Growing succulents indoors can be a bit tricky. However, with these simple tips you’ll be able to better care for your indoor succulent collection.
As cute as they are, succulents don’t always make the best indoor house plants.
But, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t grow them!
This post will teach you exactly how to grow beautiful, healthy succulents indoors.
Start with the right succulents
Not all succulents are suited for indoor growing. Choosing succulents that don’t like full sun, but prefer shade or low light will make a big difference in the success of your indoor succulent garden.
In general, succulents that have bright colors (such as reds, purples and oranges) don’t do well indoors. They require some direct sun and more light than is generally available indoors.
A great place to start is with succulents that are naturally green. A few great examples include Haworthia and Gasteria varieties like the ones pictured below.
The quick video below will give you an overview of a few of my favorite succulents for growing indoors!
As much light as possible
When succulents are indoors it’s often hard for them to get enough sunlight. Outdoors they generally need about 6 hours of bright, indirect sunlight each day.
However, indoors, you’ll want to place your succulents near a window that gets light all day. If this isn’t an option, place your succulents near the brightest window or brightest area of your home or office.
Learn more by watching this video:
Water more, but less frequently
The biggest problem new succulent growers face with keeping their succulents alive indoors is watering.
It’s a big deal! Succulents need a surprising amount of water to thrive. However, they don’t like to be watered as frequently as most indoor plants.
But, I wouldn’t go so far as to say succulents rarely need water. So… here’s the deal…
Succulents like to have their roots soaked with water but then dry out quickly. Then, watered again after the soil has been dry for a few days.
Lightly spraying succulents with water can help them survive for a period of time, but if you really want to thrive, they need to follow the “soak and dry” method.
Don’t water indoor succulents daily. That’s the quickest way to kill them.
Also know that succulents have a dormant period when don’t need as much water then. Generally this is in the cooler months of the year. Since they aren’t actively growing, they don’t use up as much water.
I get quite a few emails with people who think their succulents are dying because the leaves are wilting and shriveling up. Here is a little secret, just like all plants, eventually the lower leaves of succulents are going to shrivel up and die.
You should only be concerned about dying leaves if the newest or uppermost leaves on your succulent are shriveling. If it’s just the ones near the bottom of the stem (closest to the soil), you don’t have anything to worry about!
