How to care for succulents, one of the easiest plants to grow (2024)

Succulents on display in a plant shopAndreana Bitsis / Stockimo / Alamy Stock Photo

  • Group name: indoor succulents
  • Botanical names:Echeveria, Crassula, Haworthia, Curio, Pachyphytum, Sansevieria, Sedum, Frithia
  • Type: Houseplants
  • Aspect: Bright light
  • Moisture level: Minimal
  • Room temperature: Average to warm
  • Hardiness: H1B to H2
  • Difficulty: Easy to average

Since they thrive on neglect, succulents are one of the easiest groups of houseplants to grow. They also inject the house with a wonderful exotic look, having dense, waxy foliage, and – in the right conditions – often brightly coloured flowers. Their characteristic leathery, thick leaves allow them to store moisture and therefore survive in tough, arid environments (including Nigeria, South Africa, Mexico, and Oman). This means that they love people who forget to water their houseplants, and, in such homes, they can live for a long time . . . sometimes decades.

The succulent group includes a wide range of houseplants, such asAloe vera, mother-in-law's tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata), money plant (Crassula ovata), string of pearls (Curio rowleyanus), andEcheveria. Cacti are not succulents, but have similar requirements: enjoying good light levels, minimal moisture and fertiliser, and excellent drainage.

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Where to position succulents

Succulents love lots of bright, indirect light for 7 hours a day or more. In the wild, these plants often grow in open desert regions. Young plants grow up in the relative shade of larger mature plants, and this should be mimicked in the house. Younger plants can be scorched by direct sunlight and therefore fare best on a bright east or west-facing windowsill, while larger mature succulent houseplants can handle the direct sun of a hot south-facing windowsill.

Hailing from warm low-rainfall regions, succulents will turn their noses up at too much moisture, so don't place them in a humid room, such as a bathroom. Temperature-wise, they thrive in rooms kept at an average to warm temperature (12 to 30°C). Some, including echeveria and string of pearls, enjoy a slightly cooler temperature during winter.

How to water succulents

Less is more. Succulents love busy or forgetful people, who rarely water their houseplants. Allow the compost to dry out completely before watering your succulent. Sit the plant in a tray or sink of water and allow it to soak up the moisture, for half an hour to an hour. Then allow the water to drain away completely, before putting your succulent back in its pot or on its tray. Never leave the plant sitting in water for long periods. Shrivelled or puckered leaves are a good indication that the plant probably needs a drink.

When to feed succulents

Feeding succulents isn't essential – indeed, they dislike too much fertiliser. In their native arid habitats, they often grow in extremely sandy soil, through which nutrients drain away. However, in order to stimulate growth, flowering, and bolder colour, a diluted liquid houseplant fertiliser can be given once or twice during summer.

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How to plant succulents

Succulents can live for a long time, before needing to be re-potted. Use a potting medium that has excellent drainage, such as cacti compost or multi-purpose compost mixed with grit, sand, or pumice. They enjoy porous pots, such as terracotta and concrete. Never sit them on trays of pebbles, as this will boost humidity, which they dislike.

How to propagate succulents

Making new plants from indoor succulents is, in general, very easy. Simply place a leaf or stem on top of well-drained compost in bright, indirect light; lightly nestle it into the soil, so that it is just touching, and it will root. Some of the easiest, using this method, include jade plant (also known as money plant), donkey's tail, and mother-in-law's tongue. Many succulents will also send up baby plants, which can be gently lifted out and repotted in their own containers.

How to care for outdoor succulents

Some succulents can be grown outside in the garden. They range from the very tender likes ofAeonium 'Zwartkop' to bulletproof stalwarts, such as houseleek (Sempervivum). In most parts of the UK, stylish claret 'Zwartkop' needs to be overwintered indoors, while houseleeks are hardy to -15°C. Border stonecrops (Hylotelephium), such as gorgeous 'Matrona', are likewise very tough and make great additions to a gravel garden. In between, there is a range of semi-hardy succulents that can be grown outdoors all year round in milder regions, but require winter protection in colder areas – they includeAloe striatulaandLampranthus (mesembryanthemum), which both boast vivid colourful flowers.

Like indoor succulents, outdoor forms enjoy relatively poor soil. For example, the stems of border stonecrops (Hylotelephium) can flop and snap, if the soil has been too enriched. A gravel garden, rock garden, or a border with excellent drainage, in an open, sunny site is ideal for outdoor succulents. Some – includingAeonium 'Zwartkop' andAloe striatula- require shelter from cold winds. All are well worth growing, being low-maintenance in the right conditions and injecting the garden with a fabulous exotic look.

