Low-maintenance, attractive, and fun to collect, succulents have quickly become some of the most popular houseplants. Affordable and easy to care for, it’s simple to decorate every room of your house and your office with succulents. If you’re interested in starting your own succulent collection, learn all about taking care of your new plants with this quick guide from experts at Busch’s Florist in Jefferson City.
How Succulents Differ from Other Plants
The most obvious difference between succulents and other plants are their leaves or spines. While other plants have thin, papery leaves, succulents sprout thick, rubbery appendages. These strange leaves store water very efficiently, helping succulents thrive in places where water is hard to come by. In nature, succulents can be found growing all over the world. They tend to sprout in arid locations, like deserts, and they also grow from the bark of rainforest trees.
Why It’s Great to Grow Indoor Succulents
When grown indoors, all types of succulents can thrive. Like other living plants, they impart a variety of benefits, such as creating a calm atmosphere that improves focus. They’re also wonderful for combating indoor air pollution and creating high-quality indoor air. Through a pumping action, succulent roots actually draw air down toward the roots. They draw toxins, like VOCs, into the soil and turn these impurities into nutrients, while also filtering the air. In addition, succulents emit oxygen back into the air indoors.
Some of the Most Popular Succulents
Since they grow naturally in several places around the world, succulents are very diverse, and there are a seemingly endless variety in existence. This is one of the reasons why they’re so much fun to collect. It’s hard to narrow down the best succulents, but the following are some of the most popular to use in arrangements and succulent gardens.
Green Sedum
Sedums
Sedum is a type of succulent plant that comes in many varieties. Some sedums grow into long, rope-like structures, while others stay close to the ground in rosettes. They’re primarily used for ground cover because they tend to spread and grow more quickly than other succulent varieties. While some sedums, like the jelly bean plant, grow tall, others spread wide.
Succulents – Echeveria
Echeveria
Echeveria is another variety of succulents that includes several different types of plants. Echeveria succulents range in color from a ghostly pale green to a deep, almost-black red. They grow in starburst-like shapes and have differently shaped leaf segments that range from round to pointed and stick-like to tubular. Some echeveria’s have flat, smooth leaves, while others have a more crinkled appearance.
Aeonium Succulent
Aeonium
Aeonium succulents also come in different varieties. With striped leaves sprouting in a rosette pattern, aeoniums achieve a striking beauty. They often feature a combination of bright yellow and green or deep fuchsia and green leaves.
How to Grow Healthy Indoor Succulents
Succulents basically thrive on neglect. Their basic needs include a pot that drains easily, soil formulated for cacti or succulents, and plenty of sunshine. They rarely need pruning or re-potting, and they should be watered infrequently. Give them a splash of water about once every two weeks to a month during the winter and a little more frequently during the warmer months. Always be sure to allow the soil to dry completely before watering again.
If a succulent’s leaves start to turn brown or yellow, this is a sign of distress. Typically, succulents suffer due to over-watering, but under-watering can sometimes be the problem, too. Check the soil to determine what’s going on and feel free to contact an expert at Busch’s Florist for additional help.
