10 Common Succulent Varieties for Your Home
Discover 10 of the most popular and easy-to-care-for succulent varieties for brightening up your home. My comprehensive guide includes simple tips on how to care for and propagate these beautiful plants, perfect for both beginners and experienced plant owners alike.
Are you thinking about adding some succulents to your home but don't know where to find the perfect ones? Look no further! I'm here to share some tips and tricks for finding the ideal succulent to fit into your home and lifestyle.
Succulents are fantastic plants for beginners because they're easy to care for, don't require too much care, and can add a splash of color that make them stand out. In this plant care guide, I'm going to tell you all about 10 different types of succulents that'll make your home look and feel cozy.
These are the succulents we're going to look at:
Let's learn a little more about the 10 most common succulents you can bring in your house and how to care for them!
Aloe Vera
Let's start with the Aloe Vera! You've probably seen it around because it's really popular. People love it because it's not only good-looking with its long, pointy green leaves, but it's also a helpful plant. Can you believe it's been used for hundreds of years for things like soothing sunburn or helping a tummy ache?
Taking care of an Aloe vera isn't hard. It stores a lot of moisture in its fleshy leaves, so it doesn't need water very often. Just make sure the soil is completely dry before you water it. You don't want to overwater this plant because it can cause the roots to rot. This is why you should wait until the soil is completely dry.
For sunlight, it likes a nice sunny spot. This plant thrives in bright, warm sunlight, so give it a spot on your brightest windowsill.
Want to hear a fun fact about Aloe vera? The ancient Egyptians used to call it the "plant of immortality." Imagine that! These days, we often use the leaves of Aloe Vera as a quick fix for burns or skin problems. So, not only does it make your house look better, but it can also come in handy when you accidentally get a burn.
If you want to read more about taking care of an Aloe vera, have a look at How to care for an Aloe Vera.
Echeveria
Now let's look at taking care of an Echeveria. These plants are really popular because people love their beautiful rosette shapes and their stunning colors, which can range from deep green to pastel pink and even striking purples. There's an Echeveria to match everyone's favorite color.
Taking care of Echeverias is easy and it's actually happy if you forget about it for a few weeks. They need a bit of water and some light, and they're good to go. They like their soil to dry out completely before watering. And about sunlight, they love a good sunbath. Place them in a spot where they'll get a good amount of sunlight throughout the day.
Did you know that these plants are named after a Mexican botanical artist named Atanasio Echeverría y Godoy? And if you take a single leaf from this plant, put it in some soil, and give it a bit of time, it'll grow into a whole new plant. So, if you're patient, you can grow a whole family of Echeverias from just one parent plant. Who doesn't like free plants?
If you want to read more about taking care of an Echeveria have a look at Echeveria.
Jade Plant
Next up is a plant with an unusual name: the Jade plant. This plant has a lot of fans because of its shiny, deep green leaves that remind people of jade stones. That's also how it got its nickname! In some cultures, this plant is seen as a sign of good luck. So whether you'd like some good luck or a beautiful plant, this plant is for you!
Just like the other succulents in this guide, the Jade plant is easy to take care of. Let the soil dry out completely before watering it. It's much better to underwater than to overwater this one. As for sunlight, Jade plants like a lot of it. But too much direct sunlight, especially the scorching afternoon sun, can be a bit too much for them.
Jade plants can live a long time. With the right care, they can live for decades. As these plants grow, they start to look like little trees with "trunks". So, with a Jade plant, you're not just getting a plant for your house, but you're also getting a plant that'll be around for decades!
If you want to read more about taking care of a Jade Plant, have a look at How to take care of a Jade Plant.
Haworthia
Let's have a look at Haworthia! This is another popular succulent, because of its funky, zebra-like stripes on its leaves. These plants are small and pointy, and they can fit in all sorts of spots around the house.
Caring for a Haworthia is very easy as these plants are very low-maintenance. They're like a lot of succulents and don't need a lot of water. Make sure to wait until the soil is dry before watering it again.
As for light, Haworthias prefer bright, indirect light. So, they would be happy in a spot that gets a good amount of light, but not directly in the window where the sun might be too harsh. They can also survive in low-light spots, so any place is a good place for this succulent.
Unlike a lot of plants, Haworthias are night owls! They do most of their growing at night. So, the Haworthia is not just a pretty plant, it also has a whole night-time life of its own!
Kalanchoe
Are you looking for some more color? The Kalanchoe might be a good option for you!
This plant is a real crowd-pleaser. Why? Because they bloom little flowers in different colors like red, pink, yellow, or white. These might be the easiest flowering plants to take care of!
When it comes to taking care of a Kalanchoe, It's slightly different from the other succulents in this guide. It needs a bit of attention but not too much. You should water it when the top few inches of soil have dried out. The flowers need a little more moisture than your average succulent.
