11 Tips on How to Take Care of a Succulent Indoors

Welcome, fellow succulent growers! If you’re looking for tips on how to take care of your precious succulents indoors, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve been growing succulents for years and I’m going to share with you my best tips and advice.

Let me start out by saying that succulents are hardy plants and they make excellent houseplants. They don’t require much maintenance and they look great in the home or office. However, they need a certain amount of care to thrive indoors. In this article, I’ll be covering the basics of how to take care of a succulent indoors so you can keep it healthy and beautiful.

Finally, as we go through this article together, please remember that there’s no need to be intimidated by caring for your succulent. With some simple techniques and a little bit of patience, you’ll be able to provide your plant with the perfect environment it needs to reach its full potential! So let’s get started!

How To Take Care Of A Succulent Indoors

1. Choose Suitable Succulents

When it comes to choosing the right succulents for your indoor garden, it’s important to know that not all succulents are created equal. Some of these fleshy-leaved plants require more direct sunlight than others. When selecting the best succulent for your indoors, look for varieties that thrive in medium light and indirect sunlight.

If you’re looking for some low-light succulents that will do well indoors, consider the Haworthia, Gasteria, or Aloe varieties. They are hardy plants that don’t need a lot of light or water, making them perfect for indoor spaces. They also come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so you can find something that fits your style. Plus, they’re great conversation starters!

2. Optimal Soil For Indoor Succulents

When it comes to the soil for succulents, I cannot stress enough how important it is to choose the right kind. An indoor succulent needs well-draining soil that won’t stay soggy for too long. If the soil stays wet for too long, your succulent is likely to suffer from root rot and other issues. This can be detrimental to the health of your plant and even cause it to die.

I always advise my fellow growers not to use soil from outside or any type of potting mix as these can contain fungi and bacteria that will harm your succulents. Instead, opt for a specialized succulent soil mix that is designed specifically for these types of plants. These soils have very little organic matter and provide proper drainage without letting the roots sit in water for too long.

Suggested Reading:
Best Soil for Succulents in Pots

Alternatively, you can create your own succulent mix using perlite, pumice, and organic materials such as peat moss or coconut coir.

3. Avoid Non-Draining Containers

As a succulent grower with years of experience, I want to highlight the importance of avoiding non-draining containers when caring for your indoor succulents. Without proper drainage, your plant will suffer from root rot and die quickly.

Succulents in pots require drainage holes—this is non-negotiable. Without these holes, you risk root rot and other problems that can harm your plant. So, when selecting a pot, be sure to look for one with drainage holes or consider investing in specially designed planters with drainage systems built-in.

The best option is to use a shallow container with at least one drainage hole in the bottom. This will allow excess water to escape, helping you avoid over-watering and ensuring your succulent has access to dry conditions.

4. Select the Appropriate Container Size

When it comes to selecting a container size for your succulent, it’s important to choose wisely. As an experienced succulent grower, I’ve learned that the size of the pot plays a critical role in the health and wellness of your plant.

The types of succulents you have will also impact which pot size is best. Generally speaking, smaller succulents should go into small pots and larger plants should go into bigger pots. But keep in mind that you don’t want to choose a pot that’s too big for the plant—this can lead to overwatering and poor drainage. The ideal pot should be slightly wider than the root system but not much taller than the height of the plant itself.

5. Ensure Sufficient Light For Indoor Succulents

I’m sure you’ve noticed that succulents love the sun. If you want to be successful with your indoor plants, there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to lighting.

First and foremost, understanding how much light your succulent needs is key. Most succulents need at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight each day, or indirect natural light from a south-facing window for best results. In some cases, even more exposure may be needed for optimal growth.

You can also provide supplemental lighting using an artificial source if necessary—just make sure not to place the plant too close as this could lead to overheating and burning.

Suggested Reading:
5 Best Grow Lights for Succulents

When considering where to put your succulent indoors, think about finding a sunny spot that gets plenty of bright, indirect sunlight throughout the day—like near a south-facing window. Make sure any nearby glass surfaces won’t cause additional glare on the leaves as they tend to be sensitive to heat and intense rays of sunshine.

6. Rotate Indoor Succulents Regularly

Rotating indoor succulents is key to keeping them healthy and happy. It ensures that your plants get even light exposure from different angles, which will help them thrive in their indoor conditions. Keep in mind that succulent care requires air circulation and comfortable temperatures, so be sure to move the plants around if you notice any of these factors changing.

When it comes to light conditions for your indoor succulents, I’d recommend rotating them every two weeks. This will ensure that all sides of the plant receive sufficient light and don’t become lopsided or stretched out due to an uneven distribution of sunlight. In addition, be sure to adjust their watering frequency as they move into different spaces with varying levels of humidity.

