Last Updated on March 5, 2021 by Kimberly Crawford
What we know best about succulents is that they are not dependent on water. Some succulents could go for weeks and even months without regular watering.
Some succulent types do not even need full sunlight at a regular basis. This is where indoor succulents become very unique. As the term implies, indoor succulents do not need full sunlight everyday unlike the normal plant species.
Indoor succulents are the ones you would normally find in window sills, indoor greeneries, bathrooms, living rooms, office desks, etc. It is easy to buy one, but how do we actually grow succulents indoors?
Related: Where to buy succulents online?
How to Plant Succulents for Indoor Growing
The question that we will primarily address here is how to grow succulents indoors. Before we could proceed to the how, we must first lay down the what.
By this, you need to know the most common indoor succulents grown and these would be aloe, crassula, gasteria, haworthia, sedum, terrarium, jade plant, kalanchoe, Christmas cactus and other hybrid succulents.
Planting
For the planting process, the three most important information to know is when to plant them, where to plant them and of course the process of how to plant them.
#1. When to Plant
According to Gilmour, the best seasons to plant indoor succulents would be during the spring for drought-hardy succulents and late summer for winter-hardy succulents.
#2. Where to Plant
There is an array of answers to the question where to plant indoor succulents. The most important location to be identified is where in my house, office or green space where there is the perfect balance of sunlight and shade.
Just always remember that indoor succulents need at least six hours of full sun. When you find this perfect location in your space, you may use hanging planters for varieties with trails and small pots for those without trails.
#3. How to Plant
As have been said, the first thing to consider is what indoor succulent to grow because they different sunlight
requirements. As soon as you identify the indoor succulent you want, you may proceed with the following steps.
1. Check the maintenance requirements of the indoor succulent you chose. By this, we are referring to sunlight, water and soil requirements. There are indoor succulents which need the maximum six hours full sunlight while others do not. Some does not need water every day and some will require full water twice a week.
2. Choose your container. The first process is also important because it will help you with the second one. Now that you know the type of indoor succulent you have, you are now also well-versed if it will grow trailers or not. Through this, you may buy either a hanging planter or just small pots.
3. Provide good drainage for the pot. Choose your potting mix well. Some need gravel and humus mix which is called the coarse drainage potting while others need clay-humus. The trick here is that there should be good drainage where the excess water can flow and not compact enough for good aeration. In between, give time for the potting mix to dry.
4. Fertilize your indoor succulents once a year. Fertilizers for indoor succulents are best used during spring and late summer. There is a specific fertilizer to be used here though; it should be an all-purpose, water soluble fertilizer or the ones we fondly known as 8-8-8 or 10-10-10. Fertilize
How To Care for Succulents
#1. Soil
This is something that you cannot gamble. For sure potting mixes, you can buy a ready-made cactus potting mix. It is perfect because it already has the balance of sand or perlite added with extra pumice so that the soil will not absorb too much water.
#2. Light and Temperature
According to Succulents and Sunshine, indoor succulents need at least one hour of full sunlight per day. This is the reason why they are put near windows where there is a balance of sunlight and shade.
At the very least, indoor succulents must at a room temperature of 35-40 degrees Fahrenheit (this is called the nighttime temperature) while tropical indoor succulents like euphorbias and lithops can endure 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit. When using artificial light, you must also achieve these mentioned temperatures depending on the kind of indoor succulent you will plant.
#3. Water and Humidity
For humidity, indoor succulents need relatively low humidity which when converted numerically would mean that indoor succulents need at least 10-30% humidity. As for water, there is no need for constant watering but it needs to be drained or to be dried completely before you start watering them again.
#4. Propagation
Generally, succulents are really easy to propagate. You can propagate succulents using the following methods:
- Beheading by gently twisting off the leaves without tearing the stem.
- Stem cuttings
- Root Growing
- Planting
- Pruning
Like all other succulents, indoor succulents have specific pruning seasons but generally, this activity is done in early spring. Tropical indoor succulents are pruned year-round because of active growth and flowering indoor succulents are pruned in the winter.
Problems
#1. Growing Problems and Diseases
The most common growing problems and diseases of indoor succulents would be viral and fungal disease and overwatering. Viral and fungal disease happens when humidity levels become extreme.
Viral and fungal diseases are evident when rots and black spots start appearing in the succulent. This could also be manifested in unusual shrivels in plants. Another common problem is overwatering.
Overwatering can be a domino effect to a lot of deficiency-related problems like decrease in the alkalinity of the soil, excessive nitrogen and loss of potassium.
#2. Pests
Pests can also be the reason as to why fungal and viral diseases occur. Some of the most common pests attacking indoor succulents are scale insects, the red spider mite, mealy bugs and rodents.
Frequently Asked Questions
#1. Can indoor succulents improve air quality in the home?
The answer is yes. This is exactly the reason why indoor succulents became a trend in indoor greenery because aside from absorbing the toxins at home and converting them to oxygen, the cleaner air they offer also improves mood, productivity, memory and concentration.
#2. How long exactly can succulents thrive without water?
Again, this depends on the temperature of the place they are planted. For dry places with low humidity, they need to be watered every five days. If you live in a place with good humidity, once every two weeks could suffice.
