The fact that succulents come in almost every hue of the rainbow is one of my favorite things about them. Because of this, arranging succulents according to popular colors and patterns can be a lot of fun. Since I have an artistic background, I am constantly drawn to arrangements that really highlight color palettes.
There are certain succulents that are monochromatic, meaning they have just one dominant color (often green), but they may have several different shades of that color.
You can look for groups of succulents with comparable colorshades that are close to one another on a color wheel if you want succulents in a few distinct colors. You could, for instance, use orange, yellow, and green or green, blue, and purple.
I usually focus on greens, blues, and purples when making arrangements, but bolder combinations with reds, oranges, and yellows can be incredibly striking!
My preferred color schemes are built around complimentary color combinations, or color shades that are directly opposed to one another on the color wheel, such as red and green, blue and orange, or yellow and purple.
My favorite color scheme for succulents is blue and orange, presumably because these hues are so uncommon and hard to find in plants while also being incredibly vibrant. However, this combination of red and green is also quite energetic and vibrant.
In the video down below, you can see more instances of these suggestions:
Growth needs
There are so many different kinds of succulents. A general rule of thumb is to select succulents with comparable requirements if you want to arrange them. They will coexist peacefully and preserve the ensemble’s aesthetic for a very long time.
For instance, Graptosedum California Sunset grows best in the summer, whilst Crassula (Jades) prefers the winter. So planting them together wouldn’t be a good idea. You should take into account the growing season, hydration requirements, lighting requirements, and soil requirements while choosing succulent combos.
Agave, Echeveria, and Sempervivum are several succulents that go dormant in the winter and look fantastic together. Aeonium, Aloe, Graptopetalum, and Kalanchoe may come to mind if you want to group the summer-dormant succulents.
Height
In addition to the succulents’ characteristics, height and color must also be taken into account in order to arrange them harmoniously. You should have a thriller, filler, and spiller in your layout.
Use tall succulents to provide height to the thriller and enhance the overall design. As filler around them, use shorter succulents. To finish the arrangement, add a few “spiller trailing succulents.” The recipe is straightforward, and you can always add your own spin to make it appear appealing to you.
Color
Choosing a theme for your succulent arrangement is simple. There are a variety of succulents that may make your succulent arrangements appear fantastic, whether you want them to be colorful or monochromatic.
Monochromatic, similar, and complementary color combinations are the three most common types.
You must group succulents with the same colors but various shades together for a monochromatic arrangement.
When using similar settings, you will group colors that are adjacent to one another on the color wheel (orange, yellow, and green).
Contrasting colors on the color wheel are required for complementary color schemes (red and green).
Do succulents prefer to be gathered in groups?
There are several traits shared by succulents, such as the ability to store water in their leaves or stems for when it’s not so rainy out.
Even though you can mix almost any succulent, some will be more simpler to keep in the same arrangement than others.
We may receive a commission when you buy something after clicking on one of our links, at no additional cost to you. This enables us to offer you free content.
I’ll list a few qualities to consider when pairing succulents below. Numerous of these traits are described on our individual succulent pages, and our Succulent Identification and Care cards also make it easy to see them.
You may also view my video in which I discuss three distinct succulent arrangements and their effectiveness:
How much room should you provide between succulent plants?
Let’s now discuss some justifications for why you might allow your succulents a little more room to expand.
As you would have anticipated, there are several advantages and disadvantages to planting succulents farther apart as opposed to putting them closer together. The fact that your succulents will grow larger more quickly is one of the main benefits of putting them a little more widely spaced.
This is a really nice alternative if you’re not as concerned about how tight the arrangement appears, and how properly planted and close together everything is from the get-go.
Because they have more room, your plants will grow bigger and are more likely to delay having children or experience new growth.
Additionally, you’ll discover that you won’t need to keep the arrangement up as frequently. You won’t feel the urge to prune back or eliminate portions of the plant to make the arrangement appear as though it is properly occupying the area because there is more room for them to flourish.
Additionally, it is simpler to water this kind of arrangement and ensure that the roots are thoroughly moistened. It will be much simpler to deliver water to the roots if you pour it straight on top of the plants or directly into the soil below them.
Downsides to spreading out your succulents
The fact that the arrangement frequently doesn’t appear as complete or striking right away is one of the major drawbacks of spacing succulents farther apart.
