How to plant and care for succulents at home. Succulent - what is it? Types, names, reproduction and care at home

Succulents are perhaps the most unpretentious plants that anyone can grow on the windowsill without any problems. How to care for them at home, radically different from natural conditions, will be discussed in the article. Photos, descriptions of varieties, methods of reproduction, rules for transplanting and watering will help you get to know these amazing creatures even closer.

What are succulents

Almost all representatives of this group are endowed with juicy stems and leaves literally filled with liquid. Such stocks are conceived by nature in order to survive, since the living conditions of plants are quite difficult. Almost all of them grow in the desert, where it is very difficult to get water.

To adapt to the conditions of lack of water, succulents are endowed with the following qualities aimed at reducing the evaporation of liquid and reserving it:

• The stem and leaves are covered with a wax coating or densely pubescent.
• The leaves are replaced by spines through which evaporation does not occur.
• Many succulents have a ribbed stem that straightens out when water enters it, thus increasing the amount of storage.

Succulents - crops native to the desert

• Often the leaves are rounded, which reduces the area of ​​evaporation.
• During the day, the plant "does not breathe." Gas exchange occurs at night when air temperature drops and humidity rises.
• The leaves are trough-shaped, allowing moisture to flow down to the roots.
• In order to protect from the burning sun, all parts of the culture are light in color and are capable of producing protective red and brown pigments.
• Most of the plant is hidden in the ground.

Succulents also have adaptations to protect themselves from natural enemies: insects, birds and animals. For example, thorns, poisonous or just very bitter juice. Some of them “hide”, imitating the surrounding stones (lithops), while the leaves of others “scare” with the likeness of the open mouth of an animal (fuacaria).

According to the botanical classification, all succulents are divided into 2 subgroups:

1. Stem - able to retain moisture in thick stems. These include cacti, euphorbia.
2. Leafy - retain water in fleshy leaves. Of the representatives of hot countries, one can name aloe, lithops, echeveria, haworthia. In a temperate climate, stonecrop and young can be found in nature.

All of the listed succulents perfectly adapt to room conditions, so amateurs grow them with pleasure on their windowsills.

How to care

When growing at home, the main thing is to maintain the following indicators at the proper level as much as possible:

• lighting;
• temperature;
• hydration.

Plant shape changes from lack of light

Lighting is a very important parameter. With its lack, the plants are stretched, bent. Their flowering is weak or absent. Red and yellow shades completely disappear from the color palette of leaves and stems. Succulents also suffer from excess lighting. Traces of sunburn in the form of straw-colored spots may appear on leaves and stems. Some parts become red in color - this is a consequence of the development of a protective pigment.

Advice. To avoid damage during the hot summer period, it is better to set the pots away from the window pane.

It is necessary to select indicators of ambient temperature depending on the state in which the plant is now. If this is the growing season, which in most species takes the interval from April to October, then the numbers should be +25..+35°C. And for the rest period, from November to March, you need to move the pets to a cool room (+10..+15°C).

It is better to feed once a month. To do this, you can purchase a fertilizer for cacti with a low nitrogen content. In the cold season, fertilizing is not recommended.

How to properly water and transplant

Proper watering directly depends on the frequency of life of the succulent. During the growing season, the earthen ball is moistened only when it is completely dry. Moreover, watering should be plentiful.

Do not water such indoor flowers too often.

Under natural conditions, most representatives of succulents receive water in the form of condensate from the air, or during rare rains. Therefore, these plants are alien to impurities of salts, usually dissolved in groundwater. They should be watered only with rain or distilled water.

Advice. It is better to water succulents with water at room temperature. This will allow it to be absorbed quickly.

In late autumn and winter, that is, during the dormant period, you can not water at all. At this time, all life processes slow down in them and there is no need for water.

It is better to transplant during the growing season. As a soil, a mixture of turf and leaf soil (1: 1) is used with the addition of 10% baking powder (perlite, sand, brick chips). Such a substrate passes water and air well.

Methods of propagation of representatives of succulents

You can propagate these unpretentious plants yourself in two ways:

• with the help of seeds;
• germination of plant fragments.

Cultivation in the first way is carried out, observing the following rules:

• The soil and container intended for sowing must be sterile.
• Seeds are not buried in the ground, but scattered over the surface.

Attention! Succulent seedlings, unlike adult plants, require high humidity. Therefore, their cultivation requires hermetically sealed transparent containers.

• The temperature during germination should be at least 25°C.
• Lighting seedlings require very strong.

Most succulents are propagated by stem fragments.

Hobbyists rarely grow succulents from seeds due to the laboriousness of the process. It is much easier to get a plant by rooting a fragment of it. For example, Crassulaceae (Kalanchoe, Sedum, etc.) easily reproduce by lateral shoots and leaves. And haworthia and gasteria are able to germinate even from small leaf fragments. Most cacti reproduce by babies that grow on the main stem from spring to autumn. They are simply torn off from the mother plant and planted in another pot.

