All you need to know about

How to care
for your Succulent

Overview

Succulents are sure trending right now. Their explosion into homes, onto magazine covers and on top of wedding centrepieces has a lot to do with the range of colours, textures and fleshy leaves that Succulents are available in – there’s approximately 60 different plant families that contain succulents. Originating in areas with long dry seasons, like Africa, desert-dwelling Succulents store water in their leaves, which makes them as tolerant to drought as they are to neglect. As a whole, Succulents have similar care needs – you just need to step into their roots and imagine what it’d be like to be thrive in a desert. Try to replicate those conditions in your home – sand isn’t mandatory.

Succulent Types

Aloe Zanzibarica
Crassula argentea
Gasteria Bambino

Agave

Echeveria

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Other Fun Facts

Succulent comes from the Latin word "sucus," which means juice or sap. Now you know Latin!
Succulents can be found in just about every colour of the rainbow; along with green, you can also find succulents that are blue, purple, pink, orange, and red!
Succulents are often confused for cacti. Cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. The differentiating factor is that cacti have spines (i.e. thorns) instead of leaves.
She broke the ‘gram and everyone’s Pinterest wedding vision board; Michigan florist and Etsy seller, Susan McLeary has a line of wearable blooms – succulent jewellery that grows when you wear it.

Plant Care Tips

Care Level

Most succulents are easy plants to grow for beginners – just remember they come from desert climates.

Plant Care Tips

Light

Succulents and their brilliant display of colours come out best when they’re exposed to long days of indirect sunlight – about 6 hours. Depending on what varietal you have, some Succulents can withstand full sun. Succulents will become spindly if they don’t get enough sun. Rotate your Succulent periodically to ensure there’s even growth on all sides.

Plant Care Tips

Water

Deserts won’t see rain for stretches of time but when it rains, it monsoons. Similarly, you’ll want to let your Succulent get bone dry until you flush them with water, letting the water enter and drain out from underneath. Overwatering is often the number one reason Succulents don’t get to live out their full potential. Wipe leaves and spines gently with a damp cloth if you get water on them – it can cause a buildup of mold.

Plant Care Tips

Humidity

Succulents don’t require extra humidity as they’re desert plants.

Plant Care Tips

Temperature

Succulents will thrive in temperatures between 21-26°. Don’t let them sit in conditions any lower than 10°C.

Plant Care Tips

Pets

Most succulents are harmless to your pets; in fact, they’ll likely avoid chewing on them because they don’t smell or taste appetizing to them. The toxic Succulents you’ll want you to avoid are the Sago Palm, Aloe Vera, Pencil Cactus, Jade Plant, Panda Plant, Snake Plant and a few others.

Plant Care Tips

Care Level

Most succulents are easy plants to grow for beginners – just remember they come from desert climates.

Light

Succulents and their brilliant display of colours come out best when they’re exposed to long days of indirect sunlight – about 6 hours. Depending on what varietal you have, some Succulents can withstand full sun. Succulents will become spindly if they don’t get enough sun. Rotate your Succulent periodically to ensure there’s even growth on all sides.

Water

Deserts won’t see rain for stretches of time but when it rains, it monsoons. Similarly, you’ll want to let your Succulent get bone dry until you flush them with water, letting the water enter and drain out from underneath. Overwatering is often the number one reason Succulents don’t get to live out their full potential. Wipe leaves and spines gently with a damp cloth if you get water on them – it can cause a buildup of mold.

Humidity

Succulents don’t require extra humidity as they’re desert plants.

Temperature

Succulents will thrive in temperatures between 21-26°. Don’t let them sit in conditions any lower than 10°C.

Pets

Most succulents are harmless to your pets; in fact, they’ll likely avoid chewing on them because they don’t smell or taste appetizing to them. The toxic Succulents you’ll want you to avoid are the Sago Palm, Aloe Vera, Pencil Cactus, Jade Plant, Panda Plant, Snake Plant and a few others.