What Are Succulents?
Succulent is a term given to plants that have thick, fleshy leaves and swollen stems for storing water. Succulents are generally xerophytic plants, that is they are adapted to survive with very little water resources. There are many different species of succulents spanning several families.
Succulents adapted to grow Indoors
There are many succulents that are well adapted to grow Indoors. Given below is the list of best Succulents to grow Indoors:
- Jade plant (Crassula ovata)
- Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
- Aloe Vera
- Christmas kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana)
- Panda plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa)
- Zebra Cactus (Haworthia fasciata)
- String of bananas (Senecio radicans)
- Pencil Cactus (Euphorbia tirucalli)
- Pebbles’s plant (Lithops)
- Burro’s tail (Sedum morganianum)
Steps to Grow Succulents Indoors
Succulents have the ability to store water so can thrive well in warm and dry conditions with little maintenance. While choosing Succulents for Indoor planting some points should be taken into consideration.
- Choosing appropriate Succulent plants – Succulents should be chosen as per the conditions available. If there is no source of direct sunlight, succulents such as the Snake plant should be chosen which survive well in shady conditions. If going for a hanging planter, a trailing variety can be chosen.
- Providing a well- drainage potting material – Choose a coarse potting mix with good drainage and aeration. Special succulent mixes are also available at the nurseries. Pumice can also be added to the potting mix for improved drainage.
- Choosing the right Container – A container having a drainage hole and size 1 to 2 inches larger than the nursery container is an ideal choice. Glass containers should be avoided as they do not provide enough aeration conditions to the roots and eventually the roots get rotten.
- Don’t’ Overwater the Succulents– the biggest mistake which people tend to make is overwatering the Succulents. Saturate the container full with water but allow the mix to dry out slightly before the next watering session.
- Adding fertilizers at least once a year – A water soluble fertilizer diluted to half the strength recommended on the packet should be added to the Succulents. The ideal season to add fertilizers is the Spring and late Summers, when the days are longer and the new growth begins.