To say that succulents are now popular would be an understatement. However, we believe their popularity is long overdue given how adorable they are, how simple they are to care for, and how many different colors there are. Here’s what you need to know before buying your next stonecrop or agave plant:
Due of their ability to store water in their leaves, succulents first appeared in regions that had extended dry spells (like Africa).
Sucus, which meaning juice or sap in Latin, is the root of the English word succulent. It also honors the nutritious leaves that enable these plants to endure in the sweltering heat (aka you only have to water yours once a week, since they thrive in sunlight and dry air).
Green hues are a certainty.
However, you can also find blue, purple, pink, orange, and red succulents!
Another benefit of these plants’ ease of maintenance. (If your succulent is outside and you do suffer problems, you might be dealing with scale or aphids. If it’s indoors, the issue can be caused by mealybugs, woolly aphids, spider mites, or fungus gnats.
“Propagating” is the term for it. Cut off a succulent leaf, allow it to dry in the sun, then put it in soil with water to accomplish this.
Although not all succulents are cacti, cacti are succulents. What distinguishes a cactus as such: Its thorns, which are essentially its leaves.
They have a very festive name because they bloom right before Christmas.
You may flaunt your green thumb on your wrist, ears, or fingers for weeks at a time because these plants require such little care.
To assist users in providing their email addresses, this content was produced and maintained by a third party and imported onto this website. You might be able to discover more details on this and related material at piano.io.
Where can you find succulents the most?
People tell me about great plants that they recall from years ago far too frequently. They would like to know what it is so they can get another. It is immediately clear from their description of the plant that they are referring to a succulent.
The variety among succulent plants is astounding. Because of this, they aren’t always recognized or recalled as succulents, but it’s also one of the things that makes these plants so appealing. Succulents haven’t always had a lot of popularity. However, because of their low maintenance needs, odd plant forms, broad variety, and striking colors, they have gained increased notoriety in recent years.
Succulents are simply plants that conserve water in their leaves and stems in order to survive in arid environments. The majority have thick stems and leaves that serve as water storage tanks. Many also show other techniques for minimizing water loss through transpiration, such as waxy leaves or hairy coverings. Succulent plants are native to every continent and are frequently taxonomically unrelated. However, many of them resemble identical due to their adaption to arid environments.
The plant families that are categorized as succulents number over 50. They are most frequently found in semi-desert areas. Compared to real deserts, these are dry locations that get a little bit more rain. High alpine slopes (where hardy succulents are endemic), temperate coastal environments, and the dry tropics are often used to categorize them. There are exceptions, which is why I say “most frequently” and “usually.” Succulent species can also be found in humid, tropical environments. Cactus plants are among the most popular succulents. In their stems, cacti store water.
Throughout their growing season, all succulent plants prefer continuous hydration. During the dry season, they then use their water reserves. Succulents may be a successful addition to any garden since they thrive in locations with poor soil and conditions where other plants will struggle.
Sempervivums and sedums are two lovely succulent kinds. Both cultivars produce bright, eye-catching groundcovers that are resistant to both summer neglect and below-freezing winter cold. Succulent plants come in a variety of forms, dimensions, and hues, so your yard will be the ideal place for them. For fantastic succulent species, check out Young’s or your neighborhood nursery.
Are succulents a Mexican plant?
I was known for killing plants for a long time. Simply put, I was unable to sustain life in anything green. This lack of knowledge about plants was a significant concern for me because I have always enjoyed gardens. Before learning about succulents, I thought I was a failure at gardening.
My sister Juliet is to blame for my passion for succulents. She is an agronomic with expertise in these plants, and in her plant nursery, she cultivates a large variety of them. Juliet also creates succulent-filled vertical gardens, green walls, rooftop gardens, and home gardens. If there was ever a succulent lover, she is it!
She is to blame for my growing passion for succulents; I now have a modest but gorgeous collection. I’ve learned how to properly take care of them, and I’ve also developed a little bit of a green thumb. Regards, sis.
