Succulents have become some of the most sought-after houseplants available. They’re on-trend, affordable, and really low-maintenance. There are also nearly countless succulent varieties, which makes them super fun to collect. If you’re planning to elevate your office or home interior with a few potted succulents, then take a look at this simple guide to indoor succulent care from the experts at Flowers by Leslie in Portsmouth.
What Makes Succulents So Special?
Most green plants have papery leaves, but succulents sprout thick, rubbery leaves and spines. Succulents tend to grow in arid environments, like deserts, which means they have to be excellent at making the most of moisture. These plants can pull humidity from the air and also store water in their leaves, stems, and roots, which is why they’re so thick and rubbery. Hence the name succulent, which means moist, these plants fill up with water when it rains and conserve the moisture until the next rainfall.
Why Succulents Are Perfect Houseplants
Succulents create calm, positive energy that will enhance any environment. They’re also a healthy choice of decoration because they purify the air. Succulent roots gently pump air toward the soil. When harmful toxins like VOCs reach their roots, they convert the chemicals into nutrients, effectively eradicating the air of indoor pollution. Succulents also replenish the air with fresh oxygen.
Top Succulent Varieties
Aeonium
With leaf segments striped by vibrant colors, aeonium succulents are truly stunning. They grow into starburst-shaped silhouettes and feature leaves in combinations of bright green and yellow or hot fuchsia and green.
Aeonium Succulent
Jade Plants
Jade plants are another popular type of succulent. As the name suggests, their leaves grow in a deep-green hue. With brown stalks, they resemble miniature trees. In a succulent garden, a small jade plant will give the design dimension and height. Fully grown, jade plants can reach up to three feet tall, and they’re beautiful potted on their own. Jades are also surprisingly long-lasting. In fact, they lead such lengthy lives that they’re often passed down to be cared for by subsequent generations of a family.
Jade Plant
Graptoveria
Another starburst or rosette-shaped succulent, graptoveria varieties grow in several surprisingly vibrant hues. For example, the Debbie variety of graptoveria grows in an almost Technicolor shade of violet, while the opalina graptoveria features a ghostly range of hues, similar to that of an opal.
Green Graptoveria z
How to Care for Indoor Succulents
Succulents are super easy to care for, as they do best when they’re simply left alone and admired from afar. They rarely need pruning, but dead leaves should be removed promptly to prevent bacterial growth. Succulents should be potted in low-nutrient soil formulated for cacti or succulents in a container that drains easily. Water succulents only occasionally, when the soil has completely dried out and never let a succulent sit in standing water.
If a succulent’s leaves begin turning yellow or brown, this is a sign of an unhealthy plant. Most often this occurs due to over-watering, but it can also indicate a thirsty plant. Check the plant’s soil and then contact Flowers by Leslie for additional help.
