A gardener’s joy is gathering little succulents. They are excellent for filling up the little gaps in your plant collection and have aesthetically appealing leaves with unusual shapes and a variety of hues. Succulents are the forgiving variety and will survive a brief drought even if you’re a neglectful gardener. Here are a few of our favorite kinds along with care instructions.
Haworthia
The Haworthia, also referred to as a zebra plant, is ideal for gardeners who frequently neglect to water their plants. It comes from South Africa, thus its growing season is different from what we experience in North America! While it’s dormant in the summer, reduce watering; when it’s growing in the winter, resume watering. Being a succulent plant, make sure to keep the leaves dry and wait until the soil is totally dry before watering it once more. Be confident that they will continue to be adorable for a very long time because this little boy grows extremely slowly.
Echeveria
These charming rosette-leafed succulents are guaranteed to brighten up your room with their sweetness. They are extremely low-maintenance and remain small when mature, only growing to a height of about three inches. Because they are pet-friendly, they are also fantastic for indoor gardens! Little pink and yellow blooms on stalks that protrude through the blue-green foliage in the spring can be seen.
Crassula
There are over 350 species in this large genus of succulent plants, some of which are regarded as being small! They can thrive all year long indoors and grow slowly and steadily. Because they are simple to grow and hard to destroy, crassula succulents are excellent for gardeners who don’t want to worry about plant maintenance. They can tolerate some neglect as long as they are kept at the proper temperature.
Jade
A succulent perennial with brown stems and green foliage is called dwarf jade. You may simply transform this adorable little houseplant into a bonsai tree if you want to! They thrive when spread out across a surface or in hanging baskets. Dwarf jade has an extremely sluggish rate of growth, therefore it will remain small for a very long time. In order to tolerate sporadic watering, it saves water in its trunk—in fact, it enjoys it! The only real methods to really harm this succulent are overwatering and frost.
How to Care for Mini Succulents
After learning the fundamentals of succulent care, taking care of these adorable plants is simple. Succulents are native to South Africa and favor dry, sunny environments. Use well-draining soil with rock and sand mixed in for all succulents. For the greatest growing circumstances for your plants, use soil designed specifically for succulents.
Succulents are simple to overwater, which can harm the plant and cause rot. Soak the plant, let it drain, and then wait until the soil is completely dry before watering it again to prevent overwatering. These plants are designed to resist drought, thus it’s preferable to submerge than overwater them!
Succulents require a lot of indirect light, but prolonged exposure to sunlight can burn the leaves. Keep an eye on your plant’s leaves, and if you notice any dark areas, be sure to move the plant out of the sun.
Wait until the earth is dry and has absorbed all the available water before pruning your plants. With a clean, sharp knife, remove any dead or dying stems and leaves to allow the plant to concentrate on new development rather than trying to keep dying leaves alive.
If you’re searching to buy small succulents, stop by Primex Garden Center. Our extensive selection will enhance any gardener’s collection.
Are small succulents simple to maintain?
It’s simple to get succulents to grow and thrive inside your home, regardless of the temperature where you reside. As long as they have sunlight and healthy soil, they may be kept just about anywhere else, however you should avoid placing them close to vents, gadgets, and dim areas.
When should miniature succulents be watered?
During the months that are not winter, when the temperature is above 40 degrees, you should water your succulents every other week. You should only water your succulent once a month in the winter (when the temperature falls below 40 degrees), as it goes dormant at this period.
A few situations constitute an exception to this rule. Because their tiny leaves can’t hold as much water as other varieties with larger leaves, some varieties of succulents need to be watered more frequently. In the non-winter months, feel free to give these small leaf succulents a water if they appear to be thirsty. When they are thirsty, succulents generally exhibit a wrinkled appearance. But always keep in mind that being underwater is preferable to being overwater.
How are indoor miniature succulents cared for?
Watering is the main challenge that novice succulent growers encounter while trying to keep their plants alive indoors. So much so that I’ve written a whole ebook and an entire post about watering succulents. You can read the two together here.
