Succulents are a particular kind of plant with large, succulent leaves that thrive in warm, arid climates. Every type of succulent stores water in one of its stems, roots, or leaves. While the majority of succulent species have green leaves, some also have leaves that are various hues of red, blue, purple, pink, and orange. Succulents are typically compact, tiny plants that thrive inside and require little care.
Succulent species can be found in an estimated 60 different plant families. Aloe and agave from the order Asparagales, echeverias, jade plants, and kalanchoes from the order Saxifragales are a few well-known genera of succulents.
It’s critical to distinguish cacti from succulents. Although most cactus plants fall under the succulent plant category, not all succulents are cacti.
What are some succulent garden planting tips?
Just like in any garden, you must select plants that speak to you. What kinds of plants you want depends on whether the garden will be indoors or outdoors. That advice also holds true if you’ve made the decision to develop a succulent garden. Pick the ones that seem good to you and that you enjoy.
Watching how frequently you water the plants is the other piece of advice. Keep in mind that succulents don’t require a lot of water because of their nature. Throw away any extra water that collects after you water your succulents in saucers if you are keeping them inside. If you selected an air plant variety, simply spray the plants.
In addition, make sure you read the instructions that come with the plants and consult with a plant or gardening expert if you have any doubts about how to take care of any particular plants you intend to add to your garden.
How do you take care of succulents? Do succulents need pruning?
One of the low-maintenance plants you will come across is possibly a succulent. That depends on the variety you have selected, of course. Succulents, on the other hand, grow slowly by nature, and the vast majority of species do not vine like other plants. They don’t typically require pruning, which is why they are so well-liked for indoor plants. They require hardly any pruning and very little moisture.
Read the instructions that often accompany with the plants you purchase for maintenance. Do not overwater them or allow the water sit on the plants.
Contact Ambius if you manage a commercial property and need succulents that will be well-maintained.
How do you water a succulent? Is there anything special to know?
The best approach to water a succulent is to take it out of its saucer and water it with lukewarm tap water, just like you would other plants. Replace it in the saucer you are using underneath the pot after letting the water entirely drain through it. Later, check to see if any extra water has collected beneath the plant and discard that.
Never forget that succulents cannot endure prolonged wet, muddy soils. See if the soil seems very dry by inspecting it. Check the watering guidelines included with the plant you purchase as well.
When should someone plant succulents?
There is no planting season because the majority of people utilize succulents inside. Any time of year is suitable for setting up an indoor succulent garden. The greatest times to plant succulents outside, though, might be in the spring or summer.
Succulents need to be planted when the soil can be handled, even though they are hardy and can even survive the winter rather well.
If planted during the warmer months, they will probably fare considerably better.
In what soil should a succulent be planted?
Succulents are typically already planted when you go to buy them. It will probably be soil. Succulents are fantastic since they require little care. Succulents shouldn’t typically be taken out of the container they were shipped in, nor should the soil be changed.
Of course, succulents tend to prefer coarse, rockier, sandier, well-drained soil if you are building any type of indoor succulent garden and have to take them from the pots and the soil that they arrived in.
Succulents actually thrive on inorganic soils like silt, clay, or sand. They don’t require a lot of soil because they have rather shallow root systems. Finally, despite the fact that many succulents are sold in tiny pots or containers, there is no need for concern. Succulents thrive in small pots and containers due to their nature.
Where should I plant succulents?
Succulents should be planted in an area that receives plenty of sunlight if you live in an arid region where they will flourish. Remember to ask your garden center’s professionals about planting requirements if you have any questions.
Should succulents only be planted indoors or are there outdoor succulents?
There are many different kinds of succulents, and some of them thrive both indoors and outdoors. Where you reside and the climate there can have a big impact. Keep in mind that succulents prefer dry, hot, and arid locations; they do not require a lot of moisture and probably won’t flourish as well there.
The brevity of the response is, however, both. They can be cultivated both inside and outside.
How can you distinguish a cactus from a succulent?