How to care for succulents, one of the easiest plants to grow (2024)

FAQs

How to care for succulents, one of the easiest plants to grow? ›

The rule of thumb is to water succulents thoroughly once a week in summer, twice a month in spring and fall, and monthly during their winter dormancy. Keep succulents on the dry side, and give their roots superb drainage. When under-watered, succulents subsist on stored moisture.

How do you take care of a succulent for beginners? ›

The rule of thumb is to water succulents thoroughly once a week in summer, twice a month in spring and fall, and monthly during their winter dormancy. Keep succulents on the dry side, and give their roots superb drainage. When under-watered, succulents subsist on stored moisture.

How often should you water a succulent? ›

How often should you water a succulent? According to Retro Den, the rule of thumb for watering your succulent is every other week during non-winter months. During the winter months, when the temperature is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, it is recommended to water your succulent only once a month.

Are succulents good for beginners? ›

One of the main reasons why succulents are perfect for beginners is their low maintenance nature. These plants have adapted to survive in arid conditions, which means they can tolerate neglect and require minimal watering.

Should you put rocks around succulents? ›

These pebbles are called top dressing. Once the succulent has been planted, these decorative rocks are used to add on top of the soil, capable of taking your ordinary succulent to the next level. Top dressing not only gives your plant a good makeover but also makes the soil stay in one place.

Do succulents prefer full sun or shade? ›

Succulents love light and need about six hours of sun per day, depending on the type of succulent. Though most varieties of succulents will not survive with full shade, they also don't need to be blasted with hot rays all day, so a sheer curtain can help ensure they get some shade too.

Do succulents grow better in pots or in the ground? ›

Planting in pots showcases their prominent and unique foliage and allows gardeners to move their location when growing conditions are not optimal. Too much heat or too much rain can cause problems for succulent plants, so a container's mobility provides plants with much-needed protection from the elements.

What is the hardest succulent to keep alive? ›

Compton Carousels and Silver Prince are drop-dead gorgeous succulents, but they are some of the most difficult plants to care for. Add a price tag of $20 - $60 for a 2-inch or 4-inch per succulent AND a novice succulent grower - that's a recipe for disaster.

How do I make my succulents thrive? ›

Succulents thrive in well-drained soil. Amend the soil with organic matter such as compost or use potting soil. Adding coarse material such as pumice to a container will help with draining. Replant succulents at the same depth at which they were originally grown.

Should you mist succulents? ›

Full grown succulents don't actually like to be misted. They thrive in arid climates, so when you mist them, you are changing the humidity around the plant. This can lead to rot as well. Use misting for propagation babes to lightly provide water to their delicate little roots.

How do you tell if you are overwatering succulents? ›

They'll tell you when they're getting too much or not enough water. When succulents are getting too much water, their leaves start to look like shriveled fingers that have been in the jacuzzi too long. If overwatering continues, leaves will often turn brown as they rot completely then begin to fall off.

Do succulents like to be touched? ›

Once this wax has been rubbed off, it will not regenerate on the plant, and so it is very important to be careful not to touch, or rub your plants. Another negative effect of rubbing epicuticular wax off your plants is that is changes the appearance of the succulent, and leaves it looking less-desirable.

How do succulents like to be potted? ›

Potting Mix: Succulents don't like wet roots, so your soil should drain easily (which is why you need the drainage hole in the container bottom). Light: Succulents love sun. Put them somewhere with full sunlight. Ideally, your plants should receive six to eight hours of sun each day.

What to do when you first get a succulent? ›

The first thing you should do is unboxing your succulents as soon as possible. Your succulents are kept in the narrow space without sunlight for a long time so let them enjoy some fresh air is the first step to help them recover. Place your plants in airy areas with some filtered sunlight. Avoid direct sunlight.

How to take care of an indoor succulent? ›

Succulents cannot stand overly moist soil. Make sure containers have drainage holes to allow excess water to exit. The fastest way to kill a succulent is with too much TLC – and too much water. Unlike typical houseplants, they stash water in their leaves or roots, which act like a reservoir to slake the plant's thirst.

Do succulents need full sun? ›

Most succulents do best in bright direct light and need at least 6 hours of natural light per day. But if you only have a shady corner in your home, choose plants like mother-in-law tongue that do well in low light and place them near a south or east-facing window.

Do succulents like to be wet or dry? ›

The most important rule for watering succulents is this: Only water when the soil in the succulents' growing container is bone dry. We repeat, let the soil dry out completely between waterings. If the soil isn't crumbly, dry dirt, don't water it.

How should succulents be potted? ›

Bowl: Make sure you use a container with a drainage hole in the bottom. If the container doesn't have one, drill several small holes. Potting Mix: Succulents don't like wet roots, so your soil should drain easily (which is why you need the drainage hole in the container bottom). Light: Succulents love sun.

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