Air Plant - Tillandsia ionantha (red, enhanced) [2.0-3.0"]
$4.99
Red Succulents are intensely striking showstoppers. They bring a pop of color to arrangements, window sills, and garden beds alike. Vibrant red tones come from anthocyanin pigments produced in response to stress. Succulent stressors include sun and drought, so give your red plants lots of light and very infrequent water to bring out their most vibrant hues. Read on for more helpful succulent care tips.
In arrangements, red succulents make quite an impact when grouped with other plants of a similar color tone. You can also achieve eye-catching contrast by pairing them with complementary colors such as Green Succulents and Blue Succulents.
In addition to bright light, infrequent watering can "beautifully stress" a succulent and bring out bright red flushes. Succulents are adapted to long droughts and like to be watered in a cycle of soaking and drying periods. Only water when the soil is completely dry and the leaves start to feel limp. Then, deeply drench the plant and don't water again until the soil is completely dry.
Succulents of all colors thrive in well-draining pots and soil. Use a gritty soil mix with a high proportion of coarse sand, perlite, pumice, or other mineral grit. A lean soil like Bonsai Jack's Gritty Mix helps a succulent develop strong roots and prevents rot. Pair it with a container with a drainage hole to help your succulent thrive and show its best coloration.
Many succulents also experience seasonal color variation. For frost hardy succulents, like Sempervivum (Hens & Chicks) and Sedum (Stonecrops), low temperatures and winter dormancy coincides with their deepest burgundy tones. For tender succulents like Echeveria and Aeonium, the brightest red hues occur in the sunny summer months.