Spines are a distinguishing feature of cacti when you carefully examine each type of plant. Areoles, which are present on cacti, are the origin of spines, prickles, leaves, stalks, or flowers. These are spherical and have hairy tiny structures called trichomes all around them. Additionally, they could have glochids, which are tiny spines.
Other varieties of succulents are not cacti since they do not generate areoles. The plant’s native range is another indicator of whether it is a succulent or cactus. While cacti are restricted to the western hemisphere, especially North and South America, succulents are found almost everywhere. Mountains, deserts, and rain forests can all support cacti growth. Succulents may grow in practically any environment. In addition, succulents have thicker leaves than cacti, which have few or none at all.
Do succulent plants require shade or sunlight?
1. Ensure that your succulents receive adequate light. Depending on the type, succulents need six hours of sunlight each day because they are light-loving plants. You might need to gradually expose newly planted succulents to full sun exposure or give shade with a translucent screen because they can burn in direct sunshine.
How frequently do succulents need to 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.
Succulents prefer small pots, right?
Succulents should be planted in pots that are about 10% broader than the plants themselves. Choose the shallow pot whenever the choice is between a deep or shallow pot. The pot’s depth should be 10% greater than the plant’s depth.
Let’s clarify using instances from real life:
- Grab a 2.5 (the best option) to 4 inch pot (the exact maximum size) for optimal outcomes if you have a 2 inch succulent.
- Grab a 4.5 (the best option) to 6 inch pot (the exact maximum size) for optimal results if you have a 4 inch succulent.
Can you keep succulents inside?
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.
Succulent IdentificationWhy It Matters
When you adore succulents, it becomes crucial to know their names at some time. The correct identification of succulents, as I have discussed before, can actually mean the difference between life and death! Despite having quite diverse traits, many varieties of succulents may have the same common name or a comparable look. Their ability to weather the winter makes a difference sometimes. A misidentification of a succulent could result in plants that have died from the cold. Some succulents, though, are poisonous to kids and dogs. Pets and young children can safely consume Sedum morganianum, however Euphorbia myrsinites is extremely hazardous. To protect your family and plants, take care to understand how to identify the types of succulents you have.
Recognizing Different Types of Succulents
A succulent plant is any plant that holds water in its leaves, stems, or roots. The appearances of many types vary greatly from one another. Succulent varieties can, however, seem quite alike. Two genera that are frequently mistaken for one another are Echeveria and Sempervivum. Hens and chicks is the popular name for both. Each plant forms a substantial rosette, giving them a similar appearance. They replicate similarly, each creating offsets. The young succulents that emerge at the base and spread out next to the main rosette are known as succulent offsets. But while the other perishes with just one freeze, the first survives at temperatures much below zero.
You will eventually be able to identify more varieties of succulents solely by appearance. Even if you are now unable to distinguish between a Sempervivum and an Echeveria, if you keep looking and looking for the differences, eventually you will be able to. Sounds strange, I realize. However, just as you are aware of your own child, even when they are surrounded by other children, Or perhaps you are only familiar with your own cat. One skill we all have is the ability to notice subtle differences. Simply said, we employ this expertise in a variety of ways. Perhaps you can identify the differences between 1960s muscle vehicles. I can distinguish between wolves and coyotes. Some people can easily tell a Cabernet from a different vintage apart, or they can recognize different bird species by their cries. Succulent identification only requires practice.
In the image above, there is one obvious difference between Sempervivum and Echeveria. Do you see how the sempervivum’s leaf border is covered in a plethora of tiny hairs? Those hairs are ciliates. A ring of minute hairs called ciliate (SILL-ee-uht) hairs extends along the… They gather dew for the plant in its desert environment. Sempervivum has few echeveriado, but these ciliate hairs. Most likely, your plant is not an Echeveria if the margins are covered in microscopic hairs. (The leaves of fuzzy echeveria are covered in fine hairs.)
Identifying SucculentsNote Characteristics
Another frequent query in identifying succulents is how to differentiate between Aeonium and Echeveria. Additionally, certain Aeonium feature ciliate hairs. The stems of Aeonium and Echeveria, however, are another difference. Echeveria rosettes generally develop close to the soil surface, like Sempervivum. However, aeonium develops long, branching, woody stems with rosettes at each terminal.
