What Are Succulents? How to Keep Your Succulents Alive
The word “succulent” comes from a Latin word ‘sucus’, meaning juice or sap. These plants have thick, fleshy, short stems. The main reason behind this is to store water in these stems, which lets them survive a long period of droughts.
Succulent plants are usually short in height, about 2 to 3 feet. These plants appear very coagulated and bushy and therefore are easy to recognize. They are generally categorized under ‘Cactaceae’ or more commonly known as the Cactus family. However, one point must be kept in mind, and that is: all cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. They are mainly grown indoors and used for decorative purposes. Succulent plants can also be wrapped up in gift paper and given as a present.
Types Of Succulents
There are over 600 different species of succulents. Some of these are universal, while some are indigenous species, found in certain regions only. Succulent plants add structure and vibrancy to your outdoor garden. They are easy to maintain and have a very long life. Succulent plants have recently become very trendy. Not only can they be grown alone, but they also pair nicely with other types of plants. Succulents offer diverse shapes, colors, and styles and can fit anywhere from home, outdoor lawn, office to a bedroom.
Succulents grow best in room temperatures where it is dry with little humidity. While they like direct sunlight, they can adapt to lower levels of light as well, making them ideal for home decor. Below is a list of the most common succulents that you can grow. Pick your favorite, and get gardening!
Pincushion Cactus (mammillaria crinita)
Panda Plant (kalanchoe tomentosa)
Crown of Thorns (euphorbia milii)
Flaming Katy (kalanchoe blossfeldiana)
Roseum (sedum spurium)
Zebra Plant (Haworthia fasciata)
Snake Plant (sansevieria trifasciata)
Burro’s Tail (sedum morganianum)
Crassula perforata “String of Buttons.”
Sedum morganianum: Donkey Tail Succulent
Crassula muscosa “Watch Chain.”
Aristaloe Aristata “Lace Aloe”
Echeveria agavoides “Lipstick Echeveria.”
Aloe Vera (aloe vera)
Jade Plant (crassula ovata)
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How To Care For Your Succulents?
1. Choose an appropriate succulent for your indoor environment.
The first and foremost step is doing proper research and choosing the most suitable succulent plant for your indoor environment. Climate and weather conditions vary geographically, therefore choose the best succulent plant which can sustain your regional climatic conditions.
The best plant for you could probably be an indigenous plant. That particular plant is already conditioned to continue under your local environmental conditions. Your efforts, at the end of the day, will go down the drain if you did not begin with the right plant initially. It is also essential to keep in mind whether your plant is for indoor decoration or outdoor lawn beautification. Some plants are more suited to live indoors than others. A plant meant for indoors may not live outdoors, and similarly, a plant meant to live outdoors may not keep up indoors in the same way. Go online and research thoroughly for the right plant for your home, lawn, or office.
2. The right Pot.
Use a container that is large and breathable for your plants. A small drainage hole at the bottom helps reducing water retention. Succulent plants need intermittent watering, and therefore the drainage hole at the bottom of your Pot can help remove extra moisture.
Ceramic or pottery plant pots are the best candidates. It is best to avoid glass pots or mason jars for planting. They allow too much sunlight exposure, which is not required by your succulent. Firstly, fill your pot one-thirds with your soil, then place in your seedling and fill up your remaining Pot. This is the best proportion for your plant.
3. Start with the right soil.
Succulent plants thrive well in loose, rocky soil and need nutrients to grow well. Since all plants absorb nutrients from the ground, it is an essential component for their healthy growth. Without mixing sand with other types of soils, it tends to retain water in the Pot. If you are growing your plant in a garden, the sand tends to become very moldy.
The best soil for a succulent is one specially made or customized for the cacti or succulent you plan on growing. A well-draining mix of potting soil, coarse sand, and perlite/pumice is also the right choice, but proper research and consultation from a nursery or expert can better help in this case.
4. Give them breathing room.
Plants, just like humans, need space and breathability. Use large pots to give them enough room for easy breathing. Avoid cooping them up in enclosed spaces or with other things on the counter. Keep your plant in the open where it can soak up the sun, water, air, and all the vital nutrients. After being under lockdown for months now, it is safe to say we all know what a fresh breath of air feels like.
