5 Tips to Keep Your Indoor Succulents Thriving
Follow these guidelines to ensure that your indoor succulents remain happy and healthy
There’s a lot to love about growing succulents, including cactus, as houseplants. First and foremost, there’s no better way to add variety to your indoor plant mix. Succulents can be found in a rainbow of colors, shapes and sizes. So long as they receive plenty of direct sunlight, they’re generally easy to care for — getting by happily with less-than-average water and a little neglect. They’re also happy in the humidity levels found in most homes, which mimic their areas of origin. You may already have a succulent or two in your home without knowing it. The popular mother-in-law’s-tongue and the colorful holiday cactuses both are part of this group.
Below you’ll find five tips for keeping your indoor succulents thriving and happy.
Below you’ll find five tips for keeping your indoor succulents thriving and happy.
As an added precaution against soil that’s too moist, use an unglazed container with drainage holes. A terra-cotta pot is ideal, but you don’t have to give up on using a favorite pot or unusual container to showcase your plant. Instead, use the more decorative container as a cachepot and nestle the growing pot inside it.
Shop for indoor pots and planters on Houzz
Shop for indoor pots and planters on Houzz
Shop for Indoor Pots and Planters
Item 1 of 4
2. Provide Plenty of Light
Succulents are a great choice for bright, sunny locations. They ideally need at least six hours of direct sunlight daily to thrive, although some, such as a mother-in-law’s-tongue, can get by with less light. An east- or south-facing window is ideal, but they can also do well in west-facing windows.
Succulents are a great choice for bright, sunny locations. They ideally need at least six hours of direct sunlight daily to thrive, although some, such as a mother-in-law’s-tongue, can get by with less light. An east- or south-facing window is ideal, but they can also do well in west-facing windows.
Although succulents love the sun, if the light is too strong or they’re placed too close to a window, their leaves can get sunburned. If that occurs, simply move them back a bit out of the light or to another sunny but less intensely lit spot. If, however, the plant begins to get rangy and lean toward the light source, it’s a sign that you need to move it to a sunnier spot.
See more houseplants that thrive in different light conditions
See more houseplants that thrive in different light conditions
3. Water Sparingly, but Don’t Forget to Water
Succulents may have a reputation of being drought-tolerant, storing water in their leaves and stems, but that doesn’t mean they never need water. The best time to water is when the soil is dry. How dry the soil should be depends on the plant, but at least the top inch or two of soil should be dry before you water again.
Some succulents need to dry out completely or almost completely, so check the watering needs of your individual plants. You’ll want to water even less during winter, when the plant is dormant. Add just enough water to keep the leaves looking plump.
Water the soil directly and avoid overhead watering, which can discolor or harm the leaves. Water thoroughly, then let the soil drain completely.
Succulents may have a reputation of being drought-tolerant, storing water in their leaves and stems, but that doesn’t mean they never need water. The best time to water is when the soil is dry. How dry the soil should be depends on the plant, but at least the top inch or two of soil should be dry before you water again.
Some succulents need to dry out completely or almost completely, so check the watering needs of your individual plants. You’ll want to water even less during winter, when the plant is dormant. Add just enough water to keep the leaves looking plump.
Water the soil directly and avoid overhead watering, which can discolor or harm the leaves. Water thoroughly, then let the soil drain completely.
4. Feed Even More Sparingly
Succulents are efficient when it comes to finding and storing nutrients, but fertilizing occasionally will help with both growth and flowering. Choose a fertilizer designed for cactus and succulents and use at half the recommended strength about three to four times during the spring and summer. A balanced fertilizer is the best choice for non-blooming succulents. Those that produce blooms do better with a 10-30-10 fertilizer.
If the plant is failing to thrive, you may need to fertilize again in summer, but err on the side of caution. You won’t need to feed most succulents at all in winter. The exception are the tropical cactuses, such as the holiday cactus, which can benefit from another feeding during that time.
Succulents are efficient when it comes to finding and storing nutrients, but fertilizing occasionally will help with both growth and flowering. Choose a fertilizer designed for cactus and succulents and use at half the recommended strength about three to four times during the spring and summer. A balanced fertilizer is the best choice for non-blooming succulents. Those that produce blooms do better with a 10-30-10 fertilizer.
If the plant is failing to thrive, you may need to fertilize again in summer, but err on the side of caution. You won’t need to feed most succulents at all in winter. The exception are the tropical cactuses, such as the holiday cactus, which can benefit from another feeding during that time.
5. Keep Things Warm and Relatively Dry
Succulents grow best in temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, or 21.1 to 26.7 degrees Celsius, in summer and 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, or 10 to 15.6 degrees Celsius, in winter. Because succulents also prefer lower humidity levels, avoid growing them in closed containers or under glass.
More on Houzz
A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Succulents
8 Tips for Keeping Your Houseplants Healthy in Winter
Find a pro for your home project
Shop for home products
Succulents grow best in temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, or 21.1 to 26.7 degrees Celsius, in summer and 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, or 10 to 15.6 degrees Celsius, in winter. Because succulents also prefer lower humidity levels, avoid growing them in closed containers or under glass.
More on Houzz
A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Succulents
8 Tips for Keeping Your Houseplants Healthy in Winter
Find a pro for your home project
Shop for home products
Shop for Similar Products
Item 1 of 5
Good drainage is essential for succulents. While most houseplants dislike soggy soil, succulents really hate it. Use a potting mix that is very fast-draining, preferably one designed for cactuses. Many experts recommend adding additional perlite to help with drainage.