Succulents have become some of the most sought-after houseplants because they’re on-trend, affordable, and extremely easy to care for. They’re also super fun to collect because they grow in a seemingly endless number of varieties. If you’re thinking about modernizing the look of your St. Clair Shores home or office with succulents, take a minute to look over this quick guide to succulent care from the experts at Mancuso’s Florist.
How Succulents Differ from Other Plants
The primary aspect of succulents that sets them apart from other green plants are their thick, rubbery leaves and stalky stems. These features are adaptations that allow succulents to survive in harsh climates where rainfall is scarce, by expertly storing water inside the plant.
Why Succulents Make Perfect Houseplants
Succulents are fun to look at, and they also help create a calm atmosphere with positive energy that encourages productivity and concentration. In addition, succulents also help create a healthy indoor environment. Succulent roots pump air toward the soil. When harmful toxins, like VOCs, read their roots, they convert the chemicals into nutrients. While eradicating indoor air pollution, succulents also replenish the air by emitting fresh oxygen.
Favorite Succulent Varieties
Echeveria
Echeveria succulents grow in signature rosette or starburst-shaped silhouettes, which make them lovely on their own or potted with other varieties of succulents in a container. They vary in color with hues including shades of pink, red, green, and even black. Plus, their leaf shapes vary between plants, ranging from pointed to round, crinkled to smooth, and tubular to stick-like.
Echeveria
Echeveria Succulents
Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe plants are probably the most cheerful-looking succulents you can find. They have vibrant green, paddle-shaped leaves and bloom with clusters of vibrantly colored small flowers in shades of red, orange, yellow, pink, and white. Properly cared for, kalanchoes will bloom annually starting in the fall and continuing until spring, effectively brightening all the shortest days with their pretty hues.
Orange Kalanchoe
String of Pearls
With one glance at these unusual beauties, you’ll instantly know why they’re called a string of pearls succulents. These plants have long, string-like vines with sporadically sprouting spherical leaves that look just like strings that have been strung with pearls. These succulents are an excellent choice for a pot displayed on a pedestal or a hanging planter because the strings of pearls will flow over the sides of the pot and dangle delicately.
String of Pearls
The Secret to Caring for Indoor Succulents
The main trick to growing healthy succulents inside is that it’s best to forget about them. Succulents are low-maintenance plants that basically thrive on neglect. They don’t like to be watered too frequently, nor do they require pruning.
Plant succulents in a well-draining container with low-nutrient soil that’s specially formulated for cacti and succulents. Place the pot in a warm, sunny location and rotate it occasionally to encourage even growth. As leaves die, remove them promptly to prevent bacterial growth.
Only water succulents when the soil has dried completely. Thoroughly wet the plant’s soil, but never let a succulent sit in standing water.
Yellowing or browning leaves can indicate a stressed plant. Typically, this occurs due to over-watering, but can also indicate a thirsty plant. Consider how frequently you’ve watered the plant, check the soil, and contact Mancuso’s Florist for professional help.