Grow water-wise plants without compromising quality

Added on 19 July 2023

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Grow water-wise plants without compromising quality

With the headlines and images of this recent winter’s record-breaking and mind-boggling amounts of snowfall in many of the West’s ski towns fresh in our minds, coupled with reports of devastating floods and overflowing rivers, it could be tempting to divert our focus from the importance of water-wise gardening. But let’s not forget that many parts of the country were not nearly as fortunate to receive above average precipitation, with many parts of the South, in particular much of Texas, having experienced a dry winter.

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The Colorado River — liquid lifeline to millions of households — continues to be in critical need of conservative water management. What’s more, one record-breaking wet season is merely the proverbial drop in the bucket after a long string of years marked by severe drought. And even if gardeners weren’t motivated by environmental stewardship, the ever-increasing costs of water to maintain thirsty lawns and landscapes are reason enough for the rising popularity of drought tolerant plants that we’ve witnessed over the last decades to carry forward into the foreseeable future.

Add to that the fact that the popularity of drought tolerant plants — particularly succulents — goes beyond gardens and landscapes, into the homes of proud plant parents everywhere. What other plants can you leave neglected and without watering for weeks and still be rewarded with stunning beauty? No green thumbs required. Succulents play undoubtedly a big role in the resurgence of
house plants.

Two pioneering companies with decades of experience in the field, spanning opposite ends of the country, are Rancho Tissue Technologies in Rancho Santa Fe, CA, and Emerald Coast Growers with locations in Florida’s panhandle and Pennsylvania.