Grow Succulents as Houseplants

With their striking architectural forms and varying shades of green, succulents make a refreshing addition to the indoor garden. Though they possess a reputation of being fussy and hard to care for indoors, they’re actually easy to grow as houseplants.

“Succulents make some of the best houseplants,” says Marianne Hugo, an indoor gardener who creates succulent arrangements and works as a volunteer at The Coastkeeper Garden, which focuses on native and drought tolerant landscapes. “Succulents are tolerant and will grow in just about any home,” she says. “They also make great decorator pieces.”

Hugo thinks that succulents have a reputation of being difficult to grow as houseplants, because many people drown them. “There is only one reason a succulent you’re growing indoors dies and that’s overwatering,” she says, noting that signs of overwatering include a mushy base and squishy foliage, as well as the presence of fungus gnats, which thrive in wet soil.

Related: How to Get Rid of Gnats In Your House

Hugo advises only watering succulents every 2 to 4 weeks when grown indoors and to mist them with a spray bottle rather than directly wetting the soil. Spray until water begins to drip from the leaves.

To have the best of luck growing succulents indoors, also keep the following tips in mind.

Check for water readiness. Prior to misting, make sure a succulent actually needs some moisture. Stick your finger in the soil or use a moisture meter. The latter device should read on the border of the red/dry zone before you water. Your finger should feel dry soil.

Provide adequate lighting. Succulents do require bright light and will falter in dim conditions. The plants need filtered or indirect light. Avoid placing them in a western window, as that can cause scorching to the leaves. Unobstructed southern and eastern windows are ideal. The plants also do well under artificial lighting, especially during the winter months. Opt for full-spectrum lighting which mimics the sun at midday and comes in screw-in bulbs.

Keep things warm. Succulents don’t respond well to cool temperatures. Grow them in a location that is 70-75 degrees, and they will thrive.

Trim succulents occasionally. To keep them looking their best, prune off stems and shoots that have become long and leggy.

Pot up succulents periodically. Though they can do well when root-bound, at some point succulents require repotting. Do this when the water begins to run quickly through the pot and the plant seems to be outgrowing its container.

Plant succulents in a slightly moistened palm and cactus soil mix, which features excellent drainage and is lightweight. This prevents the soil from remaining overly wet and leading to root rot. Mist your cactus when you plant it and then wait a week before misting again.

Though it’s generally best to plant in containers with drainage holes, this isn’t necessary when it comes to indoor succulents, as you won’t be wetting the soil.

Create indoor succulent arrangements. If you’d like to make your own succulent arrangement, Hugo suggests choosing a container that matches your home and complements the succulents themselves. She often brings containers with her when she goes to the nursery or home and garden center so that she chooses just the right succulents.

Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of seven books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com.