Last updated on August 25th, 2023 at 12:22 pm
Many people on our Facebook group and its page always ask us how to grow succulents indoors? Unfortunately, most of the people that are wondering how to grow succulents indoors can’t look farther than their granny’s windowsill, which most likely is boasting of at least one.
Due to their unbelievable shapes, forms, and the ability to tolerate low to moderate light, low humidity, and survive many weeks of neglect.
Succulent home plants such as a mother-in-law tongue or snake plant (Sansevieria) or florist’s Kalanchoe have actually beautified numerous living-room corner, or kitchen windows, and even a talented Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) that won’t simply die easily.
And most of them are really simple to propagate from stem cuttings, dividing small plants, and rooting leaves.
Old-hand garden enthusiasts understand that indoor succulent plants need a specific amount of neglect.
In their dry native or arid lands, they developed the ability to store water within their fleshy leaves, stems, or roots.
What really are succulents?
Succulents are plants with fleshy, thickened leaves and/or inflamed stems that store water. The word “succulent” originates from the Latin word sucus, which means juice or sap.
Succulents have the ability to survive with no or little water such as dew and mist, this makes them to be drought-tolerant. There are several types and cultivars of succulents covering many plant families, and the majority of people associate succulents with Cactaceae, the cactus family. (Remember, nevertheless, that while all cacti are succulents, not all succulents are cacti.).
14 Best succulents to grow indoors
- Jade plant (Crassula ovata)
- Christmas kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana)
- Mother-in-law tongue or snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata).
- Crown of thorns (Eurphorbia milii).
- Medication plant (Aloe vera)
- Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi)
- Zebra cactus (Haworthia fasciata).
- Panda plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa).
- String of bananas (Senecio radicans).
- String of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus).
- Hens-and-chicks (Sempervivum tectorum or Echeveria elegans).
- Pencil cactus (Euphorbia tirucalli).
- Burro’s tail (Sedum morganianum).
- Pebble plant or living stone (Lithops Salicola)
How to Plant Succulents Indoors Easily
Planting succulents indoors is not different from planting other plants in pots. The number one rule is to make sure your pot has drain holes or plan to lay them on their sides, with the pots, after watering to enable excess water to drain out of the pot.
When initially planting succulents in pots, select a well-draining soil such as ready-made or DIY cactus mix, but for an actually excellent succulent potting mix that will not remain too damp, include additional pumice, sharp sand, grit, or perlite (Available on Amazon) to assist with the water drain without breaking down with time.
If you are just starting to learn how to grow succulents indoors, you will notice how shallow and fragile their roots are. Carefully loosen up other soil, and sift new soil around the roots, using your fingers or the blunt end of a pencil to tamp it gently as you go. Cover the surface with sand, gravel, or grit, and let the plant dry for some days before you start watering.
Growing Succulents Indoors
Indoor succulents grow best under bright light. Most of them including Sempervivum and Pedilanthus grow their best leave colors with at least a few hours of direct sun, like Portulacaria, Sedums, and others get weak and leggy if they do not get bright sunlight, the only exceptions are Sansevieria and Hoya that can perfectly endure relatively low light.
Still, a successful indoor succulent garden will be a spot in or around an east, south, or west window that gets some hours of direct sun. For those whose leaves blister in direct sun, give them shade with a large drape if grown in a south or west-facing window.
Water moderately to keep plants from shriveling, and use rainwater or distilled water to prevent an accumulation of damaging liquified minerals and fertilizer residue and make sure to flush the soil with a good soaking t least once a year.
Indoor succulents generally need little or no fertilizer except a light feeding during the spring or summer.
How to Grow Succulents Indoors – Step by Step
Due to the fact that they have a unique ability to store water, succulents tend to flourish in warm, dry environments and do not mind a little neglect.
This makes them well adjusted to indoor growing conditions and suitable for people that want low-maintenance houseplants.
Follow these step-by-step guides for growing and caring for your plant indoors.
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Choose a good succulent for your indoor conditions
The majority of succulents like direct sunshine, however, if all you have is a shaded corner in your home, opt for low light-tolerant plants like mother-in-law’s tongue. A routing range like a string of bananas is a great option if you are planning to grow your succulent in a hanging planter. Constantly check out the plant identifiers to determine the sunshine requirements, size, and spread of your succulents.
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Give well-draining potting medium
Nurseries constantly plant their succulents in soil that is too rich and retains too much moisture, so you will need to repot your succulent as quickly as you bring it home.
Start with a coarse potting mix with excellent drain and aeration. You can find unique cactus and succulent mix at the nursery or you can even make it yourself following this guide.
To even enhance drain more and prevent compaction, include perlite or pumice to the cactus mix (approximately 50% of the overall potting mix, depending upon your specific succulent’s moisture requirements). Always wet the mix prior to using it to guarantee it is uniformly wet.
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Select your container
When repotting or replanting your succulents, use a container that has a drain hole and is at least 1 to 2 inches bigger than the nursery container.
Avoid glass containers (such as mason jars or terrariums) as a long-lasting potting solution, as they do not allow roots to breathe and can trigger root rot in time.
Fill the bottom to one-third of the container with pre-moistened potting mix, then place your plant indoors and backfill with more pre-moistened potting mix.
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Place the potted succulent in a bright or sunny area
Many succulents love a minimum of 6 hours of sun daily, so try to position them near a southern or eastern-facing window. If they do not get enough sun, you might see your succulents becoming spindly or stretching towards the light.
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Permit the potting mix to dry in between waterings
The number-one error many people make with succulents is overwatering them.
It is best to water more, however, less regularly. Fill the potting mix completely (while making sure that water drains off from the drain hole perfectly), however, enable the mix to dry a little prior to the next watering. The plant might ultimately die if the potting mix remains regularly damp every day.
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Fertilize your succulents at least once a year
The plants benefit most from fertilizer in the spring (when the days get longer and new development starts), and once again in late summertime.
Use a well-balanced, versatile, water-soluble fertilizer (such as 8-8-8 or 10-10-10), watered down to half the strength recommended on the plant’s directions.
There is no requirement to fertilize succulents in the winter season when they are semi-dormant. They do not require the nutrient boost since they are not actively growing.
Extra Succulent Care Tips And Frequently Asked Questions
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Can you use sand to plant succulents?
Although it might look like succulents prosper in the sand, out in the wild, they in fact love loose, rocky soil and require nutrients to grow well. When used by itself, sand tends to compact with time, triggering excessive water retention in a container. The very best potting medium for a succulent is one specifically developed for succulents and cacti, or a well-draining mix of potting soil, coarse sand, and perlite/pumice.
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Can you grow succulents from seeds?
Yes. Succulent seeds can be grown indoors in light, wet soil (similar to other plant seeds), however, they grow slowly and normally do not reach transplant size till about 6 months to a year after sprouting.
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Why are my succulent leaves falling off?
Like lots of plants, the lowest leaves on the stem (closest to the potting mix) will ultimately shrivel up and drop. This is normal and absolutely nothing to worry about. It might show overwatering, bugs, or disease signs if the upper leaves are dying.
