The community of succulent enthusiasts is massive, and as a result, it can be very difficult to find the best Instagram accounts to follow. We spend a lot of time on Instagram searching around for the best of the best so that you don't have to. Great photos, great plants, and unique personalities---that's what we look for in an awesome Instagram account, and that's what we found in @alliegrows_succulents. We wanted to chat with Allie and find out a little more about her. Below is a quick Q&A followed by some of our favorite photos from her Instagram. Enjoy!
Q: First of all, your Instagram feed is awesome. When and how did you first become fascinated with succulents?
A: I became fascinated with these incredible plants a little over a year ago now! My mom has always had burro's tail all over our house, which I have always found to be very beautiful. One day she came home with some grafted cacti and aloe and I instantly fell in love! That same day I went to a local green house in my area, Cedar Rapids Iowa, and I bought two small cacti along with an echeveria and made a tiny formation of my own! It was so incredibly relaxing to put the formation together and I couldn't believe how adorable it looked. Our obsession began and we now have a corner in our home dedicated to large cacti. We have mini planters lining all of our windowsills, and lets just say my room is a little out of control with succulents! In the spring and summer we make a bunch of large outdoor creations which make it enjoyable to sit outside and be amongst them! Around this time I was also struggling with anxiety. I firmly believe that these plants are what gave me the strength to get off of medication and start living more carefree! Inviting the beauty of nature into my life has made me feel so much more at peace! :)
Q: You seem to have an interest in a wide variety of succulents. If you had to pick a favorite, which would it be and why?
A: My favorite is a succulent called "orostachys iwarenge" though it is difficult to pick which one I like best! I love everything about this plant; the color, how delicate it is, how it blooms, and how it shoots off little babies! I will definitely include a photo of this one!
Q: There are always things to learn when you first start growing and caring for succulents. What is one thing you wish you had known from the beginning?
A: One thing I did right when I became interested in these plants was a lot of research! It is important to know that all succulents are different and like different amounts of light and water! The one thing I wish I knew from the beginning was which succulents I should not plant together, as one might prefer much less water than the other! I definitely recommend buying a succulent book or even just looking up the different species online to find out how to care for each one specifically! I really enjoy the book "The Complete Book of Cacti and Succulents" by Terry Hewitt!
Q: We are pretty weird and love to name our succulents. Do you have any names for yours?
A: I have actually not named any of my plants! However, my mom has the same obsession and has named nearly all of her cacti! They are definitely like pets!
Q: Finally, do you have any tips or tricks to share that you’ve picked up over the years?
A: I have a large majority of my succulents on a watering schedule of every two weeks which seems to be doing well for them! I would also recommend turning the pots (if planted inside) so that the succulents don't grown in one single direction. I also feel this can help some of them to not become too elongated. I switch my succulents positions a lot too, so that they all have the same chance at receiving light and so that they don't become sun burned on their leaves! :)
Check out some of our favorite photos from Allie's Instagram below!
