It’s no surprise that succulents, including cacti, are popular. These easy-care houseplants come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes, making them perfect for any home.
All you need is plenty of light and benign neglect to grow healthy and beautiful succulents. Place the plants near an unobstructed south, west or east facing window.
Don’t let a lack of light stop you from enjoying these beautiful plants in your home. Here you will find many attractive options to display your plants while providing the light they need. A single tabletop LED plant light, attractive plant lighting shelves and carts, and furniture light gardens allow you to grow these sun lovers anywhere in your home.
Grow these plants in cacti and succulent pots. These quick-draining mixes help reduce the risk of overwatering, which can lead to root rot. Further reduce this risk by using containers with drainage holes that are only slightly larger than the succulent’s root system. Growing in a container that is too large to retain moisture for longer can result in root rot, drooping and even death of your plants.
Water thoroughly whenever the top inch or two of soil dries out. Some gardeners check the soil moisture at the drain hole to make sure it is dry and the plants need watering. Always pour out the excess water that has accumulated in the saucer.
Avoid pooling water in a rosette of leaves or a cluster of prickly stems, which can lead to crown rot. Use a watering can like the Haws indoor watering can that has a long, narrow spout that allows you to get under the plants and only water the soil.
As the seasons change, make slight adjustments to your watering regime and growing environment. Adapting to changing conditions will keep your plants healthy and looking their best all year round.
Find a cool, sunny, draft-free spot for your cacti and succulents in the fall and winter. Maximize the amount of light the plants receive by moving them to the sunniest, usually south-facing, window in your home. Water thoroughly, but only when the top few inches of soil are dry and only often enough to keep the plants from shriveling. These changes in growing conditions often promote a springtime display of colorful and unique flowers.
Enhance the natural beauty of your succulents by displaying them in unique containers or places around your home. Create a living wall with a 3-tier vertical planter (gardeners.com) or mini magnetic galvanized planter pockets.
Grow a succulent top that you can enjoy all year round. Plant a variety of succulents in a long, narrow planter, such as the Veradek GEO Series Planter boxes. Display it on a table and move it back to a sunny spot between parties if needed. Small containers, such as concrete heart-shaped tabletop planters, allow you to create an attractive garden, even if space is limited.
Whether you’re a busy, seasoned or new gardener, creating a succulent garden can be just what you need to brighten up your home and lift your spirits.
Melinda Myers is the author of more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening and Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition. He hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series and Melinda’s Garden Moment program on TV and radio. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Gardener’s Supply for her expertise to write this article. Her website is www.MelindaMyers.com.