How to take care of Succulents Indoors

Succulents are some of the best plants to decorate your house and garden with. These hardy, low-maintenance and drought-resistant plants come in every shape and size you can imagine! They easily adapt to their surroundings and are virtually impossible to kill — the ideal plants for novice gardeners or plant parents who are often away from home. The good news for those living in an apartment or small house without a big garden is that succulents can also live indoors quite happily as long as they are exposed to enough sun and light during the day.

Need a few plant care tips to keep your succulents happy in your home? Here is our best advice for taking care of succulents indoors in Australia.

Choose low-light succulents

Succulents love direct sunlight and warm, dry conditions. However, some succulents are more tolerant to low-light conditions than others, which means they are better suited for the indoors. Aloe vera, mother-in-law’s tongue, the zebra cactus and trailing plants such as donkey’s tail and string of bananas are good options for indoor succulents. On the other hand, succulents with bright colours are generally better adjusted for outdoor conditions. Make sure that your succulents receive as much sun as possible every day and remember to rotate the pots every couple of days. A windowsill or surface near a south or east-facing window will be the perfect hangout spot for your succulent collection!

Don’t overwater

Succulents are pretty easy to take care of since they don’t require a great deal of maintenance or attention. Most succulents can go without water for weeks at a time and even longer during colder months. Outdoor succulents are naturally exposed to water through rain and dew, but inside the house, your succulents rely on you to get their watering needs right. One method for taking care of your indoor succulents’ watering requirements is to soak the soil and then let it dry out completely before repeating. Water directly onto the soil and avoid any moisture buildup on top of the leaves since that may lead to rot. Watering needs will differ for each succulent and during different seasons, so keep an eye on your indoor garden to determine the most beneficial watering schedule.

Use pots with draining holes

Overwatering or letting your succulents sit in water for too long can lead to root rot and stunted growth. Ensure the water easily drains from the soil by planting your indoor succulents in pots with draining holes and placing them on a saucer to collect any excess water. Draining holes will also help to maintain proper airflow to support healthy growth year-round!

Use well-draining soil

Since succulents have different water and light requirements than most other indoor plants, they also need a special kind of potting mix to keep their roots happy and healthy. On top of planting your succulents in pots with draining holes, it’s important to choose the right soil. Replicate desert conditions by using a coarse succulent potting mix that allows proper drainage and airflow to give your succulents the best chance at thriving indoors.

Fertilise sparingly

As a rule of thumb, succulents don’t really need fertiliser. Since these plants typically grow pretty slowly, it may seem as though they need help, but more often than not, your succulent garden will do just fine on its own. If you want to give your succulents a growing boost, use a diluted water-soluble fertiliser and only during their growing season in spring. Succulents take a breather during the colder months, so feeding them fertiliser during winter and autumn won’t have much effect.

Provide enough room to grow

Make sure your indoor succulents have sufficient room to grow. For best results, avoid clustering succulents together in a terrarium as this planting arrangement can make it difficult for water to drain properly and roots to develop on their own. Although terrariums are a fun and creative way to present succulents, this is not necessarily the healthiest method and can cause root rot, mould and other diseases. Furthermore, monitor your succulents’ growth to determine when to repot them in bigger pots. As with most indoor plants, early spring is the best time for repotting and providing them with fresh new potting soil.

Spring Colours is a plant nursery located in Sydney’s Dural neighbourhood. With over 30 years of experience in garden landscaping and delivering high-quality plants to plant lovers at great prices, we are committed to making the world a greener place and adding new life to your home and garden.

Contact us to find out about our wholesale service delivery or visit our Nursery in Dural to browse our collection of plants!