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.
When ought I to purchase succulents?
Although they enjoy the heat, succulents actually grow more slowly in the summer. It can be challenging for newcomers to water them during the intense summer heat.
Winter presents additional challenges for people who are new to cultivating succulents because the frigid temperatures can harm or even kill them.
You will discover that most places have a better selection and healthier plants if you shop for succulents in the warmer (but not the warmest) months because there is a higher turnover of them then and the supply is always fresh.
Succulents grow best in the spring and fall, so now is an excellent time to buy them. It offers you a chance to become accustomed to their care before the onset of either the extremely hot or extremely cold weather.
How can I find affordable succulents?
If you don’t buy succulents from the appropriate source, you may experience issues. Because succulents can be pricey, you don’t want to purchase a plant that is injured or infected. Success with succulents depends on knowing where to acquire them. After purchasing a starting set, you can learn how to re-grow your succulents so that you will always have an abundance of your own.
Ikea
Unbelievably, Ikea has an excellent range of reasonably priced succulents. They have sold me many succulents that had young succulents sprouting from the sides. BONUS! The plants have been strong and their pricing are excellent. One more good reason to love Ikea! Additionally, while you are there, look at their pots as well. They provide some extremely adorable and inexpensive solutions.
Amazon
What can’t you purchase on Amazon? It turns out that you can purchase some really awesome succulents on Amazon! You may have a vast selection of succulents delivered to your door for less than $2 per plant plus prime shipping. If you’re just getting started and unsure of which variety you want to work with, this is ideal!
The Succulent Source
I’ve only heard great things about the Succulent Source. The succulent selection at this family-owned business is incredible. Every conceivable size and shape. Even the youngsters help the succulents grow! I adore it. Go now and look them up.
Be sure to adhere to the care recommendations after you have your succulents. Check out these typical explanations for why your succulents are dying if you start to experience any problems. Also, if you manage to get your hands on one of those fantastic succulent species, check out this too-cute for words concept for an indoor succulent garden!
Are cacti a decent choice for beginners?
No matter how green their thumb may be, succulents are a remarkably diverse group of plants that have enduring appeal for all gardeners. Even the most ardent grower and collector can remain engaged in succulent collecting because there are practically endless types. Additionally, because of their low maintenance requirements and capacity for reproduction, they are forgiving of novice gardeners still getting the swing of things and are simple to care for.
Succulents: are they pricey?
Beautiful plants known as succulents can store water in a variety of forms, including leaves and stalks. Despite being mostly from the desert, they are becoming more and more popular in home décor because of their tolerance. You could be tempted to get one, but you’re unsure of their cost.
Succulents are typically inexpensive. However, the price of a succulent increases with its rarity. It won’t be too difficult to get a common succulent from the neighborhood nursery or a reliable online retailer for a reasonable price.
How frequently ought one to water succulents?
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.
Do succulents require sunlight?
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 do you choose a quality succulent?
This is the first of two posts that will show you how to cultivate and take care of succulents with ease. If you hadn’t already deduced from our Instagram page, our favorite plants are succulents. If you only take a few simple steps, they’re extremely simple to develop and maintain. On Thursday, we’ll share with you some tips that will enable you to go above and beyond today’s lesson on selecting and cultivating healthy succulents.
Pick a plant that appears happy and healthy first. When choosing a succulent, go for one with thick, pert, green leaves. This is the simplest method of determining whether the succulent you are choosing is nutritious. The plant isn’t necessarily going to die right away if its leaves are brown, wilted, or drooping, but it is demonstrating that it hasn’t been properly cared for. Pick a plant that is already healthy to bring home to ensure success.
You might come across a plant that has been painted or has ornaments (like a face) pasted on it; this is one of the more recent trends in succulents. Although this is partly a question of taste, I would advise against buying these plants. The plant may not be able to absorb enough sunlight if the leaves are painted, and decorations that are glued on may cover or harm the leaves.
One thing to keep in mind concerning succulents is that a change in color does not necessarily indicate a problem with the plant. To produce stress colors, some farmers purposefully underwater or overexpose their plants to sun. Additionally, these colors are something more experienced growers can explore but do not indicate that the plant is in immediate danger. Additionally, if you purchase a plant that is displaying stress colors, it can return to green quickly after you bring it home and give it the right care.
Pick the appropriate soil. Get a decent, well-draining soil for your plants if you wish to cultivate succulents or cacti. A pre-made mix or a homemade version are also options. The majority of gardening shops and nurseries sell this, and they may assist you in finding one according on how you care for your plants or even one built just for your area. There are many internet guides that can assist you if you wish to make your own.
Choose a pot that drains well. You’ll need a pot or planter that aids in water drainage once you’ve got your plant and your well-draining soil. Choose a plant that either has a drainage hole in the bottom or is in a pot made of unglazed ceramic to assist wick away moisture.
Ensure that they receive adequate sunlight. Keep in mind that succulents thrive naturally in sunny deserts and adore the sun! Make sure your plants receive enough sunlight whether you keep them inside or outside. If your plant isn’t getting enough light, it will begin to become “leggy or change color, which is a clue that it needs more. In order to give my succulents enough of the frequencies of light they require to remain healthy in the winter, I replicate sunlight with a grow lamp. I have an Amazon-purchased LED grow light, a clamp light, and a Wemo programmable plug that I can monitor remotely and change depending on how well my plants are doing.
Use little water. Keep in mind that the majority of succulents and cacti are native to the desert and thrive there. Their large, water-storing leaves developed so the plants could survive in the desert. The majority of succulent plants killed unintentionally by growers were overwatered. When you water your plants, make sure the soil is well saturated and let them dry completely in between waterings. If the leaves on your plants start to seem mushy or translucent, you’ve overwatered them.
Be tolerant. Although it can seem a little too easy, be patient! Because succulents are plants, any adjustments you make to make your plant healthy can take a few days or even weeks to take effect.
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.
What advantages do succulent plants have?
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
Cacti are they succulents?
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.