It’s significant! Surprisingly, succulents require a lot of water to survive. They require less watering than the majority of indoor plants do, though.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say that succulents seldom ever require water, though. So, here’s the situation…
Succulents enjoy having their roots well wet, but they also dry out quickly. The soil was then irrigated once more after drying up for a few days.
Succulents can be kept alive temporarily by being lightly sprayed with water, but if you want them to thrive, you need to use the “soak and dry method.”
Additionally, be aware that during their dormant stage, succulents don’t require as much water. This typically occurs during the colder months of the year. They require less water because they aren’t actively growing.
People who think their succulents are dying because the leaves are drooping and shriveling up frequently email me. Here’s a little secret: Succulent lower leaves will eventually shrivel up and die, just like all other plants.
Only if the topmost or most recent leaves on your succulent are shriveling should you be concerned about dying leaves. You shouldn’t be concerned if it only affects the stems that are closest to the soil at the bottom.
Where do I place succulents inside?
Succulents thrive in hot, arid conditions and don’t mind a little neglect due to their unique capacity to store water. They are therefore ideally suited to growing indoors and are the perfect choice for anyone looking for low-maintenance houseplants. Follow these instructions for successful plant care if you’re choosing succulents for the first time.
Select a succulent that will thrive in your indoor environment.
The majority of succulents need direct sunshine, however if your home only has a shady area, choose low light-tolerant plants like mother-in-tongue. law’s A trailing variety, like string of bananas, is an excellent option if you intend to grow your succulent in a hanging planter. To learn about your succulents’ requirements for sunlight, size, and spread, always read the plant labels.
Give the plants a good draining potting material.
You should repot your succulent as soon as you get it home since nurseries always plant their succulents in soil that is overly rich and holds too much moisture. A coarse potting mix with sufficient drainage and aeration is a good place to start. You can use an African violet mix or unique cactus and succulent mixtures that you can purchase at the nursery. Add perlite or pumice to the cactus or African violet mix (up to 50% of the total potting mix, depending on your particular succulent’s moisture requirements) to further increase drainage and prevent compaction. To make sure the mixture is moist throughout, always moisten it before using.
Decide on a container.
When repotting, use a container that is at least 1 to 2 inches bigger than the nursery container and has a drainage hole. Avoid using glass containers (such mason jars or terrariums) for long-term potting since they prevent roots from breathing and over time may result in root rot. Place your plant inside the container and backfill with extra pre-moistened potting mix after filling the bottom one-third of the container with pre-moistened potting mix.
Put the succulent plant in a pot somewhere sunny.
Try to arrange your succulents close to a south or east-facing window because most succulents need at least six hours of sun each day. Insufficient sunlight may cause your succulents to become spindly or to extend toward the light.
Between waterings, allow the potting mix to dry out.
Overwatering succulents is the most common error people make with them. Watering more deeply but less frequently is preferable. Before the next watering, completely saturate the potting mix (while making sure the water drains out of the drainage hole properly). The plant can finally perish if the potting soil is left moist every day.
Succulents should be fertilized at least once a year.
Fertilizer works best for plants in the spring (when the days lengthen and new growth starts) and again in the late summer. Use a water-soluble, balanced fertilizer (such as 8-8-8 or 10-10-10) that has been diluted to half the strength indicated on the container. Since succulents are semi-dormant in the winter, there is no need to nourish them. Because they are not actively growing, they do not require the nutrient boost.
Succulents can they be grown indoors?
Consider succulents if you desire for indoor greenery but have had trouble growing houseplants. They make pleasant house visitors and can easily endure interior circumstances.
They have unique characteristics that help them thrive in dry indoor conditions.
expanded roots, thick stems, or fleshy leaves that enable plants to store water. Cacti, which are a kind of succulent, are well known to the majority of people. But a variety of other plants grown primarily for their eye-catching foliage also belong to the succulent family.
