How to Grow a Succulent Plant Indoor

How to Grow a Succulent Plant Indoor

In modern times, where everyone prefers personal space, the monotony of routine can lead to a change in social human behavior, causing a void in their lives. one such way to remove boredom is to get oneself a pet or engage in activities like gardening.

However, it is not necessary to have a huge lawn or even a balcony to make a personal garden. You can have plants indoor that require minimal care or attention. yes, you read that right, succulent plant, also known as house plants or indoor plants are the best way to keep oneself at peace. Keep reading to know more about how you can indulge yourself in some living decors.

What is a succulent?

Succulent plants, also known as succulents are the type of plants that grow in the arid atmosphere and soil conditions. These plants specifically have thick leaves or stem with sap in them to retain water, thus aptly justifying the name succulent where the word ‘sucus’ in Latin means sap or juice.

The sap acts like a balloon that stores water and thus making the plant go on without water for days. This category of plants has lesser or no leaves and thus stem acts as the main organ for carrying out photosynthesis in most species.

Another interesting feature of these plants is that these are mostly shaped or grow in such a way that they can trap moisture and create a humid or moist environment for their survival. one easy way to identify succulents is to look out for the texture of the plant on the outside.

You will find that these plants either have a waxy, pricky or hairy texture and leaves or stems are visibly thick. some of the most common succulents are aloe vera, cacti, love plant and almost everyone’s favorite money plant, also known as the jade plant.

How to take care of these plants

Now, getting on to the real deal, that is how to grow these succulents indoor. well, this not much of rocket science but an easy peasy lemon squeezy task. These plants require very little care but that doesn’t mean zero attention! For beginners, they can start by buying a readymade potting mix available and keeping them indoors where there is adequate and not too much sun for the plant.

They do not require everyday watering, however, one thing that needs to be ensured is that you place it in a pot that has a water drainage hole. This is very important for the plant because if the water is not drained from the soil and it becomes soggy then there is a high possibility of the plant dying due to overwatering.

These plants are good for some living decors in your home, and they bring a feeling of positivity and brightness thus making you feel better. you can also talk to them just like you would talk to a pet.

According to an old grandma’s tale about talking to plants, that is a little teatime chitty chat with the plant, helps them grow and trust me it never goes wrong. Because that way you pay attention to the plant and can understand what it is trying to tell by looking at the texture of the plant.

Succulents for beginners

A quick check to understand if your plant is healthy is to look for the leaves if the leaves seem to be wrinkly, then it indicates that you have been underwatering the plant. Also, if the leave seems to be squishy in touch or looks discolored then it implies that you have overwatered your plant. This leads to the bursting of the sap that holds water and has caused damage to the plant cells.

Both situations can be handled with very fewer efforts. in case of under watering, simply water the plant a little by check the soil with your finger, and the soil should feel moist but not wet or sticky. However, in the latter case, you can cut off the damaged part or leaf and prevent the complete plant from getting damaged.

Another aspect of taking care of your succulent plants is to keep them clean and free from dust and pests. Keeping them indoors or in your balcony may cause dust to settle on the plants, and sometimes even invite bugs. always keep looking for keeping your plant free of dust or foreign particles. you can gently clean them with a soft wet cloth, or a paper towel. In case of bugs, separate the infected plant from all other plants and spray some rubbing alcohol.

The possible reason for plants to catch the bug is mostly due to the overwatering and wet soil. after you have cleaned your plant with rubbing alcohol, place them in a sunny spot for a while, this will help get rid of bugs and also dry out the soil making a favorable environment for its healthy growth. 

By now if you have made up your mind to get a succulent or whether you already have one, here are some FAQs for your reference.

How often should you water your succulent?

There is no particular one-time interval for all categories of succulent, however, what works well with most of them is to water them every two days. Before you water them, make sure the soil is dry and pour just a little water in the pot. The aim is to moisten the soil again and not make it wet or soggy. Alternatively, you can also keep your pot in a tray filled with water for some time and the soil will suck up some through drainage holes and later you can remove the tray.

Most people also look for watering with spray cans, this could not work very well for some plants as the soil would not retain much water and may cause a water deficit in the plant. You can understand it by the fact that your plant’s stems and leaves are dry or becoming thin and they feel crisp like paper. You will also notice that if your plant is not properly watered it will get rid extra parts such as thorns or shedding leaves or flowers.

 

Do succulents need direct sunlight?

There is no harm in exposing your succulents to direct sunlight, as these are plants that can grow in drought as well. Considering them house plants or indoor plants, these are usually supposed to be kept near a window or in the balcony or a place where they get adequate sunlight. A three hour of sunlight is sufficient for a healthy plant to grow. however, if you live in a deserted area where there are harsh sunlight and sand, you should consider keeping your plants in filtered sunlight.

Sometimes, you might notice your plant leaning towards the direction of the sun, and this is the indication that they need a brighter spot. Do not forget to rotate your plant often, if one side of the plant is continuously exposed to sun, it might suffer sunburn. The obvious sign of burns are brown or yellowing of leaves, marks of burns and, crisp dried out leaves.

 

How long can succulent plants go without water?

If you are always worried about plants while going out on a vacation, then in case of succulents, maintaining them is hassle-free. Yes, succulents can go for as long as 15 to 30 days without water. As mentioned earlier, these are arid atmosphere plants and have capability store water and can go on without water even in the temperature as high as 50-degree celsius.

However, it is advised to move your plant to a less sunny place, if you are not going to water is for a long time. the plant will survive with the help of the dew and mist in the morning and the lesser sun will prevent burning of the plant in case of inadequate water.

 

Do succulents need to be crowded?

The best way to answer this question is to imagine yourself in a room full of people with limited food resources. You would feel crowded and competitive, the same goes for your plants as well. Most of the plants including succulents do not like to be crowded. As most of their nutrient requirement is same and planted close-packed causes a restrictive growth of the plants. It is better to plant them separated with adequate space.

Also, these plants can trap moisture within them, planting them together can cause excessive moisture amongst them and making a favorable environment for moss and fungus, thereby damaging the plant. thus the best way to plant them is to put them in a less crowded place with proper air passage that dries out the excess moisture and allows the sunlight to reach it.

Additionally, soil also plays an important factor in the growth of succulent plants. always choose a soil that quickly drains and doesn’t retain much water. some succulents can also be planted in gravels.

Yes, gravels are good to drain water and retain moisture making a perfect environment for soil. You can also add some sand layer below the soil layer and plant your succulent. Finally, top them off with some gravel, and voila, you have beautifully planted healthy succulent for yourself.

Now that you have a complete idea of these plants, we hope you would never fail to grow these beauties at your home. 

Nicolas Desjardins

Main cooker and writer of the Fominy website. I build websites and blogs for more than 15 years and it's always a pleasure to share articles and recipes with our visitors.

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