Look for the details to tell apart various succulent varieties. As we’ve seen, some types have smooth leaves while others have ciliate hairs along the leaf margins. Observe the leaf thickness as well. The leaves of Echeveria are generally thicker than those of Sempervivum or Aeonium, but not as thick as those of Graptopetalum. Here are a few plant traits to consider when determining whether a plant is a succulent:
Is my plant a cactus or a succulent?
What distinguishes a succulent from a cactus? The only plant that can survive in a hot south window, where the light shines through the glass intensified, is a cactus. Any plant that stores water in juicy leaves, stems, or roots to resist recurring droughts is considered a succulent. Some people accept non-fleshy desert plants while others exclude plants with flesh, such as epiphytic orchids (yuccas, puyas).
Cactus is merely a type of succulent that can hold moisture and is classified separately from other succulents (cacti is the plural form of cactus in Latin) (Cactaceae). On the other hand, not every succulent is a cactus. In addition to being close relatives of the pointsetta, geranium, lily, grape, amaryllis, crassula, daisy, and milkweed, succulents are members of approximately 40 botanical families that are distributed throughout the world.
The name “cactus” derives from the Greek word “kaktos,” which means “spiny plant.” The ancient Greeks used this word to describe a species that was actually an artichoke variety rather than a cactus. 2000 years later, Linnaeus, who classified plants, gave a family of plants with distinctive characteristics like thick stems that served as water reservoirs, prickly or hairy coverings, and few, if any, leaves the name Cactaceae.
Cacti are simple to spot. They rarely have leaves because they have to work so hard to stay alive. They have stems that have been altered into cylinders, pads, or joints that store water during dry spells. Skin thickness lowers evaporation. For defense against browsing animals, the majority of species have bristles or spines, but some lack them, and others have long hair or a woolly covering. Large and vibrant flowers are the norm. Fruit may be both edible and colorful.
Every cactus has leaves when it is still a seedling. Additionally, some plants briefly produce tiny leaves on their new growth each spring. The majority of cactus progressively lost their leaves as shifting climatic patterns transformed native environments into deserts, evaporating too much limited water into the dry air. They switched to storing the water that was available in their stems. To adapt the size of their evaporation surfaces to changing conditions, many may modify their shape. When moisture is abundant, ribs that resemble an accordion can extend; when there is a drought, they can contract.
The majority of succulents, such as aloes, hawthorias, crassulas, and echeveria, originated in environments with less harsh conditions than cactus, such as those with rainy seasons followed by protracted dry seasons. They all have leaves. Their leaves gradually grew fattened by water-storing tissues and covered in a waxy or horny substance that lessens evaporation from the surface to help them get through the dry spells.
From Canada, through Central America, the West Indies, and south to the chilly regions of Chile and Patagonia, the cactus (Cactaceae) family can be found (southern end of South America). The largest collection may be in Mexico, but there are also a large number in the western deserts of the United States and at higher elevations in the Cordilleras of Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina.
The majority of succulents are native to milder, semi-desert regions of the planet (Mexico, South Africa). Some (such as sedums and sempervivums) are native to cooler regions where they thrive on sunny, rocky ledges and slopes. Although there are many succulents around the world, not all succulents are desert plants. They can be found on mountains, in jungles, and next to bodies of water. Succulents can be found in semi-arid parts of North and South America, Asia, and Africa, but many also live in rain forests. Succulents can be found in the mountains where they can survive inclement weather, strong winds, and poor soil. Aeonium is a succulent native to Africa, the Canary and Madeira Islands; Agave is a succulent native to the Americas; Aloe is a succulent native to Africa, the Mediterranean, and Atlantic islands; Cotyledon is a succulent native to semi-arid regions of Africa; Crassula is a succulent native to mostly Africa; Dudleya is a succulent native to coastal California and Mexico; Faucaria is a succulent native to South Africa; Sempervivum: North Africa, Asia Minor, and Central and Southern Europe.