A beautiful outdoor garden is something we all want. But, have you ever thought about growing plants inside your own home? If you ever have, succulents would be the perfect houseplants to grow. And for those who do not have much expertise, knowledge or time- even better. It will amaze you how quickly you will be able to build your own indoor succulent garden.
Succulents have lush, vibrant colours and add an ‘oomph’ to your homes. But it is important to understand that succulents are not loved for their beauty alone.
Their simplicity to grow is the key.
So for those who of you who have limited time or find plants complex to grow, this is a fantastic opportunity!
If you are intrigued, lets dive in and get you started on your very own indoor succulent garden.
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What are succulent plants?
Succulents are often described as unusual looking plants. They have thick, fleshy and engorged leaves which arise due to certain properties of the plant. They contain water storing tissues to help the leaves retain water. This is beneficial in arid climates as the plant is able to adapt to dry environments and survive.
Succulents are always in survival mode- they learn to look after themselves and often originate in areas where other plants are uninhabitable.
Common examples of succulents known to us include Aloe Vera and Cactus.
Why grow an indoor succulent garden?
People tend to grow succulents as their preferred houseplants for many reasons:
Easy for beginners/ simple
Growing plants is a very, very broad field with many, many different types of plants. They all require certain conditions for their growth…
The correct compost soil, humidity, light, temperature , nutrients etc etc.
And as a beginner, this can become stressful because you will probably have no idea where to start.
As a result, this can make your ‘journey’ complicated and difficult.
Hence, I would recommend all beginners to start with succulents.
Check out my post: 10 Easy Succulents to Grow Indoors for those who want easy succulents to start with.
Don’t have time
If you are in the ‘working and family’ category and have no time, succulents are the best option.
When I was younger, I always wanted to grow plants.
But how? Where to start?
I read and watched tutorials, blogs, magazines and etc. Very quickly, I realised this is tricky.
I had no idea there are many factors that affect plant growth! I realised this is a long term commitment which requires consistency. This was something I didn’t have the time for and I pulled my hands out before they got dirty!
But lucky you, growing an indoor succulent garden is none of the above. It is a simple and easy option.
Don’t need specific conditions for growth
Succulents don’t have many requirements- this is what makes them easy to grow.
I often refer to them as ‘not picky’. The reason being- they can grow with limited resources.
Then again, they have certain requirements which I will discuss below.
What your succulents require for growth?
Soil
Succulents have the ability to retain ‘extra’ water. Therefore, it is best to avoid normal potting soil. This is important.
Succulents prefer soil that drains water. Cactus soil is often used with the soil preferably slightly acidic.
Also, the soil can be mixed with sand, pumice or perlite. This mixing can be done easily at home with the aim to create a soil mixture that drains quickly. This allows excess moisture to leave the pot. I would recommend to add rocks as a top dressing. This helps with drainage and gives your succulents a professional look.
Water
Succulents rely on water for growth but the amount of water required varies depending on the season.
In the summer, most succulents require weekly watering while in winter you would water every 2-3 weeks.
The amount of water required also depends on the succulent grown.
Good Tip
A squeeze bottle will allow control of water flow. You will not want to bring your watering can indoor! What a mess that will make…
Pot
Make sure the pot has holes to allow drainage.
One of the most common reason succulents do not grow and die is due to excess moisture. While other plants prefer moisture and a wet soil, succulents do not.
Hence why, use pots with holes to allow excess water to escape.
Example- Unglazed terracotta pots with drainage holes are perfect for drought-loving succulents. Also, terracotta pots will warm up quickly in the sun and are porus, so the compost dries out quickly after watering.
Light
Succulents prefer being grown in bright, indirect sunlight. As light indoor is limited, it is important to keep the plant close to the porch or a window. Ideally, place the succulent where there is a good amount of light.
Different type of succulents require different amount of light. For example, some prefer full light while some prefer partial.
Light lamps can be used to maintain light especially in winter months. Most succulents prefer around six hours of light per day.
Bear in mind that grow lights can be adjusted to meet specific requirements of the succulent grown.
Temperature
As succulents originate from hot climates, most prefer to be kept at twenty five degrees and above.