Mexican Succulents
Succulents adore sunshine and temperate temperatures, and Mexico has enough of both. In actuality, Mexico is the nation on the continent with the most native succulent species. Succulents can even be found growing haphazardly across the countryside in Mexico—in a field, a rocky fissure, or just about anyplace.
Succulents from Mexico come in a variety of colors, sizes, and shapes. They make a wonderful addition to any backyard garden!
My Succulent Collection
Thanks to Juliet’s advice, I have successfully maintained a variety of succulents throughout the years. They all started out as small rosettes in tiny planters, and the majority have already gotten rather large. These are my favorite species, and they are all indigenous to Mexico.
Echeveria agavoides
It seemed like this baby would never develop for the longest time. I moved it around the garden until I discovered a site that it liked. It turns out that it prefers morning sunlight and afternoon shade. It grew so quickly when I relocated it that it soon required a new planter. Additionally, it has now produced two tiny young plants next to it.
Echeveria elegans
I’ve been in love with this variety of succulent since since my sister started working on her plant nursery. Simply put, it’s lovely! Sadly, I struggled to care for additional echeveria elegans specimens because of how fat and attractive they are to pests. After a few months, it has doubled in size, flowered, and produced two new plants thanks to the correct care I eventually gave it.
Graptopetalum pentadrum
When I initially saw this one, I was smitten by its gorgeous purplish color. It’s unfortunately challenging because the leaves easily break off with even mild contact. This poor little plant has endured having its leaves ripped off by cheeky kids and nearly being destroyed by hail, but it always manages to recover. It demonstrates resilience.
Graptopetalum paraguayense
This one was given to me when I was just getting started with succulents, but because it’s so tough, it survived my clumsiness. It started off as a few little rosettes in a tiny pot, but now it literally overflows into the third and largest planter. Other young plants that it has produced have grown greatly in their own containers. When given enough sunlight, this plant mama boss transforms into a gorgeous shade of pink. Nice, huh?
Sedum allantoides
One of my collection’s oldest plants is also this one. It is a fairly tough badass that virtually blossomed from the first day. It has remained healthy during my luscious beginner phase, severe pest invasions, fatal hailstorms, and toddler mischief. It started blooming a year after I purchased it and continues to do so every spring. I believe this is the basis for its common name, “fingers of God plant.”
The Mermaid’s Succulent Nursery
I went to Juliet’s plant nursery, Vivero Sirena (The Mermaid’s Plant Nursery), and made an effort to choose some of my preferred succulent varieties. It was quite tough for me to choose just a few, but I went with some that I think everyone would enjoy.
Look at these succulents, please! You’ll fall in love with one of them or all of them, I’m certain. Don’t you want these in your backyard garden?
How To Take Care Of Succulents
Succulents can be quite simple to maintain. Remember when I was a serial killer of plants? So if I can do it, I have no doubt you can.
I am aware that not everyone is gifted with the ability to maintain plants, therefore it is always helpful to receive some advice. The expert, Juliet, was more than willing to provide me with some helpful advice.
Succulents love sunshine!
That is really common here in Mexico! Succulents flourish when they are kept in a sunny, outdoor environment. If you must keep your plants indoors, place your succulents as close to a window as you can so they receive as much sunlight as possible. They also do well in a solarium or covered deck.
Succulents can get damaged
Succulents can burn in the sun even though they enjoy it. Ensure that they receive at least some shade throughout the day. Succulents can also be severely damaged by hailstorms, but they also have an amazing capacity for recovery. But the shade is the worst. Your succulent plants will perish if they don’t receive enough sunlight. Believe me.
Succulents can get waterlogged
Thick, juicy leaves of succulents are where they store moisture. Simply put, you only need to water them once a week rather than constantly. You might water your succulents twice a week if they are outdoors in a hot, sunny location. Just be careful not to overdo it or they’ll deteriorate.
Succulents don’t need lots of fertilizer
All succulents require for happiness is some high-quality cactus soil. To keep them flourishing, it’s a good idea to switch out the soil every six months.
