by Martha Keehner Engelke and Deborah Pilkington, NC State Extension Master GardenerSM volunteer of Durham County
When Deborah Pilkington, Extension Master GardenerSM found out about a large number of succulents that were destined for the compost bin, she sprang into action. Because of Deb’s creativity and perseverance the succulents lived to see another season and over 20 gardeners learned about the characteristics and care of succulents. She contacted the Durham County Extension Agent (Ashley Troth), formed a committee and together they developed a succulent workshop that was held on November November 14, 2024.
Deborah Pilkington and Bev Tisci welcome participants to the Succulent Class. (Image credit: Martha Engelke)
What is a succulent?
Succulents are a diverse group of plants characterized by their ability to store water in their tissues. Some succulents (cacti) store water only in the stem and have no leaves or very small leaves, whereas others (agaves) store water mainly in the leaves. They often have waxy leaves that are green all year. Succulents are often native to either deserts or semiarid regions. Most succulents need very little care, have high pest resistance, and need 6-8 hours of bright indirect light.
Succulents are found in over 60 plant families including cacti (Cactaceae), stonecrops (Crassulaceae), and aloes (Asphodelaceae). Because succulence is a trait found in many different plant families, succulents are referred to as a polyphyletic group. Succulents can be classified as rosettes, upright, round, and trailing. Some, like the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera russelliana) are grown for their flowers while others like Century plant (Agave americana) rarely flower and after they finally flower they die. This type of succulent is known as “monocarpic”. A monocarpic plant can’t live for long after flowering because there is no energy left in them. Even if planted in the best of soil and watered well, they have no nutrients left to survive. The good news is that most succulents, even the monocarpic ones, are easy to propagate before the “death bloom”.
Indoor or Outdoor? Soft or Hard?
Another way to categorize succulents are whether they are soft (suitable for indoor planting) or hardy (able to be grown outside). Soft succulents can’t survive outdoors in frost areas. In USDA Zones 10+ (frost-free areas), nearly all soft succulents can be grown outside, even in the winter.
Some of the most common soft succulents are Echeverias sp, Jade plants (Crassula ovata), Burro’s tail (Sedum morganianum), Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia millii), Zebra Plant (Haworthia fasciata), and Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata).
Soft succulents include Echeveria (Echeveria) and Ghost Plant (Graptopetalum). Notice that even though both of these plants are rosettes, they are not in the same family. (Image credit: Aaron Steil, Iowa State University)
Snake Plant (Sansevieria Dracaena) or Ox Tongue (Gasteria ‘Flow’) and Burro’s tail (Sedum morganianum) are examples of succulents that are often grown indoors. . (Image credit: Aaron Steil, Iowa State University)
Hardy succulents can tolerate freezing temperatures down to 20-25 degrees Fahrenheit. Popular hardy succulents include Hens and Chickens (Sempervivum tectorum), Ice Plants (Delosperma cooperi) and Stonecrops (Hylotelephium spp). But, even these succulents might have difficulty if the winter includes a long period below freezing.
Making an indoor succulent garden
Indoor succulent gardens come in many different shapes and sizes. Clay or terracotta pots are ideal since they are porous and allow the soil to dry faster. Succulents thrive in small or shallow containers because the small volume of soil will dry out more quickly. However, clay, plastic, and glass containers can also be used. If the pot doesn’t have a drainage hole consider double potting in which the succulent is grown in a smaller container with a drainage hole that is placed inside the larger pot without a drainage hole.
If you grow succulents in containers without drainage such as glass or ceramic, the choice of potting mix is vital. Choose a mix that does not hold water and don’t overwater. In glass, you will quickly see if you have overwatered if water pools at the bottom of the container.
Typical potting soil is usually formulated to retain water so it isn’t a good choice for succulents. The soil must dry quickly to prevent root rot. Commercial “Cactus and Succulent” mixes are available or you can make your own. You can use one part organic material (potting soil, pine bark, or compost) with two parts mineral material (perlite, coarse sand or fine gravel).
One of the things that I learned about creating a succulent garden, was that there are a variety of tools that can make the process easier. Small tweezers and scoops allow you to plant the succulent without a lot of manipulation so you can avoid damaging tender leaves. A variety of stones, tiles and rocks can be used to decorate the succulent garden.
