It’s not a cliche to say that succulent plants have become more popular recently; it’s the exact truth. This is the group of plants that, especially among normally casual gardeners, is the source of a 21st-century passion.
Modern gardeners, notably younger ones, have embraced this frequently bizarre group of plants with a fondness typically reserved for pets, much like how Victorians were mad over coleus. It undoubtedly helps that they require little upkeep and are perfectly capable of withstanding warmer summers in an era of climate change.
What kind of plants are we referring to? those with waxy coatings that keep moisture from evaporating and fleshy, water-storing leaves. You already know the fundamentals if you’ve grown aloe vera to relieve skin irritation, transported a jade plant when moving from a home, or purchased a Christmas cactus to bloom.
Define our terms first. Although the spines of all cacti protect a moist interior, not all succulents are cacti. Succulents may have jagged leaf tips or pointed edges, but they aren’t trying to hurt anyone who plays around with them. You can get close to them, and some people do by wearing them as hair accessories or boutonnieres.
Succulents benefit from a versatility born of minimum requirements in addition to their wide variety of shapes and sizes. They work well for how we utilize plants nowadays because they don’t require meticulous watering and can really go without it for a while. They will grow well in terrarium culture, produce lovely living wreaths, fit in wonderfully with vertical wall gardens, nestle in a shallow trench, and, in smaller sizes, make interesting wedding or party favors.
These plants won’t collapse like your thirsty, soft-stemmed impatiens, which will wilt to the ground as soon as they become dehydrated. If you want to take a weekend or a week off, you can let succulents to take care of themselves. They don’t mind the heat, and the sun is usually where they get their greatest color.
The most important thing to learn about succulents is how to distinguish between the hardy species and the more delicate varieties that cannot withstand freezing temperatures.
Zones 4 or 5, when temperatures can drop below zero, are best suited for the hardy group (New Jersey is in the warmer Zones 6 and 7). Succulents include well-known garden plants like sedums, which include ground covers and taller varieties that bloom in the late summer or fall, sempervivums, the adorable little “hens and chicks,” which multiply so easily, yuccas, with their sword-like leaves and spear-like flowers, and many euphorbias, which are evergreen or semi-evergreen and bear fat heads of tiny flowers in the spring.
When you consider that the majority of these species can spend the winter indoors as houseplants and the summer outside, being “tender” is not a significant concern. These include Christmas cactus such echeverias, kalanchoes, aloes, aeoniums, crassulas, and schlumbergera. Succulents are great container plants because they can readily shift from indoors to outside during different seasons.
These easygoing, fuss-free plants are seductive, and their variety tickles the collectors’ itch. It’s difficult to cultivate just one, which is perhaps the one thing their supporters will agree on.
You only need to look online, on sites like Pinterest, to realize how creative you can be with succulents. To highlight a diversity of plant shapes and colors, some gardeners create compositions, or miniature landscapes, in shallow dishes or troughs. Some succulents have prickly textures, some give the appearance of fleshy roses, and still others grow closely to the soil. Several are exquisitely symmetrical, even sculpture-like. Since succulents appear to get along well with other members of the clan, you can’t go wrong here.
The only requirements for cultivation that cannot be altered are a rapidly draining growth medium and enough of sunlight. You can purchase custom cactus or succulent soil blends or add a lot of grit, perlite, or coarse sand to normal potting soil. A wet root zone is deadly.
The majority of succulents need at least six hours per day of direct sunlight to thrive. Your succulents would benefit from some midday shade if there is a heat wave with temperatures above 90. If they don’t have a window that faces south or additional artificial light, indoor plants may become lanky.
In times of drought, outdoor succulents, especially those in wall gardens or wreaths, require frequent, if sparing, watering, but the majority survive on rainwater alone. Overwatering will kill them unquestionably more quickly than a little carelessness. Hold off on the fertilizer; succulents don’t require much food.
The majority of succulents can be easily propagated by removing a few leaves and letting the roots form in moist potting soil. The well-known rhyme “hen and chicks” frequently produces “chicks” that can be removed and planted elsewhere. The “hen” will expire once it blooms. You’ll have a cute little flock by that time, though.
Do Trader Joe’s have any succulents for sale?
At Trader Joe’s, we offer trendy clay pots filled with on-trend succulents in a variety of genus and species.
It’s impossible to forecast exactly what varieties you’ll find on your visit because availability depends on our growers’ yield.
Which month is ideal for planting succulents?
