How To Set Up An Indoor Succulent Garden
Part of the appeal of succulents is that they don’t require an immense amount of care. However, not everyone lives in the ideal climate for succulents, which is why they want to bring them indoors. You’re not alone if you want to know how to set up an indoor succulent garden.
Pick a few succulents that require the same amount of sunlight and water to keep your indoor succulent garden simple. Next, choose porous containers, like terracotta pots, with at least one bottom hole to ensure proper drainage. It’s also a good idea to hang full-spectrum lights 12” above the succulents to mimic natural sunlight.
You only need to water most succulents every 2 to 3 weeks, but it varies by type and indoor conditions. For that reason, you must carefully research each succulent to meet the ideal growing conditions. Follow along as we explore how to set up an indoor succulent garden.
Are Succulents Good Indoor Plants?
Succulents are great indoor plants, but only if you give them enough sunlight throughout the day. Many people have more luck with succulents than they do with other common houseplants. For one thing, they’re highly drought-tolerant, which means you don’t have to water them too often.
That’s a huge deal for people who have so many responsibilities between work, family, and personal obligations. Many people struggle with underwatering houseplants, whereas overwatering is the main concern with indoor succulents. That said, you may not have as much luck if you lack sun-facing windows at your house.
In that case, you must use artificial light to grow succulents indoors. You must also be careful with succulents if you have nosy pets, but other than that, even the least green-thumbed person can take care of succulents with little difficulty.
How To Create An Indoor Succulent Garden
1. Make A Plan
Before you get too carried away, first make a plan for what you want out of your indoor succulent garden. Think about the size and scope of an ideal situation, and then create a budget for yourself. The good news is that most common houseplant succulents are relatively cheap. Starting an indoor succulent garden is also often less expensive than collecting other houseplants. You don’t need as many lights, pots, and products, such as fertilizers.
That alone will heko you not break the bank with your new succulent project. It's also a good idea to begin with grown plants rather than seeds. Growing succulents from seeds takes a long time. Buying full plants is just as rewarding, but it comes without a long waiting period.
2. Look For Indoor Succulents
Some succulents do better indoors than others, and that’s important to remember. Sempervivum and agave are varieties that require lots of direct sunlight, which can be hard to replicate indoors. However, you can grow even the most sun-loving succulents indoors if you use artificial lights. Not everyone wants to increase their electric bills by using artificial lights.
You can avoid that by choosing low-light succulents, such as gasteria and zebra plants. Of course, you must adjust your watering habits with low-light succulents, which require even less water. Otherwise, you will smother and damage the indoor succulents. You may want to start with only a few to get the hang of things before expanding your garden.
3. Pick The Right Containers
A succulent’s growth potential is only as good as the container you choose for it. For example, a small container with poor drainage will restrict its growth. Many succulents do well in shallow planters and terracotta pots, as long as there is a drainage hole. Terracotta is a porous material, which makes it perfect for planting succulents indoors. Choose containers that complement your succulents and match the room’s aesthetic.
4. Find The Light
By now, you should know exactly how much sunlight your succulents need. Ideally, you should group them based on their sun and water requirements to simplify your care routine. That doesn’t mean you need to put them into a single planter, although that is a viable option. If you have sun-facing windows that get 6-8 hours of sunlight per day, you’re in great shape.
Place sun-loving succulents in these sunny spots to support their needs. Open your curtains and blinds to ensure enough sunlight enters the window. Some people have luck putting succulents on their kitchen counters near windows, since too much direct sunlight can harm the plants, so a little diffusion is fine.
5. Supplement The Light
Not everyone has sun-facing windows or enough windowsill space to support succulents. Not all indoor grow lights have equal needs, so you must be careful. Ideally, you should buy full-spectrum lights with a 5000K to 6500K daylight color temperature.
These lights mimic sunlight, which helps support a succulent’s growth without scorching the plant. LEDs are the best option, especially if you don’t want to spend a fortune on energy bills. Keep the lights at least 6” to 12” above the succulents to prevent scorching. Some people run the LEDs for 12 to 16 hours, but it may take some trial and error.
6. Provide Water
One great thing about succulents is that you can control how much water they get. Many people learn the hard way that excessive rain can kill outdoor succulents, which isn’t a problem indoors. However, you can still overwater your indoor succulents if you aren’t careful.
Research each plant variety to make sure you know how much water it needs. In many cases, you only need to water them once every 2 to 3 weeks. Other factors, such as soil or substrate drainage, can also affect the watering schedule. You can tell it’s time to water your succulents when the lower leaves feel soft and wrinkled. Healthy succulent leaves aren’t too flexible, so excessive movement is a sign they are dry. Small succulents need up to 4 ounces of water, whereas bigger ones need up to 1 cup.
7. Keep Your Pets Away
Do you have furry friends at home? Pets are great, but the last thing you want is to find your succulents damaged by your cat. Not only can they hurt and destroy succulents, but your cat may hurt themselves in the process. That’s why your indoor succulents garden should be out of your pets’ reach. This shouldn’t be a problem if they are sitting on a narrow windowsill.
However, you may want to put some aluminum foil or double-sided tape on the edge if it’s wide enough for cats to perch on. Cats hate the texture of double-sided tape and foil, which is why people put it on their furniture to prevent scratching. You can do the same thing with your countertops, which most cats can easily access. It helps to keep cat toys and scratching posts nearby as a distraction.
Are Indoor Succulents Safe For Cats?
Many indoor succulents, such as echeveria and haworthia, are safe for cats. However, string of pearls, aloe vera, jade plant, and kalanchoe are unsafe. This doesn’t mean a feline will die upon ingesting them in every case, but they often experience gastrointestinal problems.
That is reason enough to stick to safe choices for your indoor garden. Cats have great survival instincts and typically know what plants to avoid. However, some breeds may lack that instinct.
Summing It Up
The best way to set up an indoor succulent garden is to buy a few succulents with similar light and water requirements, then group them. This will simplify your maintenance routine, save time, and create a complementary indoor microclimate. Buy full-spectrum LEDs and run them 12 to 16 hours per day to stimulate healthy growth.
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Nick Durante is a professional writer with a primary focus on home improvement. When he is not writing about home improvement or taking on projects around the house, he likes to read and create art. He is always looking towards the newest trends in home improvement.
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