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 towards 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 fertilised 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 fertiliser (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.
Where should I place my succulents in the window?
Our great friend and succulent specialist Sara claims that succulents are the camels of the plant kingdom—the most resilient plants you can discover. Hearts of gold on the inside, tough as nails on the outside. Despite the fact that these plants are as tough as camels, regular care is still required.
Before meeting Sara, I recall purchasing a cactus from an unreliable retailer, planting it in soil (a grave mistake; see our planting instructions here), placing it in the middle of the room with little light (How could you, Ashley? ), and watering it whenever it appeared sad (that is wrong too, check out our basic care tips here). Don’t worry if you are caring for your succulents in this manner. Where you are now, I was once. All it needs is a passion for the plant and a desire to learn.
Why are my Succulents Dying?
Beyond the fundamentals, Sara has taught me that not all succulents are created equal. Have you ever felt that some succulents in your home are more successful than others? While some types prospered, others died a protracted, painful death? It can be because succulents like low light or high light environments in your home. Yes, different succulents prefer different kinds of light. The unknown
High Light Succulents
Succulents grown in high light are typically more colourful than those grown in low light. These are the stunning flowers that have pink, crimson, and purple undertones. Since the majority of succulents are high light plants, they require at least six hours of sunlight each day. The ideal windows for these plants are those that face south, but if the west window is not overly shaded throughout the day, they can also tolerate the heat from that window. Additionally, they enjoy the sun’s rays and can survive outside in weather above 40 degrees. Nevertheless, if they have spent a lot of time indoors, remember to gently them into the sun. Even while succulents enjoy the sun, they too can get sunburnt. Just visualise spending a hot summer day in the open air on a beach without any protection from the sun. Yikes! When transporting your succulents outside, keep this scorching image in mind.
A high-light succulent will start to stretch in search of light if you place it in a window that doesn’t receive at least six hours of good sunshine. Sometimes people confuse growth with stretching. Don’t be fooled by this. Your succulent is likely requesting more light if it suddenly grows longer and its leaves start to spread wider apart than previously.
Low Light Succulents
In comparison to succulents grown in bright light, low light succulents typically have a darker green tint. They also frequently resemble aloe more than flowers. These succulents have lovely textures and shapes despite not having vivid reds and purples.
Low light succulents prefer morning to afternoon indirect sunlight. This means that a reduced light succulent can still thrive in your home even if you don’t have a South facing window that gets a lot of sunlight. Although they don’t need as much light as their high light relatives, low light succulents still need light! Put these fellows close to an East-facing window so they can get three to four hours of direct sunlight every day. Again, give a succulent more light if it is growing swiftly and beginning to lean.
The Right Succulent for Your Home’s Light
The following time you’re seeking to adopt a succulent, try to choose one that will thrive in your house and in the available light. It will be much nicer for both your plant and you (no stress about destroying it) (no stressing about being killed). Ask one of us Ashleys about the high vs low light succulents if you buy for succulents at Retro Den (which everyone in the world should do). We’ll be happy to point them out to you. We are the kind of people who behave in that way.
Please have a look at our easy-to-care-for plant guide for some lower light plant choices if you believe that your home does not have enough light for even low light succulents.
Should succulents be placed directly near a window?
Succulents are easily grown plants that are commonly available and suitable for apartment living. They don’t need a lot of light or attention, and the majority of kinds don’t take up much room.
“According to Nancy Silverman, president and owner of Plantscaping, succulents are the trendiest and most sought-after plants for interior gardening.
Succulents have thick, often angular, and geometrically shaped leaves. The succulent family, which includes cactus plants, is characterised by their spherical form and spine-covered exterior.
According to Silverman, succulents are very orderly, crisp, tidy, and fitted plants.
Their silhouettes seem lovely.
“According to Chris Murray, manager of perennials and annual plants at Gali’s Florist and Garden Center, growing any of the succulents and cacti is simple.
Native to arid areas with high daytime temperatures and low nighttime temperatures, “Succulents and cacti can withstand colder temperatures than most people realise, he added. They thrive in a wide variety of temperatures, from 55 to 85 degrees.
Cactus and succulents “are extremely resilient to low light. He said that they can survive without being close to a window. In fact, certain succulents may thrive in inside spaces devoid of windows or other sources of natural light.
“Succulents shouldn’t be placed next to glass that magnifies sunlight, on a radiator, or near a heater. Too close window placement might cause plants to burn in the sun.
In porous clay pots that can breathe, succulents thrive “According to Murray, succulents and cacti look good in clay pots and are popular with most people. Ceramic pots with glaze are also suitable for these plants.
