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Succulents are a group of plants that are adapted to store water in their tissues. These plants are native to arid areas and deserts, so growing them is very easy due to these adaptations. They only require the right amount of light, water, and well-drained soils.
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This post will inform you of some easy-to-grow succulents that beginners can grow. Read on and find out what they are and which succulent plants make a perfect choice for your home.
Haworthia Zebra
Haworthia gains the name zebra from the white coloring on the plant leaves. It is one of the easiest to grow succulents since it can grow in different conditions.
This plant can grow in low light conditions, and its roots can take up more moisture than the rest. For this reason, it makes a perfect choice for growing indoors.
If you are growing haworthia zebra, you need to limit the exposure to light to six hours, too much exposure can affect the sensitive leaves by making them dry up on the tips.
You also need to water the plant right, as too much water can lead to root rot, and too little will cause the leaves to drop. You need to water the plant when the soil is parched.
As you water, pour water until it drips through the draining holes at the bottom of the container. Also, pour out the water that remains sitting in the container. Don’t forget to protect the plant from frost and freezing.
One advantage of growing this plant in your house is that it is not toxic for pets and children. It is also resistant to pests and requires the least attention.
Some haworthia varieties include Haworthia transients, Haworthia truncate, and Haworthia chocolate.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is one of the most grown succulents. In addition to being easy to care for, aloe is used for medicinal purposes such as skin treatment, stomach problems, and minor burns. There are different species of aloe with varied textures and leaf patterns.
You can grow smaller plant species in a group, making a beautiful display, with most varieties growing up to a maximum height of 3feet.
When growing succulents, do so in well-drained soils with proper drainage systems. Too much water can kill the plant.
The plant also requires full daylight sun, so you need to place the plant at locations with sufficient access to light.
Letting the soil dry out completely before watering the plant would be best. Water the soil until it is drained from the bottom, and pour out any water stagnating in the container.
If you wish, you can add fertilizers; use high-phosphorous fertilizers once a year.
You can grow different varieties, including aloe white lightning, aloe juvenile, lace aloe, flow aloe, climbing aloe, and aloe vera.
Echeveria
The echeveria is very easy to care for succulents. It requires minimum attention and can grow in plant pots and gardens.
The plant’s thick succulent leaves form rosettes around the stem. It grows to a height of 30cm or 12 inches.
Like other succulents, you should allow the soil to dry out completely before watering. If you overwater the plant, you will notice the plant develops root rot and soft rots on the leaves.
To plant echeveria, you only need to cut a leaf and place it on the soil surface. After a few weeks, the leaf will develop some roots in the soil and sprout a new rosette of leaves. Then the mother leaf will crumble and dry off.
It would help if you always planted succulents in well-drained soils to prevent problems with water retention, which cause them to rot. Echeveria grows well when exposed to sufficient sunlight; however, they do well in cold and hot weather.
Some of the varieties you can grow of the echeveria include princess blue, echeveria colorata, Echeveria Elegans, and black prince.
Cactus
Cactus is one of the most common desert plants and is quite easy to grow. It is also less resistant to pests and diseases. The plant grows thorns that do not make it appropriate indoors, especially with children.
All in all, you can grow cacti indoors and outdoors as they make beautiful displays. Cactus is also non-toxic, and your only concern could be the thorns.
The plant requires maximum exposure to sunlight, and just like other succulents, you need to plant it in well-drained soils and water when the soil is parched. Also important is to avoid letting the plant sit in a pool of water.
You can plant many varieties of cacti, such as Moon Cactus, Christmas Cactus, Easter Cactus, Star Cactus, Old Lady Cactus, Saguaro Cactus, Chin Cactus, and Bunny Ears Cactus, among others.
Sempervivum
Different varieties of sempervivum are easy to grow, even for beginners. These plants are also non-poisonous; you don’t need to worry about your pet or child ingesting them.
Another advantage of growing the sempervivum is that they can stand extreme temperatures and survive freezing winters of 15°F / -26° C and hot summers. You can grow the plant outdoors in partial shade and indoors in containers.
The plant is commonly referred to as hen and chick due to its structure. Its leaves form clusters of rosettes joined by short stems. It develops many offsets which you can use to propagate wherever you want.
This plant requires minimum attention and grows freely on neglect; you can grow it anywhere.
There are different varieties of the sempervivum, including Sempervivum ‘Pippin’, Sempervivum Marmoleum ‘Brunneifolium,’ Sempervivum ‘ Engle,’ and Sempervivum arachnoideum ‘Cobweb houseleek.’