« Plants that are included in the group united by the term "succulents" are not related to each other by a common origin, their similar features are caused by similar living conditions.» (c) Source: Wikipedia.

In nature, succulents grow in arid areas, have great tolerance to temperature fluctuations and lighting, however, in order to provide the plant with proper care at home, you need to become more familiar with how to grow succulents. .

Choosing a pot and soil

Have you bought a new plant from the store, or are you wondering how to repot your homemade succulent? Let's take a closer look at all the subtleties and rules of landing. So that growing brings you only joy!

• Start by choosing a pot. Choose the right pot size, it should be a couple of centimeters wider than your plant. For small fleshy individuals, for example, such as Echeveria, Molodilo, Graptoveria, Pachyveria, Stonecrop, low clay or ceramic pots and planters are suitable. Examples of pots and decoration. For all succulents, wide and low pots are usually used, but for large individuals with a developed root system, a regular pot with a drainage system is suitable.

• It is best to transplant succulents in spring or summer, so if you purchased a plant in winter, it is better to leave it until spring in a bright place without transplanting. Next, you need to purchase drainage (fine expanded clay) and earth. A store-bought substrate for succulents and cacti of neutral acidity is suitable, in which coarse sand can be added (if the sand is not from the store, it should be calcined on the stove), a little coconut substrate, or small pebbles such as gravel or expanded clay, and charcoal.

• The soil should be light, with good moisture and air permeability. It is better to avoid a high content of peat in the substrate.

We transplant correctly

• Before planting, wash the pot and all tools with hot water. From a plastic pot, the plant is easy to get by pressing in a circle on the walls. If the pot is ceramic, the soil in the plant must be dry. Carefully turning the pot over, we take out our plant. Large plants can be transplanted with a clod of earth (transshipment method), while for small plants it is better to very carefully free the roots from the old substrate by washing them in boiled water at room temperature.

• We fill the bottom of the pot with drainage, if the pot is high, the drainage level is 5-7 cm, in the low one 2-3 cm is enough. We put the prepared substrate on top, which does not need to be tamped, leaving about 2 cm from the top of the pot. We install the plant on the substrate, and fall asleep top with sand with small pebbles, hiding all the roots. You can fill it with the same substrate, but put a thin layer of fine expanded clay on top.
• We put the transplanted plant in a bright place, avoiding drafts and direct sunlight.

It is not necessary to water the plant immediately after transplanting, it is recommended to give it a couple of days to adapt. Before transplanting, too, you should let the earth dry out.

Care

Useful video

Watering and lighting

When watering, do not allow water to get on the leaves and into the outlet of the plant, this provokes rotting. You can use the bottom watering, if there is a hole in the bottom of the pot.

Watering should be regular about 1-2 times a week in summer (less often, determining the softness of the leaf), and once every three weeks in winter. Always make sure the topsoil is dry before the next watering. You should use settled or filtered water at room temperature. If your pot does not have a hole at the bottom, you should set the limit of the liquid introduced, about 5 ml at a time, if you see that the leaves of the plant have become less fleshy and soft, increase the amount of liquid introduced.

Lighting should be good, you can choose a south window to accommodate your friend, but despite the fact that succulents tolerate open sunlight well in the wild, in summer it is better to shade the plant, and gradually accustom it to the bright sun after buying it in the store, and also after cold season.

In some types of succulents, the color of the leaves directly depends on the presence of sunlight. For example, the red color in the sun is acquired by such species as - Echeveria agavoid, Stonecrop red-colored, Echeveria pulidonis, Stonecrop Nussbaumer.

Aloe vera

Video instruction: how to water succulents

Humidity and temperature

Succulents love damp places, but don't mist their leaves. It is better to use a humidifier in the apartment, or put the plant next to the aquarium. If it is not possible to maintain humidity in the room, provide the plant with fresh air by opening a window, or taking it out to the balcony in summer. Avoid drafts.

Succulents tolerate temperature extremes well, especially during the day and at night. The optimum temperature in summer is +25 -30 degrees during the day and 15-18 degrees at night (in summer you can move the plant to the balcony). In winter, during the day, the optimum temperature is 15-20 degrees Celsius, at night 13-15.

Fertilizer

It must be remembered that succulents cannot be fed in winter, when they are in a dormant period, and immediately after transplantation. Top dressing can be done in spring - summer during the growth period, in moderation. It is better to purchase special fertilizers for cacti and succulents in flower shops. If you choose from universal fertilizers, you should avoid excess Nitrogen (N) in the composition, because. it encourages root rot. It is better to use fertilizers, in which the content of Potassium (K) will be the first, the second Phosphorus (P).

According to reviews, a good fertilizer for cacti and succulents "Pocon" has an approximate cost of 250 rubles. for 250 ml.

