Well, folks, we’re nearing the end of my indoor plant blog. I know, collective sigh. There are only two more weeks left, so stick with me. I’ve written quite a bit about basic plant care, fun facts and some existential insights about spending time outdoors. This week though we're bringing it back around to a fan favorite - succulents.
Succulents are any plant with fleshy leaves that are specifically adapted to conserve water. Jade plants, aloe vera, panda plants, snake plant, dudleya some succulent types people are familiar with. Some are fuzzy even! (Panda plants and plush plants)
I’ve noticed that these two types of plants are central to the growing trend of green Instagram-perfect urban spaces. They’ve long been a favorite indoor plant because they’re low maintenance, come in a plethora of sizes, shapes and colors, and they attract fewer pests than some other plants. With that being said, they can be tricky to take care. Well, not really. But their low-care needs can ironically enough be their ultimate downfall.
Whenever people ask me what could be wrong with their plant, it almost always stems from over-watering. We love our plants, and so we water, water, water. Then the plants might start to droop, or it’s leaves will wilt to yellow, which only further entices more watering. It’s a trap! Don’t do it! Succulents especially don’t need to be heavily watered. You need to water them once a week, at best. That’s my first tip. And it must be followed. If the leaves of your succulent start to drop off, it’s a sign that your succulent is getting too much drip. So roll back the love and let them enjoy some aired out time.
There is a vast variety of this type of plant, though there are some interesting facts that pertain to all succulents. Let’s take a look at a few.
1. The Name Originates from Latin
The word succulent originates from the Latin word sucus, which means sap. The “sap” in the leaves of succulents is what helps the plant thrive with little water or fertilizer. The sap-filled leaves provide the plant with nourishment that isn’t as prevalent in their natural environments, and their leaves allow them to hold and retain water more effectively than plants with thinner leaves.
2. Don’t Bug Me!
Most succulents are more pest resistant than other indoor plants. The sap on succulents tastes nasty and is toxic for most pests.
3. Scrumptious Succulents
Some succulents are edible — not many. But pineapples fit the description of succulents, actually, so that is an instance where the fruit produced would be edible. Some cacti are edible and can be found in the produce section of most grocery stores. Generally, though I wouldn’t suggest making a succulent salad.
4. One Big Happy Family - Not!
There are 60 different families of succulents. There are actually approximately 10,000 plant varieties you can grow! There’s so many out there ranging from commonly known ones like aloe and jade plants to less well-known ones like a stain-glass mirror succulent.
5. Succulents Lay It Down (Their roots, I mean)
Propagating succulents from cuttings or these broken pieces is super easy. If you pop a succulent leaf off of the stem and lay the cutting by a window, new sprouts will begin to form on the end of the cutting. Once the roots start to form, you can place it in soil and water it lightly.
6. Rainbow of Colors
Many indoor plants are simply green or have pink undertones. Succulents, on the other hand, are brimming with a wide range of colors and textures. Shades of green are the most common, but these plants also flash purple, yellow, red, orange, pink and blue. Talk about a color wheel.
7. Leaf Size Matters
Unsurprisingly, certain plants grow better than others in different locations. Succulents originally came from dry, arid areas such as deserts. Succulents with smaller leaves perform best at higher elevations.
8. Succulents are Perfect for DIY Enthusiast
These plants are hardy, come in a million different shapes, sizes and colors and don’t require much water. All of this makes them the perfect plant for DIY projects. They can grow in teacups, on walls, or even in jewelry. Next time you want to perk up your outfit, make a necklace with a small succulent perched happily inside it.
Check out this article to learn how to make hanging succulent decorations. Or head here for creative succulent planter ideas. Or if you just want to spend a whole day getting crafty with succulents, this article has 20 creative craft tutorials!
9. Succulents are prehistoric.
They showed up 5 to 10 million years ago. That’s it. They’re old.
10. Skip the Sun Block
You may notice a slightly chalky substance on the leaves of succulents. Have you ever wondered what that is? Its succulent sunblock! This same substance also protects the plants from pests and diseases.
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