How to Grow Indoors Succulents: 101 Care Guides, Tips, and Common Issues

Succulents are incredibly adaptable to various indoor environments. Whether you have a sunny windowsill or a cozy corner with lower light, there's a perfect succulent for your space. But how can you properly care for your indoor succulents and avoid common mistakes?

We're here to help you troubleshoot any issues that may arise with your succulent babies at home. Whether you're an experienced plant parent or a beginner, this comprehensive guide will help you keep your indoor succulents thriving. 

Key Takeaways:

• Choose the right succulent for indoor care by considering factors such as light requirements, watering needs, and soil type.
• Proper care for indoor succulents includes providing adequate light, appropriate watering, well-draining soil, and regular pruning
• Troubleshoot common problems with indoor succulents, such as root rot and pest issues, by identifying the problem and taking appropriate actions to save your plants.

At Happy Succulents Care, we've been experimenting with various succulent varieties for home decor, and we're continually amazed by their versatility in many ways.

Used them in hanging planters, as part of living walls, and even as centerpieces for our table or at the corner on working desk. The possibilities are truly endless.

Trust us, once you start collecting these beautiful succulents, you won't be able to stop!

The Best Types Of Succulents For Your Home

When it comes to selecting the best succulents for indoor care, there are numerous options to suit every taste and style. We've carefully curated a collection of the most popular and low-maintenance varieties that are perfect for any indoor space.

• We absolutely love Aloe Vera for its medicinal properties and classic charm. Its thick, fleshy leaves store water, making it drought-resistant and low-maintenance -- perfect for those who may occasionally forget to water their plants!
• Echeverias are another favorite, with their stunning rosette formations and wide range of colors and sizes. They thrive in bright, indirect light and add a charming, sculptural element to any room.
• For smaller spaces or desk gardens, we recommend Haworthias. Their compact size and interesting leaf patterns make them the perfect little companions for any workspace. They also tolerate lower light conditions well, so you don't have to worry about finding the perfect sunny spot.
• If you're looking to bring a touch of good luck and prosperity to your home, consider the Jade Plant. Its glossy, oval-shaped leaves and thick, woody stems make it a striking addition to any indoor setting. We love how it seems to radiate positive energy wherever it's placed!

We chose these types of succulents because they're not only visually stunning but also incredibly easy to grow indoors. However, to keep your succulents healthy and thriving in your home, it's important to know some basic care guidelines, which we'll cover next.

How to Care for Succulents Indoors Properly?

Remember, proper care for indoor succulents is all about understanding their specific water, light, and soil requirements, along with some extra tips. We've summarized them in this table for you:

Light Requirements

Succulents love light, and lots of it! When growing succulents indoors, make sure to place them in a bright, sunny spot, ideal for windowsills and well-lit rooms.

Light is crucial for succulents as it fuels their photosynthesis process, enabling them to produce food and grow efficiently. Succulents need plenty of natural sunlight, ideally for about 6 hours a day.

South or west-facing windows are often the best spots to place them, as they receive the most intense light.

If you live in a location with limited natural light, you can supplement it with grow lights to mimic the sun's rays. When using grow lights, place them close enough to the plants without causing heat damage, usually around 6-12 inches away.

Watering Needs

Watering indoor succulents involves a 'soak and dry' method, ensuring the soil is thoroughly watered and then allowed to dry out completely before the next watering.

This method mimics the natural environment of succulents, which are adapted to surviving in arid conditions where water is scarce. Overwatering can be a significant risk. When soil remains wet for too long, the roots may rot, leading to plant diseases and eventual death. To prevent this, it's essential to check the moisture level of the soil before watering again.

As a general rule, in the summer, indoor succulents should be watered once every 7-10 days, while in the winter, the frequency can be reduced to once every 2-3 weeks.

Soil and Potting

Fertilizing indoor succulents can enhance their growth, typically requiring a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer applied during their growing season.

For succulents, it's crucial to choose the right type of fertilizer to support their specific needs. Succulents benefit most from a balanced fertilizer formulated for cacti and succulents, providing a good mix of essential nutrients without overloading them.

These plants have lower nutrient requirements compared to many other plants, so a diluted fertilizer applied once every 4-6 weeks during the growing season is generally sufficient.

