What Are The Best Succulents For Beginners?
It is likely that you are familiar with succulents and that you may even own one or two. Whether you are new to succulents or just want to dip your toe into the game, here are ten of the best succulents for beginners.
There are so many types of succulents out there, and they come in gorgeous shapes, sizes, colors, and patterns. Their thick, fleshy, juicy-looking leaves that hold water are one of their most distinguishing features. The fact that they generally come from hot, dry areas contributes to their drought resiliency-they store their own water reserves.
10 Of The Best Succulents For Beginners
These plants are normally very easy to care for and patient as houseplants since they possess this defining characteristic. They are as happy as can be as long as they get bright enough light and don’t get overwatered. In this article, we’ll list ten succulents suitable for beginners, as well as some of their most important characteristics.
Haworthia Fasciata or Zebra Plant
Zebra plants, or Haworthia fasciata, are beautiful, exotic-looking plants that can withstand your experiments as you learn how to care for succulents. This is an evergreen succulent with short, spiky leaves that grows in clumps so it divides itself quite easily. There are thick leaves that are slightly rough and green, with raised white stripes and spots on them.
Succulents, like many others, thrive in bright light, though mine do well on a shelf near a window. It has also been a patient plant since it outgrew its pot and I have been waiting months on end to get it repotted!
Well-draining soil is necessary for zebra plant succulents. Zebra plants used to grow in pots without drainage holes, but I once had a succulent without a drain hole. It was out on the deck for a week or two before I remembered to bring it in. Due to the rain, it got a lot of water, and is beginning to turn brownish. After I brought it inside and let it dry out, it rebounded quickly. What a patient plant!
Sansevieria Trifasciata or Snake Plant
It may not even cross your mind that Sansevieria trifasciata, sometimes known as snake plant or mother-in-law’s tongue plant, is a succulent! Succulent plants are often associated with small rosette-shaped plants that need a lot of sun and thrive in rock landscaping.
Despite the fact that snake plants can do well in dry landscapes because they retain large amounts of water in their leaves, they don’t need a lot of sun. They do not have a rosette-like appearance. There are all sorts of patterns and color variations to choose from on these pointy, upright leaves, and it is one of the most easily available plants at local shops.
Snake plants actually do quite well under low-light conditions, in contrast to a lot of other succulents. It’s still going strong for the plants! There’s no doubt they’d appreciate more light. The snake plant, however, tolerates neglect extremely well. In fact, it is possible for them to do better with neglect than with too much attention. Overwatering is the leading cause of snake plant death.
Echeveria Succulents
A list of the best succulents for beginners would be incomplete without echeveria. Succulents like these are probably the most widely owned succulents. Rose-shaped plants of countless colors and sizes belong to this large genus of plants, though most of them remain small. As long as they’re kept in the right environment, they’re extremely easy to take care of.
It is best to keep Echeveria succulent plants in the sunlight, under a grow light, or outside, as they need lots of light. In the summer, they thrive in bright sunlight, and since they store water in their thick leaves, they don’t require a lot of water. A well-draining soil is also essential for a healthy plant.
The echeveria becomes leggy and unattractive when not given enough light. The stem of a succulent that lacks light gradually elongates, increasing the distance between the leaves as it grows, and gradually becomes weaker. In a sense, the plant is searching for light.
Sempervivum or Hens and Chicks
Sempervivum, also called hens and chicks, houseleeks, and a bunch of other names, are traditional succulents. Echeveria succulents are sometimes confused with it because of its shape, but they are distinct. The genus Sempervivum contains between 40 and 50 species of plants. In addition, they are so easy to take care of. Moreover, the name sempervivum derives from Latin and means “always living.”
The name “hens and chicks” is derived from the fact that rosettes (hens) produce offsets (chicks) that propagate themselves. Even in warm, sunny weather, they grow like weeds, and they require just a few cares.
I would suggest that you consider purchasing hens and chicks if you’re looking for a cool-looking succulent plant you’re likely to keep alive. It is also possible to grow them outside in relatively harsh conditions, unlike some succulents. It is shocking to learn that they can grow in rocks and on roof shingles.