5. Provide some shade.
Succulent plants need an exact amount of shade. Too much shade and they could dry up; too little shade and the plant will shrivel and die. If your plant gets too much sun, it is likely to change its tone or become spiny. More spines on the succulent means it needs to be kept under shade. Needles are their natural defense system against too much sun exposure.
6. Give enough sunlight
Succulents like to sunbathe in the sun, and therefore they flourish best near a south or west-facing windows. But, just as we try to avoid too much exposure to the sun and get sunburned, so do these plants. Glass magnifies the intensity of light, so it is advisable to keep your plants close to the window for fresh air, but further enough from getting a sunburn. A recommendable distance is at least 6 inches away from the window.
Succulents can stretch in the direction of direct sunlight. This means your plant is craving sunlight. You can move the plant under light, gentle heat of the early morning rather than the scorching midday heat. To protect your plants from the sweltering heat, you can move them to a slightly sunnier spot so they can adapt first.
7. Almost low to no water.
As previously and repeatedly mentioned, succulents come with the built-in ability to store the water it needs. They can go long spells without water, but we would suggest not doing that. The most common cause of death for succulents is overwatering. When you first water your plant, water them nicely. The next time when you should water them is when you see the soil correctly dried up, with almost no moisture. Again, do not overwater them.
There are no consistent timings or breaks after which you are supposed to water your plant. During hotter days, the water in the plants will dry up quickly, and during colder days, the water will dry up slower. But once the water is nicely dried up, whether it takes two days or six days, give your plant that well-deserved shower.
Underwatering or overwatering, can both cause succulents to wither and die. You can tell the difference by observing the soil. If the land is dry, the plant is dying due to under-watering. If the soil is wet, the plant is dying due to overwatering. Another way to spot overwatering is by looking at the plant itself. Your plant will appear more bloated or puffier than before. This means it has absorbed more water than necessary. In such a case, give the plant a few days off from watering. To avoid all of this, keep a proper track of your watering routine and try to maintain it.
8. Include drainage.
As mentioned earlier, good drainage is essential for these succulent plants. You want to avoid any water retention in the soil. Any water or moisture in the soil is a killer for your plant. Use a ceramic pot with a drainage hole at the bottom.
9. Avoid over-using fertilizers.
Succulents do not need as much fertilizer as many other plants do. So that saves you a few bucks at least.
It is essential to keep in mind to avoid fertilizers with a lot of nitrogen content. Succulents have delicate roots throughout their lives that do not sit well with the harsh chemicals and may even end up getting burned in the process. It is better to use fertilizers especially made and designed for succulent plants. They have lower nitrogen levels and just the right amount of nutrients to keep your plants healthy and blooming.
10. Beware of frost.
Take special care when a chilly night is mentioned in the forecast. While some succulents can withstand freezing temperatures, most cannot. Succulents mostly comprise of water; their cell walls can burst, which turns the leaves to mush. Temperatures that drop below freezing point will cause damage or death to your plant. The easiest method for frost protection is to keep plants in containers that are light enough to move indoors. Also, succulents may have a higher chance of survival if they are kept dry before the chilly season.
11. Inspect your plants.
Like every young child who needs constant inspection by their parents, so does your little plant. Weekly, thorough inspections can help you detect any issues in their earlier stages. You will be more liable to take action against them and keep your beloved plant safe.
12. Keep the bugs away
A succulent is potentially more prone to pest threats inside than outside. Give your plant a detailed examination regularly to make sure they are free of gnats or mealy bugs. These insects are a bad sign. It is an indication that your plant is overwatered or over-fertilized.
Mealybugs drink the juices from its host plant and can lay hundreds of eggs, damaging your plant over time. They can be a nuisance, and stick to the plant-like glue. Spraying the leaves or soil with rubbing alcohol is an effective way of destroying mealybugs and their eggs. If you are bringing a succulent plant from a nursery, check the leaves and soil first to make sure you are not carrying any unwanted guests with you.