In most places, the spring and summer, when plants are actively growing, are the greatest times to plant outdoor succulents. You can plant outside at any time of the year if you live in a region without frost.
What is the ideal location for 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.
Nurseries always plant their succulents in soil that’s too rich and retains too much moisture, so you’ll want to repot your succulent as soon as you bring it home. 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 can they survive outside in NJ?
Experience a tranquil afternoon in our tropical greenhouse as you learn how versatile succulents are as indoor plants. Despite the fact that many people don’t consider them to be indoor plants, they are incredibly understanding of neglectful and forgetful plant owners. They are the perfect additions for the home due to their simplicity and range of sizes and forms. Each student will make an 8-dish succulent garden in this session while learning about upkeep, design, and soil requirements.
Succulents: Will they endure the winter?
Yes, it is the answer. Although certain succulents can withstand frost, they are frequently thought of as drought-tolerant plants. They flourish in chilly, snowy conditions, and the extreme cold even brings out their magnificent, vivid colors. They are referred to as “Hard Succulents.” Sempervivum, Sedum, and Euphorbias genera contain some of the most hardy succulents. You may plant such succulents outside all year round because the majority of them can withstand temperatures as low as -20F (Hardiness Zone 5).
“Soft Succulents” are another group of succulents that are more susceptible to frost. When the weather drops below freezing, they must be winterized inside.
How much are the succulents at Trader Joe’s?
I almost bought the entire Trader Joe’s store today because they have the loveliest small succulents in little ceramic vases for only $2.99! Ha!
The BEST assortment of plants can usually be found at Trader Joe’s, and they virtually ALWAYS have the incredibly popular succulent, which is why I adore them!
The succulent is really the ONLY indoor plant you will ever need, in my opinion. especially if, like me, you have a tendency to destroy every plant. LOL!!
They require very little maintenance. They don’t require a lot of water, so even if you forget to water them for a day or two, they will still grow. In my opinion, that can only be beneficial!
They are also very possibly the cutest little plants ever, to put it mildly. Every type of succulent is so diverse, and they all have such distinct personalities. There are heart-shaped succulents as well as striped and artichoke-shaped varieties, as well as those with thick, flat leaves. Gah!
However, these tiny succulents from Trader Joe’s are AMAZING! They are adorable, but their $2.99 price has me smitten as well.
First of all, if you have never been to a Trader Joe’s, we need to change that because it is the most AMAZING store.
Usually, the plants are near the entrance. You can’t miss them because they are either immediately outside, on a set of shelves, or inside the entrance.
You must try their Watermelon Fruit Spread when you are there. OMG. I enjoy this material. Although it may sound odd, it is like summer in a jar.
What varieties of succulents sells Trader Joe’s?
Thank goodness, Trader Joe’s sells tough, reasonably priced plants. I recently discovered that small potted Kalanchoe succulents are now available on the shelves of the cult-favorite grocery store at the astounding bargain of $1.99 per plant.
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: do they reappear annually?
Succulents can be divided into three groups: winter-growing, partially dormant, and entirely dormant. In the winter, most varieties go into at least partial dormancy. They don’t grow much either, but their appearance won’t change significantly either. Don’t fertilize them over the winter and give them less water more frequently.
A few varieties lose their leaves like deciduous trees and enter a deeper slumber. some (such as
The die-back of Sedum kamtschaticum and Orostachys species occurs entirely above ground. However, their root systems continue to exist and each spring produce new growth.
The cultivars that grow during the cooler months, such as those listed below, are at the other extreme of the spectrum.
Haworthia, aeonium, and aloe The start of their growing season is signaled by shorter days and cooler temperatures. With these types, the best time to fertilize is throughout the winter.
Do succulents require specific potting soil?
Regular potting soil from your yard won’t work for succulents since they need soil that drains. Select cactus soil or potting soil that has been mixed with sand, pumice, or perlite. Be gentle when repotting because succulent roots are extremely brittle.
Can cacti be left outside?
Succulents are drought-tolerant plants because they can retain water in their large, irregularly shaped leaves. Succulents have a broad variety of eye-catching shapes and textures, which provide any landscape aesthetic interest. Can succulents live outside? is an often asked question. The quick response is “yes”! Growing succulents outdoors is an excellent alternative because they do well there and can withstand some neglect. They also do well in sunny areas with warm, dry weather.
Succulents can be grown in the ground, in pots, or hidden in unexpected planting locations. Take the uncertainty out of caring for these wonderful conversation pieces with stunning foliage by reading our suggestions for growing succulents outside.