5 Great Succulents to Grow Indoors

The amazing succulent…there’s a reason these fashionable plants are highly popular! Did you know that succulents are easy to grow, low maintenance and work well indoors? These characteristics are great for someone new to the world of gardening. Unless you were lucky enough to have inherited a green thumb, many mere mortals would be subject to their own private outdoor plant cemetery, instead of experiencing the glorious victory of a garden!

So to set you up for success, we are going to introduce you to the wonderful benefits of this plant. Yes, the succulent has certain varieties that can grow perfectly indoors.

The first rule of thumb (no pun intended) to keep in mind is that the brightly colored succulents (reds, oranges, and purples) don’t do well indoors. Unless you have a greenhouse, the bright colored varieties require more direct sunlight than the average house or apartment has to offer. Below we have listed our top five proven winners for indoor succulents.

5 Glorious Indoor Succulents

The following five species of indoor succulents tend to be green in color. They don’t grow quickly, thrive under low light conditions, and are low maintenance, making them perfect for indoor living.

 

Haworthia: This succulent is small and grows slowly. Some examples of Haworthias are Zebra Plants and Pearl Plants, but there are other species of this variety. Another common characteristic of these indoor succulents is that they are drought tolerant. The Haworthia resembles an aloe plant, both of which come from the Asphodeloideae family.

 

Gasteria: This rare species is characterized by its textured leaves. The most common Gasteria species is the G. verrucosa, which has an unusual wart-like texture on top of the leaves and are usually referred to as ox tongue. They can survive for a long time without water and are perfect for those who forget to water their plants.

 

 

Crassula: This species of succulent, also referred to as Jade plant, grows in the same way a miniature tree would. The Crassula has branches and a trunk just like a little tree, perhaps even a Bonsai tree. Although these succulents are low maintenance, the more you water it, the more it will flourish. They tend to be tall, branchy and can survive in low-water conditions, but they also love water if available. However, if you use them indoors, you must not allow them to grow too fast. Keep them trimmed and only water sparingly.

Medicinal Aloe: This species is a popular favorite, as they also serve as a good source of relief for burns. Just make sure to look for an aloe hybrid, as these will stay small for the great indoors. Also if you have pets, please keep them out of their reach as this great succulent can be toxic!

 

 

Donkey’s Tail: Sometimes referred to as the Burro’s Tail, these are absolutely wonderful for hanging containers, as the leaves can extend to four feet in length. Please choose a very sturdy container, since leaves store quite a bit of water, and it can get rather heavy. Make sure you let the soil dry out completely before watering again. Then thoroughly water the succulent, and then allow the soil to drain.

 

Essential Tips For Growing Succulents Indoors Successfully

1. Be sure to start with the right type of succulents. They should be mostly green in color, be low maintenance, and be very forgiving to human drought (when we forget to water plants).
2. Make sure you give them as much bright light as possible. Figure out the brightest window in the house and place the succulent there. Provide at least 10 hours of bright light or sunlight. You might want to consider buying a grow light in case of an extended rainy season where indoor sunlight is not available. Amazon has a nice selection.
3. Use a well-draining soil. The reason for this type of draining soil is so that the water can flow through and not have the roots sit in mushy soil. This would create root rot, and ultimately cause the cell walls to fall apart. Your local garden center will have an array of potting soil specific to succulents to choose from. You could also follow this recipe:

• 1 part pine bark
• 1 part Turface
• 1 part crushed granite (make sure the particles are approximately ¼” in size)

4. Make sure to buy pots with drainage for your succulents. These are small holes at the bottom of the pot so that excess water can just drain out. Remember, succulents will by nature absorb just the right amount of water they need. The proper drainage will ensure that your newly planted indoor succulents will develop a good strong root system.

 

There are many beautiful planters to choose from that will enhance the décor of your house or apartment but also will give personality to your beautiful new succulents. Be sure to check out our Trendspot line of planters!