What Do Succulents Do

For those who enjoy a few pots of greenery on the desk at work or dispersed throughout sunny parts of the home, this ease of care is unquestionably beneficial. You’ve probably heard that succulents can enhance humidity in your dry house or office and assist remove harmful toxins from the air. This additional moisture relieves dry, irritated skin. Additionally, it can shield you from the common cold, dry cough, and sore throats.

Succulents can help with a variety of other medical conditions. The majority of us are aware that aloe vera juice and gel are marketed for reducing inflammation, particularly in the digestive tract. Parts of the yucca plant are also said to help with inflammation in other areas of the body. These plants’ saponins and other antioxidants are used to treat arthritis pain. To produce a tea for this use, boil yucca roots.

Sometimes succulents can help ease the uncomfortable symptoms of eczema. Due to the skin’s inability to fight bacterial infections, adult cases of childhood eczema frequently result in rash and itching. Succulents serve a dual purpose in helping to treat eczema because low humidity can occasionally bring on the symptoms.

Agave juice lessens pain from a number of diseases while accelerating the healing process. In addition to being used to make tequila, it is also used to treat toothache pain, stomach disorders, and other conditions that benefit from its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and vitamin-rich characteristics. Everyone should minimize their oral agave consumption, especially pregnant ladies.

What advantages do succulents offer?

Here are seven advantages of indoor succulent gardening:

  • In every climate, they may enliven a house.
  • They could aid in air filtration.
  • Your home’s humidity is improved by them.
  • They can improve the air quality in your environment.
  • They can help you focus better.
  • They can make you more tolerant of pain.
  • They Strengthen Memory

Are succulents suitable for indoor use?

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 cacti filter the air?

  • They aid in breathing – While plants emit oxygen during the process of photosynthesis, most plants respire at night, generating carbon dioxide. Other plants, such as orchids and areca palms, in addition to succulents, continue to produce oxygen throughout the night. Keep these plants in your bedroom to get a better night’s sleep by breathing in more fresh air as you sleep.
  • Succulents, such as snake plants and aloe vera, are great in purifying the air and removing toxins. According to NASA studies, 87 percent of volatile organic molecules can be eliminated (VOC). Because VOCs like benzene and formaldehyde are present in rugs, cigarette smoke, grocery bags, books, and ink, these plants are especially useful in libraries and study spaces.
  • They aid in illness prevention. Plant water released into the sky accounts for roughly 10% of the moisture in the air. In your home, the same rule holds true: the more plants you have, especially in groups, the better your ability to increase the humidity and so reduce the likelihood of dry skin, colds, sore throats, and dry coughs. According to a research by Norway’s Agricultural University, offices with plants had sickness rates that were 60% lower. Environmental psychologist Tina Bringslimark explained to The Telegraph: “We looked into how many people reported taking self-reported sick days and contrasted that with how many plants they could see from their desk. The more plants they could view, then the less self-reported sick leave there was”.
  • They aid in concentration – Numerous research on both students and workers have discovered that having plants around while studying or working improves concentration, attentiveness, and cognitive capacities. According to a University of Michigan research, the presence of plants increased memory retention by as much as 20%. Small plants like succulents, which don’t take up much space on your desk, are particularly helpful at the office.
  • They promote faster healing – Succulents can help to lessen coughs, fevers, headaches, and flu-like symptoms. Hospital patients who had plants in their rooms needed less pain medication, had lower blood pressure and heart rates, and were less worn out and anxious, according to Kansas State University researchers.

What function does a succulent leaf serve?

even when the plant achieves extremely high internal temperatures, don’t wilt and instead stay chubby.

A plant is given the moniker “succulent” based on what it produces rather than its kin. A succulent can be any plant from any scientific family that stores water in thick, fleshy tissues, unlike plant groups designated for their shared evolutionary history (such as grasses, roses, palms, orchids, or ferns). In actuality, the Latin word succulentus, which meaning “juicy,” is where the word “succulent” originates.

A succulent’s fleshy stem or leaf has more purposes than only water storage. Additionally, due to its rounded shape, the structure’s surface area is smaller than its volume. A low surface-to-volume ratio reduces water evaporation and aids in plant cooling.

Do cacti promote mental health?

Going outside and breathing some fresh air is one of the most frequently advised methods for reducing stress. Because of responsibilities like work and the unpredictable nature of the weather, it’s not always possible to go outside and breathe in the fresh air. However, you can transport that “fresh air” inside your house where you may enjoy it whenever you wish with the help of succulents.