To ensure proper nutrient absorption, it's advisable to water the plants a day or two before fertilizing. This helps prevent fertilizer burn and allows for better distribution of nutrients throughout the roots. Avoid fertilizing during the plant's dormant period, usually in winter, to prevent nutrient buildup in the soil.   

Fertilization

Fertilizing indoor succulents can enhance their growth, typically requiring a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer applied during their growing season.

In terms of succulents, it's crucial to choose the right type of fertilizer to support their specific needs. Succulents benefit most from a balanced fertilizer formulated for cacti and succulents, providing a good mix of essential nutrients without overloading them.

 These plants have lower nutrient requirements compared to many other plants, so a diluted fertilizer applied once every 4 -6weeks during the growing season is generally sufficient.

To ensure proper nutrient absorption, it's advisable to water the plants a day or two before fertilizing. This helps prevent fertilizer burn and allows for better distribution of nutrients throughout the roots. Avoid fertilizing during the plant's dormant period, usually in winter, to prevent nutrient buildup in the soil.

Pruning and Propagation

Pruning and propagation are essential for maintaining the health of indoor succulents and creating new plants from cuttings.

When pruning succulents, start by inspecting the plant carefully. Look for any dead or damaged leaves, as well as any overgrown stems. Using clean and sharp pruning shears, carefully trim away these unwanted parts to promote new growth and maintain the plant's shape.

For propagation, select healthy succulent leaves or stems to take cuttings from. It's important to allow the cuttings to callus over before planting them in well-draining soil to prevent rot. With proper care and attention, these cuttings will soon develop roots and grow into new vibrant succulent plants.

Troubleshoot Common Problems for Indoors Succulents?

Problem #1: Stretching and Etiolation

Have you ever noticed your succulents starting to look a bit leggy and stretched out? This is called etiolation, and it happens when your plants aren't getting enough light. They start reaching for the nearest light source, hoping to soak up some rays. The result? A succulent that looks more like a palm tree than a cute little rosette.

Solution:

Give your succulents more lights. Move them to a brighter spot, like a south or west-facing window, or invest in some grow lights to supplement their light intake. You can also try rotating your plants every few weeks to ensure even growth on all sides.

Problem #2: Overwatering leads Root Rot

Root rot is one of main reasons to kill your indoor succulents. These plants are used to arid conditions, so they don't need a lot of water to thrive.

Solution:

If you do suspect root rot, act fast! Remove your succulent from its pot and trim away any mushy, black roots. Then, repot your plant in fresh, dry soil and cut back on watering until it recovers.

Problem #3: Pests and Infestations

Just because they're tough, doesn't mean succulents are invincible. These plants can still fall prey to common houseplant pests like mealybugs, spider mites, and scale insects. These little critters can suck the life out of your plants, causing yellowing leaves, stunted growth, and even death.

Solution:

To keep pests at bay, regularly inspect your succulents for signs of infestation. Look for small, white, cottony masses (mealybugs), fine webbing (spider mites), or small, brown bumps (scale). If you do spot any pests, isolate the affected plant and treat it with a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water, or a natural insecticide like neem oil.

Problem #4: Sunburn and Scorching

Just because they're tough, doesn't mean succulents are invincible. These plants can still fall prey to common houseplant pests like mealybugs, spider mites, and scale insects. These little critters can suck the life out of your plants, causing yellowing leaves, stunted growth, and even death.

Solution:

To keep pests at bay, regularly inspect your succulents for signs of infestation. Look for small, white, cottony masses (mealybugs), fine webbing (spider mites), or small, brown bumps (scale). If you do spot any pests, isolate the affected plant and treat it with a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water, or a natural insecticide like neem oil

Our Last Words

At Happy Succulents Care, we've seen our fair share of succulent problems over the years. But with a little know-how and some tender loving care, we've been able to nurse even the saddest-looking plants back to health. The key is to pay attention to your succulents and react quickly when you notice something amiss.

And if all else fails, just remember -- succulents are resilient plants. Even if you do lose a few leaves or a whole plant here and there, they'll usually bounce back with a little love and care. So don't be too hard on yourself if you encounter some problems along the way. It's all part of the learning process!

Happy troubleshooting, succulent parents!