Succulents are on-trend, affordable, and super easy to care for. Plus, there are so many different varieties of them that they’re also really fun to collect. If you’re thinking about updating your home or office decor with potted succulents, then take a look at this basic guide to growing indoor succulents from the Greenville, SC, experts at Expressions Unlimited.

How Succulents Are Different from Other Plants

Most green plants have papery leaves, but succulents have thick rubbery leaves for storing water. Hence the name “succulent” which means moist, succulents are experts at holding water, and they do so in their roots, stems, and leaves. As a result of this adaptation, they thrive in arid environments, like deserts.

Various Succulent Plants

Why Succulents Make Excellent House Plants

Succulents create a calm environment with plenty of positive energy. In addition to putting out feel-good vibes, succulents also make an indoor environment healthier. Their roots put out a gentle pumping action that draws air toward the soil. When toxins like harmful VOCs enter the soil, a succulent’s roots transform the chemicals into nutrients. Succulents don’t just purify the air, they also replenish it with fresh oxygen.

Popular Succulent Varieties

Echeveria

Echeveria Succulents

Echeveria succulents can commonly be found in succulent gardens and greenhouses. They have a pretty starburst silhouette and also grow in a rainbow of different colors including shades of pink, green, red, and even black. Their leaves range in shape from tubular to stick-like, crinkled to smooth, and round to pointed, and they look lovely together in a container or on their own in a small pot.

Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe

Kalanchoes are arguably the most cheerful of all succulents because of their pretty, vibrant flowers. With proper care, they start blooming in autumn and don’t stop until spring, brightening the darkest days of the year with clusters of red, pink, yellow, orange, or white flowers.

Jade Plants

Jade Plant

Jade plants are another popular type of succulent. They are incredibly hardy and long-lasting. In fact, they live so long that many jade plants are passed down through generations of family members. Resembling miniature trees, young jade succulents add a bit of dimension to a succulent garden, and full-grown jades can reach up to three feet in height.

How to Grow Succulents Successfully Inside

Succulents are some of the easiest plants to care for, and the worst thing you can do for them is to give them too much care. Simply, pot succulents in a low-nutrient soil that’s specially formulated for cacti and succulents. Succulents should always be in containers that drain easily to prevent them from sitting in standing water. Since they’re such great drought survivors, too much water can kill a succulent. Place succulents in a warm location that receives plenty of direct sunlight and only water when the soil becomes completely dry.

Simply Succulents

If a succulent’s leaves start turning yellow or brown, this indicates a stressed plant. Typically, this occurs due to over-watering, but this sort of wilting can also indicate a thirsty plant. Check the soil and contact an expert at Expressions Unlimited for advice.