Succulent plants (from Latin succulentus«juicy» or «substantial» or succulents have leaves with a large water storage capacity, which allows them to survive when water is scarce on earth. As ornamental plants, they are quite simple to maintain, however there are some things you can keep in mind to give them proper care in your home.
Hardy Succulent Plants for the Home
Not all succulents are suitable for indoors. Even if you put them next to a window, they may not receive enough light. It is best to choose succulents that can live in semi-shade.
In general, the succulents with bright colors such as red, purple or orange They are not ideal for indoors, requiring direct sunlight and much more light than is generally available indoors.
succulents with green leaves They are best suited for your home and only need some basic care to thrive indoors.
The best indoor succulents include the following species. Most are desert plants that adapt very well to your home, and among them there are different types of species, such as flowering succulents or succulents ideal for hanging.
1. Donkey Tail
The donkey’s tail, sheep’s tail or drunk’s nose (Sedum morganianum) is a trailing succulent and looks best in a hanging basket or in a container that sits on a mantel, shelf or plant stand. It is one of the many beautiful hanging succulent plants that you can put at home.
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Each stem can reach up to a meter in length and is packed with gray-green leaves the size and shape of a round grain of rice.
The leaves have a pale sheen that disappears when you touch them, so It will show your fingerprints. Additionally, the leaves are fragile and fall off easily, so it is best to avoid handling this plant as much as possible. Native to Mexico, the donkey tail prefers bright light for best performance. You can let the soil dry out between watering, especially in winter when it is not growing.
2. Christmas Cactus
Unlike other cacti, the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) or Saint Teresitano has sharp thorns.
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It prefers a little more humidity than its spiky relatives, so it’s best to water when the top 2 cm of soil has become dry. But if you forget to water it will recover easily. Keep it near a window.
3. Two similar plants: echeveria and immortelle
Both succulents come in all sorts of varieties offering interesting shapes and colors, making them especially fun to collect.
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The echeveria, echeverio or alabaster rose (Echeveria elegans) forms flat flower-shaped rosettes with rounded edges and produces arched, bell-shaped flowers every year.
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The evergreen of the roofs (Sempervivum tectorum) also forms rosettes, but each leaf tends to be flatter and more pointed. It has tiny star-shaped flowers.
Both echeveria and immortelle have similar needs when grown as houseplants. They should be allowed to dry slightly between waterings, because constant moisture often causes their stems and roots to rot. They will do best with plenty of light near a window.
You can easily propagate these succulents by removing the succulents and placing them in their own container, but be sure to use a sandy mix for succulents, so that your plants have the drainage they need.
4. Jade plant
The jade plant or tree (Crassula ovata) is a favorite of many people for a reason: It is very easy to grow!
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This South African native plant produces sturdy, branching stems with thick, glossy green leaves, sometimes tinged red around the edges when placed in full sun. Some varieties have different looking leaves, such as the ‘Gollum’ variety with leaves that resemble green monster fingers.
When grown as indoor plants, they generally do not exceed 30 cm in height. They can get a little top heavy, so It is a good idea to plant them in a heavy container such as terracotta. The key to keeping a jade plant happy is to let the soil dry completely between watering. Some gardeners only water jade when the leaves begin to wrinkle or lose their shine, but these are signs that the plant is already stressed; If you wait that long, it might start dropping leaves.
5. Aloe vera
Aloe vera grows as a cluster of long, thin leaves on a short stem. Over time, it produces more clusters of leaves than can fill the entire pot. It is easy to divide it and occupy new pots. It is better not to put it in a place where people walk because the leaves have spikes that can cause damage.
iStock Photo.Ольга Симонова
Aloe vera is an indoor plant easy to care for. Like other succulents, it prefers to be kept drier than moist. It likes light a lot but if you place it next to a sunny and hot window, the leaves could burn.
6. Panda plant
The panda or cat ears plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa) is originally from Madagascar. It has hairy gray-green leavescovered with soft silver hairs and tips with brown or rust-colored spots.
