How to Cultivate Succulents Indoors

by Carolyn Andrews 01/24/2021

Image by Milada Vigerova from Pixabay

Caring for indoor succulents is not as intimidating as it may seem. Even though growing them can be a challenge, there are lots of care tips that could make things easier. Succulents are not the ideal plants to grow indoors but that should not stop you from growing them. With the right care, they can flourish to their full potential. Keep reading to learn about a few ways to care for your indoor succulents.

1. Choose the Right Succulents

Even though succulents are cute, they may not all be appropriate to grow indoors. Go for succulents that can grow well in the absence of full sunlight. Indoor succulents that thrive are suited to shady areas. Avoid brightly colored succulents thrive in direct sun which may be difficult to attain indoors. Some of the best options include Gasteria and Haworthia.

2. Water More but Less Often

Watering is one of the biggest challenges when growing succulents indoors. They require lots of water to grow but you should not water them as often as other indoor plants. They thrive when you use the ‘soak and dry’ method.

3. Pick the Right Container

When repotting your succulents, use a container with a drainage hole. It should be one to two inches bigger than your nursery container. Do not use glass containers as they could cause root rot over time. Go for containers that allow the roots to breathe.

4. Pay Attention to Lighting

Succulents naturally need lots of light, a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight every day. When growing them indoors, place them close to windows in the brightest parts of your home. If you notice that your succulents are stretching, they may require more light. Move them to a brighter area.

5. Fertilize Them

Fertilize your indoor succulents at least once annually. The best time to fertilize them is in the spring. You may fertilize them again towards the end of summer. Since they are dormant in winter, you don’t have to fertilize them during that period.

6. Water Correctly

The correct way to water your succulents is directly into the soil. Use enough water to soak the dirt. Avoid watering succulents with spray bottles as it could cause moldy leaves.

7. Eliminate Bugs

Indoor succulents rarely attract bugs. However, they may be a problem in rare circumstances. Gnats are the most common bugs that may affect succulents especially if the soil is too heavy. One of the simplest ways to fix it is by having a proper drainage system.

Indoor succulents add color and texture to your home. They have minimal requirements and they can improve the energy in any room. Have fun with the process of growing them and do not put too much pressure on yourself. After all, succulent gardening should be a relaxing and fun process

About the Author
Author

Carolyn Andrews

Carolyn Andrews has over 30 years licensed Brokerage experience in both California and Colorado. Born in England, Carolyn moved to California in 1980, then relocated to Denver, Colorado in 1991. Carolyn has also received recognition for Top Sales at RE/MAX Alliance Aurora in 2007-2008 and is a member of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame & Chairman’s Club, as well as a recipient of the ReMax Lifetime Achievement Award. Carolyn has sold over 2000 homes personally in her career. Carolyn has been actively involved in many aspects of the Real Estate business including investment property, luxury homes, mountain resort property, skiin/ski out, REO/default management, loss mitigation, valuations, and disposition. She has been a speaker and panelist at several conferences and has been consulted on many occasions by various organizations in the REO/financial industries for her expertise and served on many boards. She has attended numerous ongoing classes to stay abreast of changes in the ever-evolving Real Estate industry. She is the prior State Director for Colorado for VAREP(Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals). She is a member of 3 boards of Realtors including Metro Denver, Colorado Springs and Summit County mountain areas. She heads up The Andrews Group and is or has been an active member of NAR, CAR,REOMAC, CIPS, CRS, AREAA, NAPW, NAHREP, and is an original member of the ELITEReal Estate network. She was ranked #1 for most homes sold in Denver 2007 by Denver Board of Realtors, #2 for 2008, and #2 for 2009, #5 in 2010 and #4 in 2011 and has been consistently in the top 10 ever since. Carolyn Andrews has been a top rated Endorsed Local Provider for the Dave Ramsey Organization and also a Top Producing agent for 2018 for the Homelight Company.