7. Water Moderately And Infrequently

It’s also essential to monitor the frequency of watering; succulents need much less than other houseplants. A good rule of thumb is to wait until the soil is completely dry before watering again—this usually takes anywhere from 7-10 days depending on environmental factors such as humidity levels in your home. Make sure you’re not overcompensating by giving them too much water either; it’s important to find a balance between hydration and dryness that works best for you and your succulent!

When it comes to taking care of indoor succulents, it pays to remember that these plants prefer moderate and infrequent watering. Don’t be tempted to over-water them when you think they need it—the biggest mistake succulent growers make is giving their plants too much water! Excess water can cause root rot and other issues.

It’s important to have a consistent watering schedule during the summer months, but in winter you may want to decrease the amount of water or even skip watering altogether until spring. That’s because succulents tend to go into a kind of hibernation during winter and don’t require as much water. Make sure your soil is completely dry before re-watering in the springtime.

Having an eye for detail is key—you’ll want to monitor your succulent’s soil carefully so that you can tell when it’s time for another drink. If the soil feels dry, then give your succulent a bit of water—but not too much! Over-watering can damage even the toughest of plants, so it’s best to err on the side of caution when dealing with indoor succulents. Trust me, I’ve been growing these little guys for years—they’re resilient, but they need just enough love and attention!

8. Do Not Mist The Leaves

When caring for an indoor succulent, it is important to remember that they are quite different from other types of houseplants. One of the most important things to keep in mind is to never mist or water the leaves of the indoor succulent when watering. This can lead to the formation of fungal disease, which can damage and even kill the succulent.

Instead, it is best to water the soil directly, and allow the water to slowly soak in. This is the best way to ensure that the succulent is getting the moisture it needs without risking any damage from water droplets on the leaves. It also helps to ensure that the succulent is getting enough water, but not too much. Too much water can cause root rot and other issues, so be sure to use a light touch when watering your succulent.

9. Fertilize Your Indoor Succulent

Now that you know not to water the leaves, let’s talk about fertilizing your indoor succulent. Fertilization is a key component of taking care of indoor succulents. When grown indoors, they don’t have access to the same natural nutrients as outdoor plants, so they need a little help to stay healthy and happy.

Indoor succulents need fertilizer every three to four weeks during their active growing season, which is usually spring and summer but can vary depending on the type of succulent you’re growing. For most types of succulents, a slow-release fertilizer is best.

Suggested Reading:
5 Best Fertilizers for Succulents

It’s important to make sure you’re using the right kind of fertilizer for your indoor succulents since some can be too strong for them. You should also avoid using any type of fertilizer with added urea as it can damage their delicate roots. Finally, make sure you’re not overfertilizing—stick with half-strength dilutions and never overdo it!

10. Promote Proper Air Circulation

Having learned from past mistakes, I highly recommend that you promote proper air circulation when taking care of your indoor succulents. Providing them with the right amount of airflow is key for healthy and happy plants. This is especially important if you’re growing individual succulents indoors in containers. They don’t have the same natural habitat as they would in their natural environment and therefore need extra attention to keep them thriving.

One simple way to ensure your succulents get enough airflow is to place a fan near them. Having a fan continuously blowing in their direction will help circulate the air and keep your plants healthy and strong. If you don’t have access to a fan, you can also open a window regularly or just move the plants around from time to time, so they’re not in one spot for too long.

Providing your succulents with plenty of air circulation is essential for their health and growth, so make sure it’s part of your regular indoor greenery care routine! These tips will help ensure that your beloved plants stay happy and healthy long-term.

11. Prevent Pests In Indoor Succulents

No one wants pests to take over their succulents indoors, especially when they’ve spent so much time and effort taking care of them. Keeping a close eye on them in an indoor setting can be tricky, but there are certain tips you should follow to ensure they stay pest-free.

First, make sure that the pots they’re planted in have drainage holes so excess water can escape after watering. This will help prevent any mold or fungus from growing around the roots of the plant. Additionally, try to give your succulents ample light exposure; plenty of natural sunlight during non-winter months is best for their growth and health!

When bringing outdoor plants back inside, remember to check for bugs—inspect both leaves and soil carefully before introducing them into your home environment.

Finally, if you do find pests on your succulents, check out our other post on how to remove bugs from succulents.

Conclusion

As a seasoned succulent grower, I can say that taking care of succulents indoors is an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Succulents are resilient plants that require minimal maintenance but with a few adjustments to their environment, they will thrive!

It’s important to choose the right type of succulent for indoor use, make sure the soil is optimal, select an appropriate container size, and ensure there is sufficient light. To prevent pests and keep your succulents healthy it’s necessary to water them correctly, fertilize them and promote proper air circulation.

Once you understand the basic requirements for indoor succulents you will be able to create a suitable environment for these plants to thrive. With proper care and attention, these beautiful plants can add texture and color to your home for years to come.