With their increasing popularity and growing dominance in the home décor spectrum, many people are still unaware of these amazing plants called Succulents. Thick leaved and available in a rainbow of colours, Succulents are the perfect plant for almost everyone. Whether you are a new plant parent, a serial plant killer or the ultimate leafy patron, there is a succulent for everyone.
Before we get deeper in the topic of these amazing varieties, let’s understand what exactly these plants are.
WHAT IS A SUCCULENT?
Succulents are a group of plants that store water in their leaves. Their thick fleshy leaves hold enough moisture for the plants to become naturally drought tolerant. Give them a dry soil and an even drier climate, and they will be the happiest. From the common household Aloe Vera plant to the ever pretty Moon Cactus, Succulents have a wide range of species with various features. Not only are these plants easy to maintain, but due to their small sizes, they are often a go-to decor option for Miniature Gardens, Corner spaces and Table-top companions.
HOW TO CARE FOR SUCCULENTS?
Sunlight
Most succulents prefer warmer temperatures. Growing natively in arid regions, their tolerance to soaring heat is much more than their endurance for the lower temperature readings.
Some varieties of succulents ‘Blush’ or change colours with an environment shock, like more sunlight exposure than they are usually kept in. The ones that lack proper sunlight, fade out and turn a pale green, while the ones that blush turn popping shades of Red, Orange, Pink and even Black.
Watering
Like most plants, Succulents also need deep watering for healthy growth and blooms. The only difference lies in the frequency of that watering. Succulents can tolerate extended periods of drought since their leaves contain water. So watering them once every 10-15 days is more than enough. If the plant’s root sit in moisture for too long - the plant rots and dies.
Propagation
Succulents are THE easiest plants to propagate. No, seriously! Succulents can be very easily propagated from their leaves, seeds or even their bare stems. Make sure to take the portion for propagation, put it on a well-draining potting mix, water sparsely and let it soak up on bright indirect sunlight and in a few weeks the parts will start growing new plants!
Okay, now that you know how to care for a succulent, your curiosity might be getting the best of you. Moving ahead to the second step of falling in love with succulents is potting one! Here’s how to pot a succulent!
HOW TO POT A SUCCULENT
Things you will need:
- A shallow pot with a drainage hole
- Well-draining potting mix - mix of 35% soil, 35% coco peat/coco coir and 30% pumice.
- Hand shovel
- Decorative pebbles for upper surface layering
- Succulents
Step 1: Clean the pot and check the drainage hole. If the hole is bigger than 2cm, put a rock on top of the hole to avoid soil leakage.
Step 2: Fill the pot upto 50% with the soil mix. Make a hole in the middle a couple centimetres deep with your fingers, to put in your succulent.
Step 3: Take your succulent and pot it exactly in the middle and gently (very gently) press down the plant to fix it.
Step 4: Fill the remaining pot with the soil mix, leaving 0.5 inches gap from the top of the pot.
Step 5: Water the plant deeply (till the excess water drains out of the drainage hole) once every 10-15 days and keep it at a super bright location.
Let's check out some of the most common Succulent plants you can keep at your home!
Popular Succulent Varieties
Some of the most commonly available & popular Succulent varieties are:
1. Hens and Chick (Sempervivum tectorum)
2. Jade Plant (Crassula Ovata)
3. Zebra Haworthia (Haworthia attenuata)
4. Stone Crop (Sedum)
5. Glasswort (Salicornia)
6. Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis Miller)
7. Agave (Agave americana)
Did you know? The source plant for Tequila is the Agave tequilana plant.
Now that you have a hang of succulents and their care maintenance, time to go for some succulent hunting. And with their easy propagation, you might want to be a little careful on going overboard and grow yourself a jungle! After all, who isn't a sucker for these amazing plants, right!