For sunlight, Kalanchoes enjoy bright light, and some direct sun is good for them. Just be sure it's not too much direct sunlight in the afternoon because this will dry out the flowers quickly.
If you want to read more about taking care of a Kalanchoe, have a look at How to care for a Kalanchoe.
Sempervivum
Succulents are generally very similar in care, but the Sempervivum is special. These hardy succulents can survive in many different conditions. Most succulents thrive in dry and hot environments, but these succulents can also survive more rainy and cold environments. I've got them in my garden and they survived a thick layer of snow in the winter.
Taking care of Sempervivums is very much like other succulents. When it comes to watering, they like their soil to dry out completely before watering it again. If you're looking to grow them outdoors, make sure to use well-draining soil to drain the rain quickly.
And for sunlight, they like a lot of it. They like direct sunlight during the afternoon. During the warm summers, you might need to move them into the partial shade or water them more often. The hot sunlight dries out the plants quite quickly.
The name Sempervivum comes from the Latin words "semper" and "vivus," which mean "always" and "living." That's why they're also called "Liveforevers."
Agave
Next on the list is the Agave plant. These plants are popular because they have a bold, architectural look with their large, thick leaves that can make any space look like a mini desert landscape. And let's not forget, this is the plant that gives us sweet agave syrup and even tequila!
Caring for an Agave plant is super easy. When it comes to water, these plants are true succulents. They don't need a lot of water. You should only water it when the soil has dried out completely. That could be every two weeks or even less often. As for sunlight, Agaves love it! They thrive in hot, direct sunlight. So find a sunny spot for your Agave plant where it can soak up those rays.
Agave plants are also known as "Century Plants" because people used to think they took 100 years to flower. But don't worry, it's not that long, usually more like 10 to 30 years. But here's the catch! After it flowers, the main plant dies off. The plant naturally grows pups, so it lives on by propagating itself.
Christmas Cactus
The Christmas cactus might be a surprise on this list of succulents, because isn't this a cactus instead of a succulent? Technically, the Christmas Cactus is not a true cactus and does store a lot of moisture and nutrients in its leaves. This makes it a succulent.
Despite their name, they're native to cloud forests in Brazil, not deserts like many other succulents. So, they prefer more humid conditions and are used to being shaded by tall trees.
Caring for a Christmas Cactus is a bit different from most succulents. When it comes to watering, you should only let the top inch of soil dry out before watering it again. They like more frequent watering than their desert-dwelling cousins. For light, Christmas Cacti like bright, but indirect light. Too much direct sunlight can harm them, so a spot near a north or east-facing window is perfect.
If you want to read more about taking care of a Christmas Cactus, have a look at How to care for a Christmas cactus.
Sedum
If you're looking for a hanging plant that's very easy to take care of, why not have a look at a Sedum? Sedums are very versatile. They come in lots of shapes and sizes, and their leaves can be different shades of green, yellow, or even red. So you can pick a Sedum that suits your style!
When it comes to watering a sedum, they're like a lot of succulents, not needing much at all. Just make sure the soil is totally dry before you water it again. If you're not sure when to water it, it's better to wait a little longer.
For sunlight, Sedums are fans of bright light but can also survive in low-light places. They love to soak up the sun, but make sure to water this plant regularly if it's growing in direct sunlight. The leaves of the sedum fall off very easily, especially when it's too dry. Not to worry though, you can easily propagate these leaves.
Sedums are sometimes called "stonecrop" because they're so tough, they can grow in rocky, gravelly areas. They can grow where many other plants can't.
If you want to read more about taking care of a Sedum, have a look at How to care for a Sedum morganianum.
String of Pearls
Last but certainly not least, we're looking at the String of Pearls. This plant is incredibly popular because it's just so unique looking. With its round, bead-like leaves that hang down like strings of pearls, it's one of the most unusual and eye-catching plants you can add to your home.
As you might expect by now, your String of Pearls is very easy to take care of. When it comes to water, this plant likes to dry out completely before being watered again. So, be sure not to water it too often. It's better to underwater than overwater this plant. As for sunlight, they like bright, indirect light. So, a spot near a window where they can see the sky but aren't in the direct path of the sun's rays would be perfect.
The String of Pearls plant is a bit of a climber. In nature, it grows on the ground and uses its tendrils to climb and spread over other plants. So, if you want to bring a little bit of that natural behavior into your home, you can put your String of Pearls high up and let it cascade down like a beautiful green waterfall.
If you want to read more about taking care of a String of Pearls, have a look at How to take care of a String of Pearls (Curio rowleyanus).
Thank you for reading this post! I hope it helps you to keep your plants healthy and beautiful! If you're looking for more guides on specific plants, you can always request a plant guide to get a guide for the plant you have trouble with.
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