Succulents need space to grow
I’ve seen many images of adorable, miniature succulent plants in extremely small planters. Let me tell you that size is not intended to last forever. If you perform everything correctly, you’ll soon need to transfer them to a larger planter. Succulents love to spread out over a vast area, and some can become quite huge. Some of my own succulents have literally spilled out of their planters, in my experience. Your succulents are not growing if they remain little after a few months or a year.
Fall In Love With Mexican Succulents
Mexican species make up every succulent I posted, both from my sister’s plant nursery and personal collections. We are fortunate to have such incredible biodiversity as a nation, and I hope that we will continue to appreciate this.
It’s true that a number of varieties of Mexican succulents are endangered, but with the help of scientists and plant breeders like my sister Juliet, they may be able to recover.
Succulents are extraordinary, gorgeous, and hardy plants. You should give them a try even if you’re a serial plant murderer, like I once was. You won’t be let down by them! After all, even if you are able to save just one tiny plant, you will have done a great deal to help save the environment.
Where may one find succulent leaves?
Any plant that has fleshy, thick tissues that can store water is considered succulent. Some succulents, like cacti, only store water in the stem and have no or few leaves, but other succulents, like agaves, primarily store water in the leaves. The majority of succulents are endemic to deserts or areas with a semiarid season and have deep or wide root systems. More than 60 plant families have succulent species, with the Aizoaceae, Cactaceae, and Crassulaceae having the highest proportions. Aloe, Echeveria, Kalanchoe, and other plants are among those that are grown as ornamentals and indoor plants.
The timing of the opening of stomata, which are tiny mouthlike structures on the surface of plant leaves and stems, is one adaptation shared by many succulents. Stomata enable the exchange of water and oxygen with the environment as well as the uptake of carbon dioxide from the environment. The stomata of many succulent plants are closed during the day and open at night, in contrast to those of most plants. As a result, less water loss (transpiration) happens during the hot, dry daylight hours, while carbon dioxide (CO2) uptake takes place at night. As a result, these succulent plants display crassulacean acid metabolism, a modified form of CO2 fixation and photosynthesis.
What is a succulent?
Plants known as succulents have distinctive fleshy leaves that store sap. They have those leaves because it helps them retain as much moisture as possible. They can be found all throughout the world, but are most common in desert regions.
Succulents include a wide range of plant species. Succulents include cacti, aloe plants, and even orchids. Succulents are typically found in the same family as ZZ plants and other popular indoor plants. They are well-liked because they take little care, little pruning, and some species only need very little light to survive.
How did succulents get their name?
The thick, fleshy, sap-filled leaves that are the defining characteristic of succulents are what give them their name. Compared to plants with thinner leaves, they can hold and retain water more efficiently because to their leaves.
Where do succulents come from? Where did they come from originally?
Succulents initially originated in arid, dry regions like deserts. Even while certain succulents, like orchids, grow in places where the rain may not easily reach them, they do receive rainfall. Many succulents originate in Africa and other continents with protracted dry seasons when plants have developed means of more successfully storing and utilising water.
Why are succulents so popular?
Of course, succulents have been around for a very long time and have been used in indoor gardens and as office plants for a very long time. However, it appears that their popularity has increased in recent years. There are several causes for this:
- They require little upkeep. They require minimal to no pruning and less watering.
- They are available in a range of shapes, sizes, and colors. This includes really tiny plants in little pots that are perfectly suited for a desk.
- They don’t draw as many pests. Plants frequently attract pests as a result of the ongoing requirement for irrigation. The risk of pests drastically decreases when you don’t need to water the plants as frequently, such with succulents. Succulents’ thick, waxy leaves make it more difficult for pests to pierce and feed through them.
- It is simpler for greenhouses and shops to sell them. They are easier to transport because they can go for extended periods of time without water and can stay on a truck for days at a time. Because many succulents are tiny, producers can export huge quantities of them for less money. Some can even be shipped across the country in plastic bags. Additionally, they can be kept at the garden center for a lot longer and survive a lot longer.