During the workshop each participant received a plate with one succulent (more were available for making a garden of several succulents), tools to manipulate the soil and plants, and a variety of materials for decorating the succulent garden. (Image credit: Martha Engelke)
Participants collaborate on choosing a pot, filling it with soil, planting the succulents, and decorating their creation (Image credit: Martha Engelke
Maintaining an Indoor Succulent Garden
The biggest problems in maintaining a succulent garden are overwatering and lack of drainage. A useful tool to prevent overwatering is a small sprayer bottle such as the one pictured here. You can water selectively without flooding the plant and you can add the water at the roots. Succulents usually need to be watered weekly during the warmer months but sometimes can go for 2-3 weeks during the dormant season. Using a water meter will give you reassurance that you have good drainage and that you are not overwatering. Yellow leaves, soft stems or collapsing stems are signs that your plant might be overwatered.
This small watering bottle is available through garden centers and on-line retailers and is helpful in preventing overwatering. (Image credit: Martha Engelke)
Other considerations for helping your succulents thrive are relatively low humidity (which helps the soil dry out) and good air circulation. While it is great to plant several succulents together since most succulents have similar watering needs, it is important that they are not overcrowded in the pot.
Succulents do not need a lot of fertilizer but are likely to benefit from a water-soluble fertilizer every 3-4 waterings during the growing season (spring and summer). They don’t need to be fertilized in the winter. Cactus and succulent fertilizers are available commercially, or you can use a houseplant fertilizer at half-strength.
Succulents need plenty of light. A bright, sunny window with 6-8 hours of indirect light is preferred. Periodically rotating your pots to expose all sides of the plant to sunlight is helpful. If you notice that your succulent is leggy, it is probably not getting enough sunlight. Artificial light also can be used to mimic sunlight if your location does not provide adequate natural light.
Propagating Succulents
Most varieties of succulents can be propagated by leaf and stem cuttings. Succulents that grow in clusters or rosettes, produce “pups”, or have runners that root and grow. You can cut the offset with a sharp knife and pot it up in a well-drained growing media. Lightly water it and after a few weeks the new plant will begin to grown. This type of propagation works well for Sempervivum, Agave, Aloe, Lithops, Gasteria, Haworthia, Manfreda, Sansevieria (Dracaena), Bryophyllum, and Cacti (Cactaceae family).
Another method of propagation is to use stem cuttings . Take a 3- 6 inch cutting using clean, sharp pruners or scissors. Remove the leaves from the lower half of the stem. Let the cutting callus over by letting it sit in a dry area for several days. Once it has a callus, you can plant it in a well-drained medium. Most succulents do not root well in a glass of water. While rooting hormone can be used to encourage faster root growth, most succulents root quickly and easily without rooting hormone. This type of propagation works well with Aeonium, Cotyledon, Echeveria, Graptopetalum, Pachyphytum, Sedum, Euphorbia, Crassula, Senecio, Kalanchoe, Adenium, Epiphyllum (Disocactus), and Schlumbergera.
Succulents are a great plant to grow, especially for those who are not particularly attentive to their plants. If you don’t overwater them and give succulents an adequate amount of light, they will be with you for a long time. If you want more, you can easily propagate them. After the threat of frost has passed, you can move your succulent garden outside although succulents don’t like high humidity so they may need to come back in once the humidity rises. If your containers have no drainage holes, be sure to place them under cover from rain. When you bring your succulents back indoors, be sure to check them for insects before you bring them in.
The succulent workshop was a great success. Plants were saved from the compost bin, home gardeners learned some tips for success in growing succulents while enjoying the company of other gardeners, and everyone went home with a new plant that will hopefully live for a long time!
Two members of the succulent class display their creations and are ready to take them home! (Image credit: Martha Engelke)
Additional Reading and Resources.
Iowa State University has a great article that summarizes key points in caring for succulents. https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/growing-succulents-indoors#container
The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Plant Tool box has lots of information on choosing and caring for succulents from different plant families. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/find_a_plant/?q=succulent
The University of Minnesota Extension Office is another great resource on caring for succulents. https://extension.umn.edu/houseplants/cacti-and-succulents
The WVU Extension Office offers “Succulents 101”. It includes an excellent table that helps identify the needs of particular succulents and whether they are better kept indoors or outdoors. https://extension.wvu.edu/lawn-gardening-pests/indoor-plants/succulents-101#:~:text=the%20recommended%20rate.-,Light,not%20provide%20adequate%20natural%20light
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