Succulents are beautiful, low maintenance plants that are popular among plant addicts who grow them outdoors and as indoor house plants. Most are indigenous to desert or dryland conditions. They hold water in their fleshy leaves, stems and roots. Overwatering succulent plants is their nemesis. Adequate soil drainage and light are of key importance. These plants are susceptible to root rot when sitting in moist soil too long.

Succulents come in a range of colors and shapes. Succulents don’t require much container space they can easily be placed into a small container or plant several in a wide shallow container or a dish garden. Arrange several plants in their own individual pots.

A typical potting mix for house plants and garden containers contains a good mix of coarse sand, perlite and organic materials. A good potting mix for succulent plants contains two-parts coarse sand or perlite, one-part organic material, and one-part garden soil.

When buying succulents, look for plants that show active growth. Avoid plants that are affected by diseases or pests, growth is spindly, or leaves are pale. Succulents love light, and a bright southern window is best for many. Move plants outdoors in spring after threat of frost injury has passed. In the fall, move plants indoors when temps drop into the low 40’s. In the spring, when moving plants outdoors, allow them to adjust to higher light and moderate temperature changes over several days.

Succulents are slow growing plants…so be patient. Use water-soluble house plant fertilizers such as Miracle-Gro®, Espoma®, or Jacks®. Play on the safe side by feeding plants at half the label rate every 4-6 weeks. Fertilize just once in winter as plants are usually resting during the cooler indoor environ. As plants approach spring, transplant most plants into larger pots.

Many succulent house plants are easily propagated by stem and/or leaf cuttings during the spring and summer months.

Popular Succulents (check U.S. hardiness zone for your area)

Indoor: Jade Plants (Crassula spp.), Aloe Plant (Aloe vera), Snake Plant (Sansevieria), Holiday cacti (Schlumbergii spp.), Hen and Chicks (Sempervivum), Crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii), Stonecrop, Assorted Kalanchoes, Aeonium, Ball Cacti.

Outdoor: Hen and Chicks (Sempervivum), Whale’s Tongue (Agave ovatifolia), Stonecrop (Sedum spurium), Echeveria, Pig’s ear (Cotyledon orbiculata).s