Succulents are the darlings of the plant world, and it’s easy to see why. With their fascinating shapes, diverse colors, and low-maintenance attitude, they bring a touch of natural beauty to any space.
If you’ve been admiring these little gems from afar, it’s time to get in on the fun.
This guide will show you exactly how to plant succulents and create stunning arrangements, even if you’ve never touched a houseplant before. Get ready to unlock your inner plant designer!
This guide is packed with beautiful tips for beginners. We’ll cover choosing the right plants, selecting the perfect soil and containers, and mastering the simple planting techniques that will ensure your succulents thrive from day one.
Step 1: Choosing Your Succulents
Walking into a nursery or browsing online can be overwhelming with so many beautiful succulents to choose from. The key is to pick healthy plants and consider how they’ll look together in an arrangement.
What to Look For in a Healthy Succulent:
- Vibrant Color: Look for plants with bright, uniform colors. While some stress-induced color is desirable (pinks and purples), avoid plants with yellowing or brown, mushy leaves.
- Firm Leaves: Gently touch a leaf. It should feel firm and full, not soft or withered. This indicates the plant is well-hydrated.
- No Pests: Inspect the plant closely, especially where the leaves meet the stem. Look for any signs of pests like white fuzzy spots (mealybugs) or tiny webs (spider mites).
- Good Form: Choose a plant with a compact, symmetrical shape. A “stretched-out” or leggy succulent (a condition called etiolation) is a sign it hasn’t received enough light.
Popular Succulent Varieties for Beginners:
Some succulents are much more forgiving than others, making them perfect for your first project.
- Echeveria: These form beautiful, rose-shaped rosettes and come in a rainbow of colors.
- Sedum (Stonecrop): Many Sedums are trailing plants (like ‘Burro’s Tail’) that look amazing spilling over the edge of a pot.
- Sempervivum (Hens and Chicks): Incredibly hardy, they produce little “chick” offsets around the main “hen” plant.
- Haworthia (Zebra Plant): Known for its striking white stripes and tolerance for lower light conditions.
- Gasteria (Ox Tongue): Has thick, tongue-shaped leaves and is very durable.
Consider starting with a Beginner’s Assorted Succulent Variety Pack to get a great mix of colors and textures to play with.
Step 2: The Two Most Important Supplies
How you plant succulents is just as important as which ones you choose. There are two non-negotiable items you need for success: the right pot and the right soil.
The Perfect Pot: All About Drainage
If there is one golden rule for succulents, it is this: they hate sitting in wet soil. Root rot is the number one killer of these plants. Therefore, the most important feature of any container is a drainage hole.
- Why it’s essential: A drainage hole allows excess water to escape freely, preventing the soil from becoming a waterlogged swamp that will rot the roots.
- What if your pot has no hole? While you can add a layer of rocks at the bottom of a pot without a hole, it’s a risky strategy for beginners. The water still has nowhere to go and can create a hidden reservoir of rot-inducing moisture. If you fall in love with a container that has no hole, your best bet is to use a Diamond Drill Bit Set to carefully add one yourself.
- Material Matters: Terracotta and unglazed ceramic pots are excellent choices because they are porous and allow moisture to evaporate through their walls, helping the soil dry out faster.
The Right Soil: Gritty is Great
Succulents are native to arid, desert-like environments where the soil is sandy and rocky. They cannot survive in standard potting soil, which is designed to retain moisture. You need a soil that mimics their natural habitat.
- What to use: The ideal medium is a fast-draining, gritty mix. This type of soil provides the root aeration succulents need and doesn’t hold onto excess water.
- Buy or DIY?
- Buy: The easiest option is to purchase a pre-made Specialty Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix. This is perfectly formulated for your plants.
- DIY: You can easily make your own! A great beginner’s recipe is to mix two parts potting soil, one part perlite, and one part coarse sand or pumice. This creates a wonderfully airy and fast-draining blend.
Step 3: How to Plant Succulents, Step-by-Step
Now for the fun part—getting your hands dirty and creating your beautiful succulent arrangement!
1. Prepare Your Pot
Cover the drainage hole with a small piece of mesh screen or a coffee filter. This prevents soil from washing out the bottom every time you water, while still allowing water to drain freely. Fill the pot about two-thirds full with your succulent soil mix.
2. Gently Remove the Succulent
Carefully remove the succulent from its nursery pot. Turn the pot on its side and gently squeeze it to loosen the soil. Tease the plant out—don’t pull it by the stem. Once it’s out, gently crumble away the old, compacted soil from the roots, freeing them up so they are ready to grow into their new home.
3. Arrange Your Plants
If you’re creating an arrangement, this is your moment to be an artist.
- Thrillers, Fillers, and Spillers: A classic design principle is to use a taller, eye-catching “thriller” succulent in the center or back, surround it with mounding “filler” succulents, and add a trailing “spiller” succulent near the edge.
- Give Them Space: Don’t overcrowd the pot. Leave a little space between plants to allow for airflow and future growth.
4. Plant and Backfill
Dig a small hole for each succulent. Place the plant in the hole and gently backfill with soil, making sure the plant is sitting at the same depth it was in its nursery pot. The base of the leaves should be sitting just above the soil line, not buried beneath it.
5. Add a Top Dressing (Optional but Recommended)
Once all your plants are in place, consider adding a top dressing of decorative pebbles, small rocks, or Horticultural Gravel. This isn’t just for looks! A top dressing also:
- Helps support the plant and keep it stable.
- Prevents the lower leaves from touching wet soil, which helps prevent rot.
- Gives your arrangement a clean, finished, and professional look.
6. The Post-Planting “Rest”
Do not water your newly planted succulents immediately. This is a common beginner mistake. The roots are delicate and may have tiny breaks from the repotting process. Watering now can introduce bacteria and lead to rot. Let the succulents rest in their new home for 3-7 days to allow the roots to heal before you give them their first drink.
Caring for Your Newly Planted Succulents
- Sunlight: Place your new arrangement in a spot that gets plenty of bright, indirect sunlight. A south- or east-facing windowsill is often perfect. Direct, scorching afternoon sun can burn the leaves of some varieties.
- Watering: When it’s time for that first watering (after the initial rest period), use the “soak and dry” method. Water the soil thoroughly until you see water run out of the drainage hole. Then, do not water again until the soil is completely dry all the way through. You can check this by sticking your finger deep into the soil or using a Soil Moisture Meter. For most indoor succulents, this means watering every 2-4 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: How do I know when to water my succulents?
The best way is to check the soil. Do not water on a schedule. If the soil is even slightly damp, wait longer. Wrinkling or puckering leaves can also be a sign of thirst. It’s always better to underwater a succulent than to overwater it.
Q2: Why are the bottom leaves of my succulent drying up and falling off?
This is usually normal! As a succulent grows, it sheds its oldest, bottom leaves to redirect energy to new growth at the top. As long as the new growth looks healthy and compact, you have nothing to worry about.
Q3: My succulent is stretching out and looks pale. What’s wrong?
This is called etiolation, and it’s a clear sign your plant is not getting enough light. It’s literally stretching to find more sun. Move it to a much brighter location. You cannot fix the stretched part, but the new growth at the top will be compact and healthy in proper light.
Q4: Can I use a glass terrarium for my succulents?
It’s generally not recommended for beginners. Most glass terrariums lack drainage and have poor air circulation, creating a humid environment that is the exact opposite of what succulents need and a perfect recipe for root rot.
