Nearly anyone wondering how to grow succulents indoors can look no farther than their own grandmother’s windowsill, which probably boasted at least one.
Because of their incredible shapes and forms, and tolerance of moderate light, low humidity, and weeks of neglect, succulent house plants such as a mother-in-law tongue or snake plant (Sansevieria) or florist’s Kalanchoe have graced many a living room corner or kitchen window, or a gifted Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) that simply won’t die. And most are very easy to propagate from stem cuttings, dividing small plants, and rooting leaves.
Old-hand gardeners know that indoor succulent plants require a certain amount of neglect.
In their arid or seasonally-dry native lands, they developed the ability to store their own water supplies within fleshy leaves, stems, or roots.
How to Plant Succulents Indoors
Planting succulents indoors is not done much different from other plants in pots. Make sure pots have drainage holes, or plan to lay them on their sides after watering to allow excess water to drain out.
When first planting succulents in pots, choose a well-drained potting soil such as a ready-made cactus mix, but for a really good succulent potting mix that won’t stay too wet, add extra pumice, sharp sand, grit, or perlite (available at garden centers) to help drainage without breaking down with time.
When first learning how to pot succulents, you will notice how shallow and brittle their roots are. Gently loosen other soil, and sift new soil around the roots, using your fingers or blunt end of a pencil to tamp it lightly as you go. Cover the surface with sand or gravel or grit, and allow the plants to dry a few days before watering.
Growing Succulents Indoors
Caring for succulents indoors means not coddling them as you would, say. African violets or ferns.
Indoor succulents grow best in bright light. Though many including Sempervivum and
Pedilanthus develop their best foliage colors with at least a few hours of direct sun, and get Portulacaria, Sedums, and others get very leggy and weak if not given bright light, exceptions such as Sansevieria and Hoya tolerate fairly low light levels.
Still, a very successful indoor succulent garden will be in or near an east, south, or west window that gets a few hours of direct sun. For those whose leaves scorch in direct sun, provide shade with a sheer curtain if grown in a south- or west-facing window.
Water often enough to keep plants from shriveling, and avoid a buildup of harmful dissolved minerals and fertilizer residue by using distilled or rain water, and at least once a year flush out the soil with a good soaking.
Because many grow slowly indoors, especially in the cooler, darker winter months, they don’t need much if any fertilizer other than a light feeding in the spring or summer.
Sorce: DIY Network
