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Reviewed / The Sill / Homarden / Costa Farms / Miracle-Gro
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Succulents are a popular houseplant thanks to their trendy looks and superb resiliency. This low-maintenance greenery survives even if you have the opposite of a green thumb. But don’t neglect succulents because even they require tending.
Sonya Query, a master gardener and marketing director at Love, Plants, an online gardening store, shares her best tips on how to care for succulents.
“These plants teach us the value of patience and the beauty of slow growth,” says Query.
With the right recipe of water and light, your home can be full of prosperous succulents.
What plants are succulents?
Succulents are versatile and often have a unique appearance.
The name succulent comes from “sucus” and means juice or sap, a reference to the thickened leaves characteristic of succulents that store water. The thick, supple cellular walls of these plants makes them drought-resistant, as they can live off the stored water in the leaves.
Succulents are widely available and are a budget-friendly pick. But of all the beautiful houseplants out there, which ones are succulents? Here are some of the most popular options.
Echeveria
This is a classic succulent with a floral look. The thick green leaves of an echeveria look like a blooming lotus but come in many colors and shapes.
This rosette-shaped succulent looks adorable tucked on a windowsill.
Cactus
Cactuses are members of the succulent family and have thick stems covered in prickly spines. They grow best in sunlight with minimal watering. While large cactuses are better suited for planting outdoors, smaller versions make great houseplants.
This cactus has all the beauty of a cactus—without the prickly spines.
Jade plants
Reaching gorgeous vertical heights, jade plants grow into miniature trees that live in your home. Make sure to select a pot that is wide and fairly deep, as these top-heavy plants can reach up to six feet tall. Despite their grand looks, these plants are a breeze to maintain. Jade plants do best in warm, dry environments with partial to full sun exposure.
In need of a low-maintenance plant? The sunset Jade does best with infrequent watering.
Aloe Vera
What’s better than a houseplant than a houseplant with healing properties? The tentacle-like leaves of aloe vera plants contain a medicinal gel that’s soothing on burns and cuts. Aloe vera plants do best with ample sunlight, so make sure to place this plant in a south- or west-facing window. Water your aloe plant roughly once a week or when the soil is dry.
Got a sunburn? Break off an aloe leaf for some sweet relief.
How to care for succulents
Succulents are fairly low-maintenance, but make sure you have the proper tools to help them succeed.
Succulents don’t require much attention, but they still need TLC. The right amount of light, water, and soil makes the formula for a succulent's proper care.
Light
Many succulents flourish in bright, indirect sunlight, Query says. Even if you don’t have a spot in your home that brings in rays of sunlight, if a room still gets bright during the day, that will be enough for succulents.
Most succulent varieties do well with indirect light, but cactuses thrive with direct sunlight.
Water
While you might be used to plants drying out after weeks of forgetting to water them, it’s the opposite problem with succulents. While most of your plants should be on a weekly watering schedule, succulents should go weeks at a time.
When it comes to how to care for succulents, Query suggests watering every two to four weeks. In the winter, you should go even longer. She advises the soil should be bone dry before watering again. And it’s not just the top level of soil that should be dry. Make sure to stick a finger an inch or two into the soil to verify that everything has dried out before going in with your watering can.
The thin nose of this watering can get in between the petals of your favorite succulents.
Soil If you buy a pre-potted succulent, then you might not think to re-pot it. This should be fine in most cases, however, if you notice your succulent withering despite getting the right amount of water and soil, it’s time to look at the soil.
“A well-draining, sandy, or gritty soil mix provides the ideal home for these plants,” says Query.
While swapping out the soil, make sure your pot includes a drainage hole. Pooling water leads to root rot.
This specialized soil lets succulents thrive.
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