Succulents are typically sold in plastic containers and can be found in florist shops, garden centres, grocery stores, and online.
“He suggested the plants may stay in the plastic planter they came in for around a year.”
They do not immediately require a larger pot because they have such a little root system.
He advised mixing gravel and sand into the soil before planting succulents. This kind of soil mixture will quickly absorb water, which will collect in the saucer or tray underneath the container.” The key, he explained, is drainage.
If you plan to grow succulents in a container without a drainage hole, add an additional layer of gravel to the bottom so that excess water can collect there without getting to the roots.
The word “succulent” means “juicy plants,” and refers to the succulents’ fleshy leaves, stems, and shallow root systems that store water.
Succulents should not be overwatered as this can cause them to decay. Depending on the size of the pot and the amount of light they receive, Silverman advised watering them every two to four weeks “They require less water as the light level drops.
She suggested giving the plants a good soak before draining any extra water from the saucer.
Before watering them again, be sure they have used up all of their water. She advised feeling the soil’s surface and dipping your finger into the pot to gauge its moisture content. “You should never want the soil’s surface to feel wet. Succulents dislike being submerged in water.
She advised using a soil probe to detect whether the plant needs extra moisture for beginners who are just starting to grow succulents. A core of soil is brought up by the probe when it is introduced into the pot and pushed back up. It is not necessary to re-water the plant if the dirt at the bottom of the pot is still damp.
Murray noted that succulents do not require heavy feeding. In the winter, they shouldn’t be fed at all.
He advised using the all-purpose plant food Jack’s Classic. He advised applying fertiliser only during the summer and diluting it by one-fourth each time you water the plants.
Several succulents were suggested for apartment growth by Murray and Silverman. Be aware that there are numerous variants of each of these plants.
Agaves can reach a height of eight to ten inches and have enormous, stiff rosettes of long, pointed leaves.
Aloes are the most often used succulents, according to Murray. Depending on the kind, their surface can range from being smooth to being spiky, and there are numerous colour variations. Aloe plants are well known for their therapeutic benefits. Burns can be soothed and minor cuts can be helped to heal by applying the leaf gel.
“Cacti are popular with collectors, according to Silverman. They are used with caution in installations in plantscaping since they can be harmful to children and animals.” You risk contracting an illness if you slam your hand into a thorny cactus.
Identifying this time-honored favourite “Silverman called it a beautiful plant and noted its propensity to blossom again. “Because the blooms begin around Thanksgiving, the cactus should be given a new name. Root stems in water to propagate them, and then pot them in a tiny clay pot.
Echeverias are a constantly well-liked outdoor garden plant that resemble hens and chicks. The outer leaves expand in size relative to the inner ones. Silver to dark bronze are possible for the foliage. One kind of echeveria, called Pearl Echeveria, has elegant flower stalks that rise from the base of the plant and are topped with blossoms of various hues. Clip an offshoot to use as seed, then let it sit for a day or two to develop a callus before planting it.
The jade plant has thick, maroon-tinged, glossy green foliage. Around Christmas, mature plants will blossom with star-shaped flowers. Jade Plants need to be manicured, Silverman noted. The stems will snap if they are allowed to grow without being pruned. Any plant that is pruned will force new growth. Cut the stems off and let them sit out for a day or two till the ends die to propagate. After that, plant them in sandy soil and water them sparingly until they take root.
Mother-in-Tongue Law’s is a two to three foot tall plant that prefers a sunny location and needs minimal water. Rhizomes can be divided, or it can be reproduced by taking leaf cuttings.
According to Silverman, Superba, a shorter variant of Mother-in-Tongue, Law’s has leaves with black and gold stripes and leaves with black and yellow stripes.
According to Silverman, this plant thrives in apartments and has extremely glossy green leaves. “Its silhouette is gorgeous. Depending on the size of the pot, she advised watering the ZZ Plant every two to four weeks. Depending on the amount of area that is available, these plants can grow quite small or pretty enormous.
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Does a window that faces east work well for succulents?
For plants and succulents that require intense light, east-facing windows offer the best lighting. East-facing windows are where your succulents will do exceptionally well if direct sunshine is what they need to thrive. What succulents can therefore grow well in an east-facing window?
The succulents Crassula Ovata, Haworthia Margaritifera, Senecio Radicans, Rebutia, Sansevieria, Aloe Vera, Agave Attenuata, and Kalanchoe Tomentosa are some of the best for an east-facing window. They thrive in the abundant sunlight that east-facing windows receive.
You can plant a variety of succulents that will flourish in the sun if it comes from the east. Let’s look at some of the greatest succulents that may be grown in an east-facing window.