Using a decorative rock as a top dressing is a fantastic method to combat this. Between each of your succulent plants, you could place a really lovely rock to make the arrangement look finished and more polished. The beautiful thing about this is that it merely enhances the appearance of the arrangement while not preventing your succulents from growing.
You won’t immediately notice as much growth in the succulent itself if you plant your succulents too widely apart since too much space will force the succulent to send out roots.
If you want to give your succulents room to grow, I suggest placing them in a pot or with other succulents approximately 1/2″ to 1″ (13 mm to 25 mm) apart. Give them another 1/2 to 1″ from the pot’s edge as well.
The final drawback might not actually be a drawback, but you could be tempted to purchase additional succulents to fill in the spaces created by the gaps between those succulents!
The Best Soil for Planting Succulents Outside
Succulents will grow healthier if they are planted in soil that has the right nutrients. Succulents prefer well-draining soil and have short root systems. For optimal results, plant succulents in loose, rocky soil that is rich with nutrients.
Use a potting mix designed specifically for succulents and cacti when planting in containers, and place the plant in a pot with drainage holes at the bottom.
They thrive on slightly acidic soil that has a pH range of 6.0 to 6.5. Succulent plants could die off if their soil is too alkaline.
Outdoor Succulent Light and Temperature Needs
- In environments with direct sunlight, succulents thrive. Succulents thrive in sunlight and radiate happiness with their voluminous, vibrant foliage.
- Succulents will reach awkwardly for sunshine if they receive insufficient sunlight, which will lead to spindly, pale, and imbalanced plants.
- As long as there is some protection from harsh weather and dramatic temperature drops, hardy succulent types can overwinter in their containers or in the ground.
- Succulent types that are more delicate are less resilient in chilly growing regions. During the winter, it’s best to bring them inside and put them in a bright window, preferably one that faces south. They can be placed indoors under grow lights to help with growth during the chilly winter months.
Can I plant as many succulents together as possible?
I suggest investing in a pot or planter that you can stand to look at every day if you’re growing succulents indoors! After all, indoor plants play a significant role in the dcor of your house.
Personally, I absolutely adore keeping my succulents and indoor plants in pots that are either ivory-creme or crisp white, like the ones in this post. I believe it highlights the succulents while blending in nicely with our furnishings and other elements.
Always keep in mind how crucial it is for the root system of your succulents to choose a pot with a drainage hole. Succulents may last for days, even weeks or months without water because they store water in their leaves and stems. They are resistant to drought because they can store water in this way.
In order to prevent the roots of your succulents from sitting in moist soil, a drainage hole allows excess water to flow from the pot.
Actually, one of the main causes of dying succulents is too much moisture. Succulents’ roots will eventually decay if they are left to sit in wet soil, which will result in a dead plant. Simply put, succulents don’t require that much water.
Planting succulents in a container with a drainage hole will benefit them. They’ll repay you by developing into thriving, healthy plants!
A excellent place to start is with a decent cactus mix or soil blend designed specifically for succulents. Succulents require good drainage and air circulation to thrive, and this soil will offer both.
It’s time to fill your container with your succulent or cactus mix once you have it on hand. (If you want to prevent soil from leaking out, you can cover the drainage hole with some mesh.)
Fill the pot with enough dirt to allow your succulents to protrude above the rim. Simply add extra dirt to raise it if the leaves touch below the rim.
TIP:I almost never remove soil from a succulent’s roots before planting it. This isn’t required in my opinion. I just remove the plant from its plastic container and place it, soil and everything, in its new pot.
I’ve been doing it this way for years and don’t see any reason to alter. I’m aware that many gardeners remove the roots from their existing soil, but I find that my plants do better when I don’t. Only when I’m doing crafts with live succulents do I do it.
One of the most fascinating aspects of gardening is that everyone develops their own preferred method of doing things, even if there are undoubtedly some rules you should abide by. If it functions for you, that’s fantastic! Continue your wonderful work. To each their own, as the saying goes.
Simply plant each succulent near apart if you want to create the appearance of densely packed succulents. As long as the base of the plant is sitting over the lip of the pot, as seen in the photo, tuck in each plant wherever it looks good. (The image is from my Instagram page, where I share pictures of succulent arrangements and gardening advice.)