Therefore, find a place in the house where there is good lighting and warmth.
Try to avoid growing in cold temperatures as this can damage the plant. If there is frost, the succulent will stop growing.
What else can help?
To improve drainage, a horticultural grit can be used.
You can mix your water with fertilisers as they will provide nutrients for plant growth.
In winter, a garden fleece is recommended to keep the succulents warm. This will allow your succulents to remain frost-free.
Good Tip
Your indoor succulent garden will have other plants. Be aware that other plants may prefer different conditions. A good idea may be to separate different plants depending on their conditions to grow
How to plant your indoor succulents?
- Firstly you would make sure you have the right pot as mentioned above. You would add the cactus soil at the bottom of the container and work a little upwards on the sides.
- Remove your succulent from the nursery container gently and place into a pot (Tip– the roots are fragile so be extra careful)
- Add some extra soil around the root ball and ramp it in. Make sure the plant is secure in the soil.
- Water your plant. Don’t be scared to water, as long as you have a drainage pot you should be fine.
- Stay patient- succulents tend to grow slower than other plants.
Good Tip
Don’t add soil all the way to the top of the container. You will not want water leaking out of the top when watering.
What to watch out for when growing succulents?
While succulents don’t require constant supervision, below are a couple things to look out for:
Dry soil
To make sure you water your succulents the correct way, it is best to use the dry and soak method: Dip your index finger into the soil and if its dry, the soil requires water.
Alternatively, if you are new to this and can’t tell if the soil is dry or not, a moisture meter can be a good purchase to accurately measure the soil moisture.
Soggy leaves
Another sign your succulent needs water is when the leaves are soggy and wrinkled. Secondly, the tips will start to become translucent and discoloured. Your leaves appear less plump and shrivelled. If you can visibly see these signs, use the dry and soak method to check if watering is needed.
Discoloured leaves
This tends to happen when the plant is not receiving enough oxygen as it is trapped by moisture in the soil. In basic terms, you are overwatering.
At first, the bottom leaves get mushy and soft. They will often turn yellow and are known as rotting leaves.
Check the roots- if they are black and soggy, they are most likely overwatered. The best solution here is to place them in fresh soil.
It is important to recognise red flag issues of succulents and how to prevent those problems arising.
Insects
Try to check regularly for pests or insects eating on your plant before they become a problem, a really really big problem!
Avoid insecticides as most succulents do not like them. What you can use is Provanto 84436674 Ultimate Bug Killer or Miracle-Gro Bug Clear Ultra Gun.
If you require more information on managing your succulents, ‘Cacti and succulents‘ by the Royal Horticultural Society is a informative post I recommend.
Country Living summarise the common problems that can arise from growing your succulent and what can be done to prevent any issues.
Most common types of indoor succulents to grow
Below are popular succulents you can add to your Indoor Succulent garden. You can plant succulents next to other plants to add diversity and freshness to your garden.
Aloe Vera
This is perhaps the most commonly known succulent. It is an amazing plant that is used worldwide typically for burns, cosmetics and drinks. It is often found in tropical climates but can now be grown anywhere.
Funny thing is… not many people know Aloe Vera can be grown indoors!
Panda Plant
This is one of my favourites!
As shown above, the plant a very nice texture and colour. The leaves are grey with brownish red marking on the top and are fuzzy, with a velvet feel. The plants are small with a lovely, cuteish appearance.
They can live for many years without much work needed making them a great option.
Pincushion Cactus (mammillaria crinita)
This is a like a small cactus that has vibrant bold flowers growing out.
The pincushion is very simple to grow- having the ability to grow in areas of drought and limited fertility (Native to Mexico desserts which has very harsh conditions for growth).
As a result of its characteristic, nowadays we often see this succulent grown indoors.
There are many many different types of succulents. Try having a look at 20 of the best succulents to grow for more options.
Final Words
Hopefully this will give you an idea of how easy and simple it is to start your own Indoor succulent garden.
They do not require much time or attention as other plants would. Hence, if you are a busy individual- this is perfect for you.
Or, you find succulents exciting and you have an undying passion to explore and plant them to expand your plant collection.
Regardless of your reason to grow, I believe succulents are a great addition to your homes.
