Besides their adorable appearance, succulents have been called the plants that are perfect for those that have less than stellar reputations for keeping greenery alive. As a plant novice with a toddler that was eager to test out her green thumb, I thought a succulent would be perfect. She picked it out and we named it Phillip. And Phillip lasted only a few weeks. So, a year has passed since our last succulent, and since then, she continues to notice and comment on how much she loves succulents. {Who doesn’t … they’re so neat!} In order to ramp up for this next succulent purchase, I did some research, asked a few friends and talked to a nursery for tips on how to keep succulents alive, specifically indoors. I think I got it this time. Here’s to a couple of healthy succulents!!
1. Get the right kind of soil. This was a mistake I had with my first succulents. I wasn’t using proper soil. This time, I bought Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm and Citrus Potting Mix. So, hopefully we’re starting off on the right foot this time.
2. Make sure they have enough space and are potted in a planter that can drain. Since they will be inside and will have limited sunlight, they need to absorb as much light as possible. The easiest way is to give each plant appropriate personal space by putting one plant to a planter. This way, sun can reach more surface area. Make sure the planter has a whole in the bottom in order to drain out excess water.
3. Sunlight is key. This is a big one. Since we are keeping our succulents inside, we needed to find a space that gives them as much sunlight as possible (4-8 hours a day) – but not too much direct, midday sun. This could cause the leaves to burn. So … healthy balance. We are placing them in a southeast area of the house with a good amount of sunlight – at least I think! We will see.
4. Go light on the water. I think this was my second issue with previous succulents. I was over-watering. Succulents do not need a lot of water. Make sure the soil is lightly damp about an inch deep into the planter. It should be somewhat dry and could be watered maybe once a week, but it’s okay to let it go longer. It was suggested to me that you may want to water less if unsure. {This is tough for me, guys! I think they are thirsty!}
5. Consider going green. I was told the colorful succulents do better outside and green guys fare much better indoors. If you’re going to keep these sweeties behind the window, go with green. Or be a rebel and see if you can get that purple one to prosper. I’m in favor of it. Let me know how it goes and share your tips!
I find myself chuckling at the end of this because all of us previous succulent killers were told that we could keep these babies alive for the very reason that they are low maintenance. I suppose they are, but first we need to get the plants acclimated to new surroundings. And that my friends, is anything but low maintenance … at least in my book. But they sure are cute. And now I can just enjoy looking at them. And not water them right now … Happy planting, friends!
