5 reasons to have succulents at home

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

We promise: we will not talk about the "miraculous" power of the cactus against radiation.

1. You will definitely find your succulent

Just imagine: one name unites a whole bunch of completely different plants. The only thing they have in common is the ability to go without water for a while.

The most famous succulents are cacti. You can choose from classic rebutia or echinocactus, tephrocactus articulatus with "paper" thorns, fluffy esposto or other species.

Echinocactus / articulo.mercadolibre.com.mx

Crassula is not inferior to them in popularity. Some species of this plant have even been nicknamed the money tree for the leaves that look like coins.

Another popular succulent that surprises with its variety of species is the Kalanchoe.

Kalanchoe serrata / articulo.mercadolibre.com.co

Kalanchoe pumila / plantsworld.in

Other unusual representatives of succulents are lithops. They are also called living stones.

They are quite small, but they look quite impressive, especially in compositions.

2. You will be able to admire the bloom

Some succulents have amazingly beautiful flowers. For example, easy-care and miniature mammillaria cacti. The color scheme is varied and depends on the species.

Large single faucaria flowers reach 5 centimeters in diameter. Leaves with thin outgrowths that resemble a predatory grin are also expressive.

The aeonium also blooms beautifully. And its leaves, which are collected in rosettes on the tops of the shoots, look no less impressive than the flowers.

Aeonium balsamic / surrealsucculents.co.uk

Eonium schwarzkopf / gardeningexpress.co.uk

3. You can easily find a place for a succulent

For a miniature cactus in a pot, any windowsill or desktop is suitable, the main thing is that there is enough light. Thorny pets feel best on the east, west and south windows. And from a lack of light, they stretch out.

Kalanchoe, Crassula, aloe, sedum, echeveria also prefer bright light. It is better to put them on windowsills or on shelves and racks next to windows.

But sansevieria feels comfortable even with light shading.

It can be placed near the window or in the back of the room. But a strong darkening for the plant is undesirable. Because of this, the leaves will lose their color over time, but when the place changes, the sansevieria will gradually recover. It is also undesirable to put species with bright stripes on the leaves in the shade - they can fade.

4. You will surely cope with leaving

All succulents have one thing in common: they retain moisture in their stems or leaves. Therefore, they easily tolerate drought in nature. This means that at home they do not need daily water procedures. Such green pets can be safely left unattended for several days. They will not wither or die.

But you can't do without moisture either. The schedule must be selected individually for each plant. For example, water cacti from summer to autumn about once a week. It is better to shorten the interval in hot weather, and to increase it in bad weather. A plant that hibernates in a cool place does not need to be watered. At normal room temperature, from February to March, water the prickly pet once every couple of weeks or a little less often.

There is one general rule.

Water succulents only with filtered, boiled or settled water for a day or two.

Its temperature should be a couple of degrees above room temperature, too cold or hot will harm the root system.

Pour water into a drip tray or top of a pot. Try not to get on the plants themselves. Remove excess moisture from the pallet. Let the soil dry out between waterings and don't create a swamp. Excess water for succulents is more dangerous than lack of water.

5. You will feel better

Succulents are not only beautiful, but also very useful plants. They purify the air. A study of interior landscape plants for indoor air pollution abatement has shown that sansevieria and aloe vera do an excellent job of this. They can remove up to 87% of volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde and benzene. And cacti emit oxygen even at night, unlike most other plants. So they are great for the bedroom.

And one more bonus for succulent lovers. Scientists have found Health and well-being benefits of plants that the presence of plants in a room or on a desk makes people more alert and helps them concentrate. Green pets also reduce stress levels and make us happier.