Consider this process as being artistic. It takes art to make lovely succulent or flower arrangements! It’s best to mix and match your succulents while paying attention to color, texture, and height if you want to create a pleasing arrangement.
Succulents don’t seem to mind growing so closely together, so I never worry about that. Additionally, they remain compact when grown in this manner, which I appreciate. They can continue to grow in this manner in the same pot for up to a year before you need to consider relocating them once they outgrow it.
Particularly for my indoor plants, I particularly prefer smaller succulents than ones that appear overgrown. You have a choice: you can plant one, two, or a lot of succulents in a pot. I have engaged in each one and have enjoyed it equally.
Before planting, try arranging your succulents above the ground to see if you like how they appear together. After that, you can start planting or moving things around.
Simply dig a hole in the ground for each plant and surround its root systems with soil to plant it.
How to Water Succulents After Planting
Don’t water your succulents right away after repotting them, despite what you might assume. Before giving them their first drink of water, I advise waiting about a week.
Any roots that were harmed during the transplant or who previously had damage could get infected or rotten if you water them after planting. It will take a few days for those roots to callus over or heal, preventing them from absorbing water that would cause them to decay.
Use a tiny watering can to hydrate your succulents if you only repotted one or two of them. However, if you planted them the same way I did in the image above, you’ll benefit more from using a watering squeeze bottle because it will allow you to apply water more precisely.
To make sure the succulents in the container receive adequate water, you should water them regularly using a watering syringe or a watering squeeze bottle, as seen in the image below.
TIP: If this is your first time growing succulents, you should know that you need ONLY water the soil, NOT the actual leaves.
The soil requires moisture, not the leaves, because the roots will absorb the water and transfer it to the leaves, where it will be stored.
It’s acceptable to get the leaves wet if you’re growing succulents outdoors and have them planted directly in the ground because the sun will soon evaporate the water. You don’t need to be concerned about your leaves rotting from too much water exposure.
Can cacti and succulents coexist?
The majority of cacti and succulents need a lot of light. They are appropriate for the sunniest areas of your house. You will be giving them what they enjoy if you construct some shelves across a sunny window. To ensure that every side of the plant receives an equal amount of sunny exposure, you should turn the plants frequently.
Every garden center has a fantastic selection of succulents and cacti that you can grow indoors. Some cacti are offered as seasonal or gift plants in department stores, such as the Schlumbergera x buckleyi (Christmas cactus), a species that grows in forests. Because it takes years for this to happen, it is better to purchase cacti that are currently in bloom. You should inspect them to ensure that there are no signs of rot or parts that are shriveled or dried, and that they are sound overall. When you bring them home, make sure they are not exposed to drafts and that they are the perfect size for their pot.
Make sure the desert cactus you buy are placed in compost that has been well-drained. In the spring and summer, they need to be regularly irrigated with tepid water. However, during the winter, especially if they are in cool temperatures, the compost should be allowed to almost entirely dry. As a result, the cactus can hibernate.
Cacti should be fed around every three weeks when they are actively growing. For this, you can use tomato fertilizer that has been properly diluted. Additionally, desert cactus like wintertime temperatures of 50–55 F (10–13 C). Only when the roots completely fill the pot do desert cacti need to be repotted.
Cacti in the forest are significantly different. Typically, they produce lovely, dangling flowers at the tips of segmented stalks. These stems resemble chains of supple leaves. They have been bred to grow over trees, which is why they grow in this manner. Although they are accustomed to shade, they do require intense light. They require light, well-drained, lime-free compost that is also misted with lukewarm, gentle water. In 50 to 55 F, they can relax (10-13 C.). After the winter, give them a little water, feed them once a week with a little fertilizer, and put them in a room with greater temperatures.
There are at least 50 different plant families that can be categorized as succulents. In the summer, they should receive unlimited irrigation, but only when their compost starts to dry out. They can endure wintertime temperatures of about 50 F. (10 C.). Every few weeks during the summer, you should fertilize with a well-diluted fertilizer because they prefer fresh air to humidity.
Succulents, woodland cactus, and desert cacti can all coexist in the same garden. They provide beautiful presentations for your collection of indoor plants. Even if they don’t require much care, you still need to be aware of their likes and needs.