Succulents have remarkable textures and strong, angular leaf shapes that make them become living sculptures for interior spaces. They are excellent indoor plants since they can thrive in dry environments. Many houseplants do not thrive because dwellings, especially in the winter, provide their inhabitants with dry interior air. A houseplant’s enemy is low relative humidity. However, because they can store water, succulents can withstand dry air without suffering unpleasant consequences.
Learn how to take care of succulents inside and how to grow these low-maintenance plants.
Do succulents need to be in the sun directly?
Succulents generally require at least 4-6 hours of sunshine each day to thrive. They enjoy being in places that are sunny and bright. Lack of sunshine will cause difficulties in succulents such elongation or etiolation, when the plants extend for more light. Weak stems and low growth are the results of this procedure. Lack of light causes succulents to lose their bright coloring and turn pale or back to a drab green tone. Plants that receive enough sunshine will display their whole spectrum of brilliant hues, showing their genuine beauty.
Is it possible to hydrate succulents with ice cubes?
One of the most enjoyable pastimes you can engage in is caring for plants. They will not only give you many advantages, but they are also aesthetically beautiful. Simply ensure that you are aware of how to care for them.
Be mindful of the risks if you decide to attempt watering succulents with ice cubes. It’s conceivable that your plants will be harmed or killed if you subject them to such jarring temperature variations.
Any plant won’t like having its watered with ice cubes, succulent or not. To avoid stressing them out, it is preferable to use room temperature water. Additionally, you should plant plants in containers that encourage proper water drainage as well as good air circulation.
How come my succulent is dying?
Overwatering and poorly draining soils are the main causes of succulent deaths. Succulents need the soil to dry out between waterings because they are drought-tolerant plants. Succulents get root rot in wet soil, which turns their leaves brown, black, or yellow and gives them a withering appearance.
While overwatering is the most frequent cause of dying succulents, there are several other potential causes as well:
Succulent plants typically die back when they are kept in environments that are drastically different from their native habitat.
Replicating some of the minimal rainfall, full or partial sun exposure, and stony, well-draining soil conditions will help revive dying succulents.
What size may micro succulents grow to?
You guessed it—mini succulents are scaled down versions of larger succulents. However, some succulents may remain small for their whole lives. Propagating succulents from another of their sort can inhibit the growth of those that may develop past the tiny stage. This is simply accomplished by breaking off a tough leaf and planting it in soil mixed with a rooting agent.
Another suggestion for keeping succulents smaller for longer is to maintain watering them with a mister or spray bottle and avoid placing them in direct sunlight all day. This will maintain the health and charming size of your miniature succulents. Succulents naturally grow slowly, but by putting your little succulents in a dry, cool environment, you can further slow their growth. To be the best plant parent ever, go to our guide to caring for succulents.
The Best Mini Succulents
The good news is that each of your favorite succulents now has a cute replica of themselves. Some succulents, which grow more slowly or remain little forever, operate better in miniature than others.
Zebra Cactus (Haworthia)
The evergreen leaves of the zebra cactus have white, bumpy stripes running along their fingers. Since it rarely grows larger than six inches, it might never leave the stage of being a tiny creature!
Hen and Chicks (Sempervivum)
This succulent normally doesn’t get very tall and has perpetual, evergreen rosettes. It might even live a lifetime at a height of about an inch! It comes in many different hues and needs very little to no irrigation. It enjoys the sun and prefers sandy soil that drains well.
Air Plants (Tillandsia sp.)
Since air plants don’t need soil, there is no mess. Guess what, if that wasn’t enough to get you to purchase one? They can be put anywhere else as well. Air plants are frequently hung in wooden or glass containers. Only occasionally misting them with water is necessary.
“Living Stone Plant (Lithops)
Because it prefers to remain little, you won’t ever have to worry about this succulent growing into an adult. The “living stone succulent” has two substantial leaves, each of which resembles a pebble. The plant occasionally produces a few tiny pups or blooms.