Graptopetalum Paraguayense or Ghost Plant
Graptopetalum paraguayense is known as a ghost plant because of its elegant leaves, which are longer and chunkier than sempervivum or echeverias. A plant like this has a spread and trailing habit; it grows rosette upon rosette after rosette.
Green and gray leaves are commonly found on plants, and they can be easily removed. (Some people actually call this plant a “porcelain plant” for this reason.) If you’re repotting the plant, expect it to lose some leaves. Since they are so fragile, you can break a leaf just by looking at it the wrong way. However, the good news is that they can sprout and grow new plants as soon as they are left in the pot!
It’s important for ghost plants to grow in soil that drains well and has good light. The window in my room has ample sunlight, so I have always placed mine there. A plant’s stem can also trail a bit because leaves tend to shed around its base. It will root if you cut off the stem and replant it if you don’t like this bare look.
Crassula Varieties
The most enjoyable succulent to me is probably the crassula variety. These intricate designs and patterns of stacked leaves are beautiful. In the genus crassula, there are approximately 200 species, nearly all of which can tolerate some frost. It is hard to kill them. Although these animals enjoy a lot of light, if there isn’t enough of it, they may grow leggy and stretched out.
Crassula Ovata or Jade Plant
The type of crassula I’d like to emphasize is crassula ovata, also referred to as jade, jade plants, or jade trees. A jade plant looks like a bonsai tree, and it reminds me of that. It has thick trunks and branches, as well as gorgeous, glossy, thick leaves that look almost artificial. Though there are different cultivars with different looks, the leaves are obviously a gorgeous jade green.
Jade plants truly do resemble miniature trees when trimmed or pruned. Jade is an easy plant to propagate, so I simply inserted a cutting into some loose soil and it grew right away. One year later, it is still standing strong on my window sill. In fact, it has sprouted new babies along its stem! As well as leaf cuttings, you can propagate jade from them. It is a good choice to have jade plants around your home because they require a little sunlight each day, approximately four to six hours.
Euphorbia Trigona or African milk tree
This is not a plant that I often see recommended as an easy succulent for beginners, and I’m not sure why. It looks cool and is easy to use. Euphorbia trigona or the African milk tree is not a tree or a cactus at all, despite looking a lot like one! Ideally, it does well in a hot, dry environment. While it can survive in colder temperatures, it does not like prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures.
In addition, it requires very little maintenance. It will thrive as long as it gets enough light (6 hours of bright daylight per day at a minimum), and does not get overwatered. A too-frequent watering of the African milk tree can make it unhappy or even kill it. Despite its preference for bright light, this succulent can also survive neglect.
Kalanchoe Thyrsiflora or Flapjack Paddle Plant
Known as the flapjack paddle plant, the kalanchoe thyrsiflora succulent adds some color to the usually green succulent landscape. Red tips appear on the leaves of this large plant. This plant was given to me by my mom several years ago, but it has been neglected severely. I’m not going to lie.
It was in an area where it didn’t get enough light for a while (it likes a lot of light). As a result, the plant’s main stem got leggy and stretched out, which was not very attractive. For the repair, I simply cut off the stem and removed the leaves from the bottom, then replanted it. It has rooted itself and is still flourishing.
Whenever the leaves on the stalk start to wrinkle or dry near the base, you can just peel them off. Plants will continue to grow new leaves and offsets as long as they are happy!
Beaucarnea Recurvata or Ponytail Palm
Another plant you might not even recognize as a succulent! The name of the tree might include the word “palm,” but it is not a palm tree. There are many differences between it and the yucca plant.
At its base, the trunk has a large bulbous appearance, and its top sprouts long, curly leaves, resembling ponytails. In contrast to many other succulents, this plant only has thin leaves since it stores water in its trunk, not its leaves. A ponytail palm needs a lot of bright sunlight and doesn’t tolerate overwatering.