Indoor air is frequently regarded as “clean.” The majority of the air in a home, especially in enclosed spaces with inadequate ventilation, has an unfortunate “suboptimal balance of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. This “less than ideal air in your home is not helping you” if you have stress or anxiety issues.

By adding more pure oxygen to your body through the placement of succulents throughout your home, you may maintain a calmer emotional state and reduce stress. In actuality, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients who are veterans have been “treated with oxygen-rich air to assist them manage their disease.”

Giving yourself cleaner air to breathe will help raise your body’s serotonin levels, which will stabilize your mood and make you happier. This Haworthia succulent is good for the body and the mind.

Are succulents big oxygen emitters?

About two thirds of our body is oxygen. It is necessary for people to survive on this side of the planet. It energizes crucial bodily systems like breathing, brain activity, metabolism, and blood circulation.

When we breathe in, oxygen enters our bodies and carbon dioxide is expelled. Succulents and other plants also go through same respiration process, but in the other direction. They release oxygen while absorbing the carbon dioxide that is present in the atmosphere. They use the carbon dioxide we provide them with during the day as an energy source for their photosynthesis, which is the mechanism by which they produce food.

Do succulents draw insects?

Although succulents are hardy plants that thrive readily and are largely resistant to bugs, this does not mean that they are completely free from pests. Most common household insects are not an issue, but certain tiny bugs are drawn to succulents because of their abundant water supply. Here are some typical pests to watch out for when taking care of your succulent plants.

Mealybugs

These are the pests that are most frequently seen on succulents. They are tiny, looking somewhat like tiny crabs. Mealy bugs are evident if you see an odd white fuzz on the leaves and stem of your plant, even if you are unaware that you have them.

Even while you may first just see a few, the population of them on your succulent can quickly grow. Up to 600 eggs can be laid by a female, and after they hatch, they will remain on your plant and suck all the water out of it. Damage from mealybugs to succulents can also promote the growth of mold and, in sufficiently high quantities, kill your plant.

Scale

Have any tiny, black bugs been spotted on your succulents? Then you might have a scaling issue. Scale insects have a hard body and like to consume the sap from succulent plants. Although there are more than a thousand different varieties of scale in all sizes, colors, and shapes, only two kinds of scale are drawn to succulents.

Scale insects can swiftly spiral out of hand, and before you know it, they’ll have completely covered a leaf and are ready to go on to other areas. Unfortunately, the easiest approach to get rid of this pest, which can be quite difficult to do, is frequently to pull off the leaf (or leaves) that the scale is attached to.

Spider Mites

Spider mites are widespread pests that can infest a wide variety of plants, most notably succulents. These bugs suck away the succulents’ sweet nectar because they adore it. Spider mites are a little, crimson bug that is difficult to see because it is an arachnid.

Small white webs on plants are people’s first clue that they have spider mites. If you notice this, take immediate action to remove the web, preferably far from your other plants. Additionally, they leave behind tiny rust-colored dots where they have been feeding. Your plants may become weaker as a result of this damage, which could also spread additional illnesses.

Gnats

Despite the fact that gnats might not be as bad for your succulents as some of the other pests on our list, they can still be a major pain when taking care of indoor plants. These little, black, flying insects are well known to us all, and while they can be pesky enough on their own, having them constantly in your terrarium or buzzing around your succulents can drive you crazy.

Avoid overwatering your succulents since this is the best defense against gnats. Because these plants can withstand drought, overwatering them can cause root rot and a fungus that attracts gnats. This is crucial because the little black bugs on your succulent breed in enormous numbers, which not only makes them appear disgusting but also damages the leaves since they burrow into them.

What area should I use to place succulents?

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 acceptable in bathrooms?

Yes, you can put succulents in the bathroom, although some succulents will do better there than others, is the quick response to the topic.

The bathroom is frequently the last location people consider decorating with plants when they bring them inside.

This is so because restrooms typically feature high levels of humidity and little natural light. The majority of succulents, though not all of them, are naturally resilient and may flourish in normal toilet circumstances.

The finest succulent plants for bathrooms with indirect light, filtered light, or low light circumstances are those that enjoy partial to full shadow and high humidity.

Do succulents like humidity?

Some species of the very adaptable succulents, which don’t all enjoy humidity, can take in the excess moisture in the bathroom air and store it in their leaves and stems.