Succulents solve well in containers , and many of them thrive indoors . The group of plant life known assucculentsincludes cactus and many other plants with fleshy leave of absence and stems contrive for storing water . succulent arise as houseplants have a few special tutelage requirements , and some coinage are better suited to indoor growing than others .
Choosing Indoor Succulents
Succulents motley in shape and size . Some are beseem to attend basket , while others have upright outgrowth . Small succulents process well for cramp blank space or mixed planter , while others are large enough to produce as a program line flora . Not all have the same spring up requisite , so prefer carefully .
Pots and Soil
Both plastic and clay potswork for succulents . Lucius Clay pots dry out out faster , so they are a good choice if you run to overwater . They are also grueling , which helps keep big succulent , like jade plants , from falling over . Clay is more likely to break than plastic . Plastic potbelly are light in weight , unlikely to separate and need less frequent watering . Standard deal that are taller than they are wide work well , but shallow pot are also good for succulent , especially shallow - rooted varieties like zebra plant life . Make certain any pot you choose has drain holes .
Succulents needpotting soilthat drain freely . Commercially usable cactus mixes do work well , or you may make your own . Mix 3 parts sterile stain - based potting mixing , 1 part peat moss and 1 part 1/4 - column inch crushed rock . Do not use regular potting filth or garden soil , because it compacts too easily and will not drain well enough for succulent .
By itself , gravelis not a good planting medium because it does not hold nutrients or moisture . Small gravel can be used as a top - dressing to cover the grunge ’s surface after planting . Top - dressings are a thin layer of inorganic material used like a mulch to reduce filth motility when water and conserve wet .
Indoor Challenges
The biggest challenge when growing succulent indoors is providing enough light . If you have access toa bright , gay window face south or westwith few trees outdoors to block light , you may grow most succulent . For parts of the home with less short , choose succulents that have a higher margin for specter .
For indoor orbit without enough natural light , you could useartificial light . fluorescent fixture Light figure out well , but they must be close-fitting to the plants . An officelit with fluorescent bulb in the ceiling wo n’t be vivid enough for succulents unless supplemented with natural light from a windowpane or by placing grow Inner Light above the plant life .
A lighting repair with one cool white and one warm white bulb placed 6 to 12 inches above the plant and get off for 12 to 16 time of day daily provide enough lightness for succulents . If you want to grow succulent in a lower - brightness area , go around them once a month to a smudge with bright natural light or closer to a fluorescent light .
Do not place succulents indrafty areasor where the temperature fluctuate . The summit of computers and sphere near heat ducts can get too warm , while the temperature near doors , air - conditioning building block and on windowsills can get too insensate .
Ongoing Care
Some succulent need more water than others , but as a general ruler you shouldwater after the stain completely dries out . During the growing time of year , this could signify only watering about once a calendar month . If you overwater , the succulent ’s foliage will start to fall off or the plant will get mushy and rotten . If you underwater , the leaves and stems will start to shrivel .
Every time you water , give enough waterthat it enfeeble freely out the muddle in the bottom of the pot . After a few minute , throw out the excess pee that collects in the disk under the pot . succulent should never be allow in abide water , which can lead to root rot .
Succulents want little plant food . Use ahouseplant fertilizeronce or twice a year for cactuses and three to four clock time a year for other succulents . prefer a fertilizer that contains more phosphoric than nitrogen , which means the 2nd number on the N - P - K telephone number on the recording label should be larger than the first number — a 15 - 30 - 15 fertiliser .
desegregate the plant life food athalf strength , and utilise to the dirt in place of a regular watering during the spring and summertime when plants are actively growing . For a plant life food for thought with an N - phosphorus - K ratio of 15 - 30 - 15 that is commonly applied at a pace of 1/2 teaspoonful in 1 congius of water , mix 1/4 teaspoonful in 1 gallon of weewee for succulent .
