Introduction
Succulents have become really popular indoor plants lately. The combination of their low maintenance needs, coupled with a huge variety of succulent shapes, colors and textures, makes them a funky choice of indoor plant for your indoor garden.
Just about anyone can grow succulents – beginners included. But the range is so wide it can be tricky to buy the right one for your needs. So we want to help you explore the best indoor succulents for beginners.
Succulents store water in their leaves, making them extremely drought resistant and low maintenance indoor plants. Frequently travellers, or anyone who likes indoor plants but does not want the hassle of repotting, frequent watering and fertilizing will also love these hardy plants.
Succulents look great in any indoor setting and there are endless ways to present succulents. Think feature plants, hanging, in pots of different sizes, grouped in a large shallow pot or as individual specimens.
Whether you are looking for your first indoor plant or to expand your indoor garden with a new addition or two, here are seven of the best indoor succulents for beginners to buy.
There is a fantastic YouTube video Indoor Succulents for Beginners by Garden Answer that shows 7 of the best indoor succulents for beginners. I have used this video to provide you with pictures of the 7 best indoor succulents for beginners. Read on to find out more about each of these succulents and their care needs.
Also, check out our other Indoor Gardening Blog posts about succulents, including:
Not a beginner? Or just want to jump to one of our seven best indoor succulents for beginners, feel free to click on the links in the Table of Contents on the right of this blog.
What is a succulent?
Succulents are plants that have thick, fleshy stems and leaves which they use to store water. They originate from desert-type environments where water is scarce.
Succulents, don’t drink from their roots all of the time and have enough water stored in their leaves to get them through a dry period.
They are beautiful plants suitable to both indoor and outdoor environments.
Generally slow growing, succulents come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, colors and textures.
Best indoor succulents for beginners
Haworthia
Maintenance: Very tidy appearance, almost no trimming required
Water needs: Very low watering
Light needs: Can grow in low light positions
Good in mixed indoor garden arrangements
Aloe Vera
Maintenance: Tidy appearance, almost no trimming required
Water needs: Very low watering
Light needs: Needs a very bright position
Can be used for medicinal purposes
Panda Plant
Maintenance: Very tidy appearance, almost no trimming required
Water needs: Low watering, can tolerate drier conditions (low humidity)
Light needs: Can grow in low light positions
Good in mixed indoor garden arrangements
Jade Plant
Maintenance: Very tidy appearance, almost no trimming required
Water needs: Very low watering
Light needs: Needs a bright/sunny position
Comes in a wide variety of shapes and colors
Portulacaria
Maintenance: Very tidy appearance, can be trimmed to shape
Water needs: Low watering, very tolerant of over watering
Light needs: Can grow in low light positions
Can grow quite tall, wide variety of shapes and colors
Gasteria
Maintenance: Very tidy appearance, almost no trimming required
Water needs: Very low watering, can go weeks without water
Light needs: Can grow in low light positions
Donkey's Tail
Maintenance: Delicate leaves and trailing foliage, needs an occasional trim
Water needs: Low watering
Light needs: Needs a bright/sunny position
Good in mixed indoor garden arrangements
Indoor succulent care
Potting Mix
Indoor succulents have very specific needs. Use a potting mix specifically formulated for succulents and cacti because it is designed to be a sandy consistency and ensure good drainage. Don’t use soil out of your garden in your pot. Outdoor soils can contain bugs and bacteria that you don’t want to welcome into your home and may not be appropriate for succulents and cacti.
We recommend:
Fertilizer
Purchase a fertilizer that is specifically formulated for succulents and cacti and follow the directions on the packaging.
We recommend:
Indoor Gardening Tools
Having some indoor gardening tools can also be very helpful when caring for your indoor succulents. These tools are specifically designed for working in smaller spaces allowing you to easily water, trim and care for your indoor plants.
Indoor gardening blog: More information
Don’t forget to check out our other Indoor Gardening Blog posts about succulents, including:
Final thoughts
This article was based on a fantastic YouTube video Indoor Succulents for Beginners by Garden Answer that shows 7 of the best indoor succulents for beginners. Watch the full video at:
So there you have it, seven of the best indoor succulents for beginners.
Make sure you hang around and check out our other indoor gardening blog posts.
Credits: Main photo by Jason Zook on Unsplash