Photo by SDCDeaCerte

Growing beautiful container plants doesn’t have to be hard or require a lot of resources.  Smart plant choices, like the succulents pictured above, and stylish containers can create a calming effect within your home in today’s technology age (sidebar: ironic that I am talking about creating soothing environments with plants on the internet).

Why Decorate With Succulents?

Every modern garden lover should have potted succulents.  The architectural elegance and minimal maintenance of succulents complement the essence of modern design. In my humble opinion, very few low maintenance plants offer such an eye-catching arrangement like the echevarias, aeoniums, or agaves.  These varieties look great by themselves in a bold, colorful pot, or grouped together by contrasting colors in larger pots.

Caring For Indoor Succulents

Watering Their fleshy leaves allow them to store large amounts of water, which make them the perfect companion for the forgetful dweller.  Water often during the growing season, spring through fall, but keep them drier and cooler during the winter.  Best to set them in a tray of water since their leaves can be damaged by splashes of water.  Once the roots have soaked up the water, remove your pot and wait to water again when the soil is dry.

Temperature The warmth and low humidity of living rooms provide the perfect environment for most succulents.

Light Since succulents are native to warm, dry areas, find a sunny windowsill to make them feel at home. Many succulents can live in their pots up to three years before needing a new home.

Feeding Liquid fertilizer is the easiest way to feed your succulents.  Keep a bottle next to your watering can and add a few drops once every couple weeks.

Potting Good drainage is important.  Use a free-draining potting mix made up of at least one part sharp sand to two parts loam.

Pests & Disease Fortunately succulents don’t suffer from many pests and diseases, and the few that cause you problems are easy to get rid of.  If the idea bug juice doesn’t make your stomach turn, hand picking is a good means of control.  These plants are easy to care for but prevention is the key to successful indoor plants. If you have to resort to chemicals, use them outside or in an area that is well ventilated.

More The above info should help you get started. If you’re beyond the basics, try learning more about propagation, more varieties and troubleshooting