Damage!

Well, we are now experiencing another prolonged heat wave - 4 days at 42 C!!  The poor plants are really suffering I'm afraid.  My lime tree has thrown it in and the lemon tree doesn't look alot better.
Anyway, I noticed several of my favourite Echeverias were in deep shade and really needed more light so I moved them to a better lit position under the pergola.  It is shaded with shadecloth but unfortunately they got burnt aaaagh! Here is a photo of one of them, so please take a lesson from me and dont decide to move plants on a 42 degree day.

If you have any damage such as burning with your succulents dont throw them out!  Keep them for the pups that they will produce, and they will recover with new leaves eventually. Keep cool everyone.

Heatwave!

We are currently experiencing a prolonged heatwave, with temperatures over 40 C for a week.  This can have a drastic effect on the plants in the garden, including succulents and cacti.  If at all possible move any succulents in pots into a shady position under the eaves or something until the scorching temperatures abate.  Water the plants with a very weak solution of seasol every 3 or 4 days as well. It's also a good idea to mulch the top of the pots with stones to help conserve moisture and reflect the heat. I am currently sitting at the computer and it's 42 degrees outside, and not alot cooler inside!  All I can suggest is try and cover any tender plants with anything you have, such as old sheets, especially in the middle of the day.   This is a really tough succulent plant call Drosanthemum speciosum.  Great for colour out in the garden.  Forms a metre wide shrub and is frost hardy. Flowers in spring in a blaze of colour.