Agave
Agave has large leaves with a sharp tips. The size of the plant depends on the variety. Large varieties grow up to ten feet, and small varieties can grow in a dish. Some varieties are hardy while others are soft.
Agave takes several years to mature. And upon maturity, the plant develops a long stalk bearing a flower. Once the plant seeds mature, the plant dies off.
As you grow this plant, keep in mind that the plant sap is toxic to humans and animals.
The plant grows in sandy, or well-drained soils, requires full sun exposure and can also grow in partial shade. Some easy-to-grow agave varieties include: Agave victoria-reginae, Agave Tequilana Azul, Agave parviflora, and Agave attenuate.
Crassula
The crassula is one of the easiest plants to grow. There are different varieties of the crassula, including the popular jade plant, Crassula rupestris, Moon Glow Crassula, Crassula perforata (Necklace Plant), and Crassula muscosa.
The plant is grown through the propagation of its offsets and leaf cuttings.
It also requires less frequent watering, especially when the plant goes dormant in the summer. You should be cautious against overwatering the plant as it could lead to root rot.
People love the crassula due to its resilience and ease of growth. The plant hardly dies, even when neglected.
You can grow the plant in partial shade. And if growing indoors, you need to give it access to the morning sun and shade in the afternoons.
When grown indoors, the plant is prone to attack by pests such as aphids, spider mites, and mealybugs..
Snake plant
It is also known as Mother-in-Law’s Tongue” or Sansevieria. It is also one of the easy-to-grow plants. However, it requires little moisture, and overwatering can lead to root rot.
You can grow the plant in direct light, partial shade, and also in shady corners of your house.
Unlike most succulents, the snake plant is a fast grower, and you can divide it, taking out portions with leaves and roots and propagating them into new plants.
There are different snake plant varieties, including Whale Fin, Starfish Snake Plant, Cylindrical Snake Plant, Golden Hahnii, Bird’s Nest, and Bantel’s Sensation.
Kalanchoe
The Kalanchoe is a beautiful flowering plant that can be grown indoors and outdoors. With proper care, the pant can provide months of colorful blossoms.
You should grow the plant in an area with plenty of light and well-drained soils.
Avoid over watering the plants and only water when the soil is parched without wetting the leaves. Get rid of dried or wilting leaves to allow room for new growth.
Faucaria
This plant is commonly known as tiger jaws. It borrows the name from its sharp spikes resembling the jaws of a tiger. The plant is appropriate for growing in a pot indoors or outdoors and has spectacular leaves.
Its succulent leaves grow in star-shaped rosettes and grow best in sunny, dry environments. However, it can survive cold winters.
Gasteria
The plant grows best in bright light without exposure to the harsh sun. Like other succulents, you should avoid overwatering the plant and provide just enough water to keep the soil moist when the soil is parched. The soils should be well-drained also for the plant to thrive.
When growing gasteria outdoors, it is best to provide the afternoon shade or partly shady areas. The plant can take hot summers with a sufficient circulation of air.
Sedum
There are two varieties of sedum, clumping and creeping. It requires sunny weather and well-drained soil to blossom, producing beautiful pink burgundy flowers. You can grow the creeping variety in a rock garden.
The creeping variety can grow well in shades. However, the clumping plants require full sun to blossom and grow to a height of up to three feet.
Sedum donkey’s tail
It is also known as Burro’s tail, and the plant is spectacular. The plant is native to Mexico and is loved for its appearance alongside its tolerance to different conditions.
You can plant it in different soils, indoors or outdoors, and you don’t need to worry about pest attacks.
It is also home-friendly because it is non-toxic.
Adromischus
This is another easy-to-grow succulent that is well tolerant to cold. You, however, must avoid watering the plant in the winter and keep the plant well-sheltered.
Like other succulents, overwatering and water stagnation can lead to root rot.
Aeonium Kiwi
It is also known as Aeonium Kiwi or Kiwi Aeonium. It grows well as a potted plant and adds to the interior décor with its beautiful tri-colored leaves.
It requires well-drained soils and does not appreciate sitting in water. However, you can water it more frequently than most succulents.
The plant goes through a dormant stage where it shades all its leaves when the weather is too hot during the summer.
Conclusion on 15 Easy To Grow Succulents
Most succulents are easy to grow both indoors and outdoors. As we saw in all the 15 easy-to-grow succulents above, they don’t do well when overwatered. These plants add life to your indoors and outdoors and help by refreshing the air around you.
Suppose you want to know what plant is drought tolerant. I wrote an article about it. You can read it here.
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