- Most people find it very challenging to outgrow. Some common indoor plants, like Pothos, have issues because they grow and eventually start to vine. This can be inconvenient and takes a lot of maintenance.
Where’s the best place to buy succulents?
Due to their growing popularity, succulents are now available almost wherever that sells plants. This can include everything from smaller big box stores to garden centers. Succulents may even be sold in some grocery stores that also offer plants.
How can you tell a succulent from other plants?
A unique class of plant is the succulent. They simply don’t look like other plants. Their leaves are one of the main variations. When you touch a succulent, the leaves are typically thicker than those of other plants and can have a rubbery feel to them. They often do not sit in extremely damp soil, and their roots tend to be relatively shallow (in fact, soil that is too moist is bad for them).
They are available in many different types, shapes, and colors. In order to be sure, ask an expert any queries you may have or study the labels that have been placed on the pot or in the plant’s soil.
Is there a difference between succulents and cacti?
It does appear that there is some debate among plant scientists over whether or not cacti are succulents. Although the majority of gardeners believe them to be a separate category of plants, some horticulturists disagree.
In the end, cacti do meet the criteria for being considered succulents. They don’t need a lot of water. Cacti lack leaves in favor of thick, green stems, but they have a special method for making the most of the little water they do receive. Some of them blossom, which makes them popular among plant lovers who prefer to have low-maintenance plants.
Is there a difference between succulents and air plants?
Succulents and air plants (Tilandsia spp.) are essentially in the same class and can both be categorized as succulents. Air plants frequently grow atop other plants or structures, such as tree branches, and have essentially no roots. They require almost no water at all and are quite robust.
Air plants only sometimes need to be misted, and the majority of the water that falls on their leaves is retained. They keep the little moisture they do receive by absorbing it. These days, they are highly popular since they can survive when delivered in groups in boxes or bags by absorbing the water released by other air plants.
Are succulents easy to take care of?
Succulents are quite popular for a variety of reasons, one of which is how simple they are to maintain. They don’t need to be replanted or require a lot of water (although you can if you wish to for aesthetic reasons). They require no pruning because of their slow growth.
Only the propensity for individuals to overwater succulents needs to be avoided. Despite the fact that it is quite obvious that plants don’t require a lot of water, people naturally want to water their plants every day. Succulents shouldn’t let this to happen. Just check to see if the soil is dry.
If you choose to water your succulent while keeping it in a saucer, take it out, hold it under the faucet, and let the water drain. Alternatively, if you use a watering can, water the plant, then check to see if it is still submerged later. If so, take it off the saucer and discard it. Avoid light watering (also known as “splash and dash”) when the soil is dry. Always water the plant properly when necessary, and drain any extra water.
Contact Ambius for more information about how we can provide succulents for your environment. We know how to properly care for succulents, so get in touch with us.
Are succulents expensive?
Succulents are often not extremely expensive, but because the family is so large and diverse, there are always outliers. There may be certain uncommon varieties of succulents that command a premium price. But generally speaking, the majority of succulents are fairly inexpensive. They may cost a little bit more than you would for a more common plant because they are special and frequently have unusual colors and shapes, but you get a more intriguing plant in exchange.
Make sure the plant is in good condition to make sure you get your money’s worth. Make sure to check the plant to see whether it appears to be in good condition if you want to buy succulents from a big-box retailer. Like any other plant, they become brown or yellow when they are ill or about to die. Despite being tough plants, if left unattended for too long, they may suffer.
Because succulents grow slowly, a small plant could be highly valuable and shouldn’t be given a fixed price merely because of its size. Succulents are generally more valuable per unit of size than the typical houseplant.
Are succulents poisonous?
Generally speaking, most succulents are not toxic, and they have a variety of health benefits.
For instance, the sap from the leaves of the succulent Aloe is recognized for treating burns and has been used to manufacture cosmetics like face creams. However, certain people may occasionally experience allergies to plants, even succulents. People with latex allergies should be extra cautious around sap-producing succulents (particularly succulents in the genus Eurphorbia). Anyone who has an allergy will most likely experience a cutaneous reaction like a rash.