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They can reach 60 cm in height as a houseplant, but it grows very slowly. Provide it lots of light next to a window and let the soil dry between watering. When you water, do not do it on the leaves because they would rot.
7. Elephant’s foot
The elephant’s foot, nolina, beucarnea, beaucarnea or bocarnea (Beaucarnea recurvata) It is not a palm tree even if it looks like one for its long, woody-looking trunk and the tuft of leathery leaves at the top.
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They grow slowly and indoors can exceed a meter in height. The elephant’s foot is a succulent, but not because of the leaves, but by the swollen and bulbous base of the trunk (called caudex) where it stores water.
It adapts very well to the indoor environment, as long as it receives a lot of light, the temperature is good and it has little humidity in the soil and air. It is the perfect houseplant for a careless person because needs very little water, especially in winter.
8. Sansevieria
This classic succulent houseplant appears almost indestructible. lto Sansevieria trifasciata It can survive weeks without light or water, without losing its good appearance.
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Its thick, stiff, pointed leaves reach about a meter in length and often have patterned markings reminiscent of a snake.
Over time, it will multiply into a thick clump that will fill the entire pot, but it is easy to divide and repot as needed. Tolerates receiving little light, but does best in medium to bright light. They also appreciate a little water whenever the soil feels dry.
9. African milk tree
The African milk tree or crown (Euphorbia trigona) It can reach a meter in height indoors. It produces erect, triangular and branched stems covered with short but sharp thorns.
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The tips of the green stems also have small leaves with a reddish tint. The African milk tree is related to the poinsettia, so produces a milky, sticky sap which can irritate the skin if not washed. It needs plenty of evenly moist soil to stay healthy.
10. Haworthia
The striking stripes and spiky foliage of haworthia (Haworthia fasciata) may make it look like a rare native plant, but it is often available at garden centers and It is very easy to grow.
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Place this succulent near a window where it receives a few hours of bright, indirect light every day, and let the soil dry completely between watering. Haworthia is also a good choice to grow alongside other succulents because it will stay small, with a maximum height of about 12cm.
Succulent plants: basic care
What light suits you
Indoor succulents receive less sun than outdoor ones. Many species do best when exposed to direct sun for at least 6 hours. Therefore, You should place sun-loving species like echeveria in the most illuminated place in your home.
Of course, a large south-facing window is ideal. If you have a fairly dark apartment or all your windows face north, some species will not grow well.
How to regulate succulent plants
The succulents They require a surprising amount of water to grow and thrive, but they should be watered much less frequently than other indoor plants. You have to soak them and let the soil dry before the next watering. On the other hand, it is not advisable to spray the leaves because it prevents strong roots from developing.
What many people don’t know is thatSucculents have dormancy periods and growth periods. In the resting phases they do not grow actively and need less water than in the growth phases. Most species remain inactive during the coldest months of the year.
During these cold months, the lower leaves of your succulent may also wilt and die. But you don’t have to worry about that, it’s completely normal. They separate from their older leaves and new ones emerge.
You only have to worry if the new or top leaves are wilting. Then you probably made a mistake when watering and your plant got sick.
what pots to use for succulents
In general, Glass containers are not a good long-term solution for succulents. They do not like wet soil and water cannot drain in a glass pot. Another disadvantage of glass terrariums is poor air circulation. Succulents need fresh air to develop healthy roots.
The best containers for succulents are clearly Terracotta and ceramic pots. Wood is also suitable, and very beautiful.
how to avoid pests in succulents
Insect infestations They shouldn’t be a problem with your indoor succulents if you care for them properly. (adequate irrigation, well-drained soil, oxygenation, etc.).
One of the most common pests is mosquitoes, which They appear when the soil is permanently too wet. Use special soil for cacti and let it dry well between watering.
Another problem that may arise is mealybugsbut they infrequently affect indoor plants.
The great thing about growing succulents indoors is that There’s not much that can go wrong. Ultimately, these plants are very hardy and frugal. They can withstand several weeks without water. So don’t stress and just enjoy the beautiful view of your succulents. Plants should not be a cause of stress, but rather they should bring joy and beautify your home.