Potential Growing Problems and Diseases

Succulents rarely suffer from external pests, but it happens that thrips or nematodes are introduced into the roots of plants (this will happen if the earth and filler were taken from the site and not properly processed). In this case, you will have to propagate the plant with a tip, or transplant with a complete cleansing of the roots from the old soil and treating them with disinfectant solutions.

Most often, inexperienced succulent lovers are faced with such a problem as plant rotting, which can quickly destroy the plant. To prevent rot, it is recommended to observe the irrigation regime, and add charcoal to the soil when transplanting.

• brown spots on leaves and shoots - may mean that the fungus Botrytis has wound up in the plant, which can cause leaf rotting. What to do: cut off the affected leaves, reduce the watering of the plant (leave the soil dry for a couple of days), and treat the plant with a special fungicide solution, for example, Maxim.
• Brown spots with an unpleasant odor - It's Erwinia bacterium, started up in your plant. What to do: remove damaged parts of the plant, reduce watering, treat with a solution of potassium permanganate.

In order to prevent rot, you need to water the succulent less often and periodically examine the leaves for the presence of rot.

• The plant has an unhealthy red or green tinge, cloudy dew, or white spots - spores of fungi such as aspergillosis or penigillosis. What to do: treat the affected leaves with an alkaline solution (for example, soda) or a solution of potassium permanganate.
• The plant died quickly., there were no external signs of the disease - most likely, the root system was infected with nematoses. What to do: if healthy leaves remain on the plant, they can be propagated and the dead plant thrown away with the ground. The pot is well disinfected. At the next planting of the succulent, add charcoal to the soil, observe the irrigation regime.
• leaf burns - it is likely that you left the plant in the open sun, after hibernation, or after shopping in a store. What to do: gradually accustom the plant to bright sunlight.

Useful care video

The main property of succulents in their homeland - the arid territories of America and South Africa - is the ability to store a significant amount of water in their organs and use it sparingly during a period of debilitating heat.

Plants with succulent thick leaves where water accumulates are leaf succulents (agave, stonecrop, aloe, young, lithops). In most stem succulents (many types of cacti, milkweed), the leaves have transformed into needles or small scales, and water is collected in thickened stems and roots. Caring for succulents comes down to rare watering, fertilizing and infrequent transplants.

Lighting

Succulent plants are very photophilous, and it is recommended to keep them in the brightest place in the apartment, where there is a lot of fresh air and no drafts. When placed on the northern windows, they need additional lighting. Ripsalidopsis prefers partial shade.

In summer, succulents are useful to take out to the balcony or garden, protecting them from direct sunlight at noon. In winter, most of them are at rest and feel good at temperatures from +5 to +15 degrees.

Watering

One of the main rules for caring for succulents is proper watering. During the dormant period, water little, but do not allow the roots to dry out completely. Leaf succulents at this time need more moisture and heat than stem succulents. In spring, moisture is gradually increased, it is more useful to spray first, and at the first signs of growth, switch to regular watering. Water for irrigation should be separated, at room temperature. Rebutia and Schlumbergera are very susceptible to excess moisture, and aloe can withstand without watering for a long time.

Before transplanting, the plants are not watered for 3-4 days, it is undesirable to moisten the succulents even after transplanting, placing them in a place protected from the sun.

The soil

Transplanting succulents begins in the spring. The soil mixture is prepared quite nutritious, loose, permeable, with a large amount of sand, consisting of soddy soil, rotted compost, sand and expanded clay in equal parts. It is useful to add 1/10 of crushed charcoal to the total volume of the prepared soil mixture. You can purchase ready-made soil mixtures in the store, for example, Cactus substrate, Akadama succulent soil, Biagro.

Adenium obese and astrophytum are planted in a substrate containing clay, spurge and ripsalis prefer acidified soil, and lithops need crushed stone as part of the substrate. For industrial cultivation of milkweed tirucalli, a hydroponic installation is used, its caustic milky juice is tried to be processed into oil.

During the period of budding and flowering, succulents are not transplanted. Part of the care of young succulents is an annual transplant, older succulents are transplanted every 2-3 years, when the roots become crowded in a pot, but it is advisable to replace the top layer of the earth with fresh earth mixture with the beginning of each spring.

top dressing

Caring for succulents comes down not only to watering, but also to top dressing. During winter dormancy, fertilizers are not applied. Top dressing is carried out during the spring growing season no more than 1 time per month. The composition of fertilizers differs from the standard for indoor plants in a lower concentration (about 2 grams per liter of water) and a reduced content of nitrogen, which provokes root rot in plants. Flower shops offer a sufficient range of preparations for feeding succulents - Stimovit, Pokon, ETISSO, Master, Humic fertilizer for cacti and succulents.

Aeonium arborescens and Gruzona echinocactus are fertilized every 2 weeks in summer. Selenicereus, whose large flowers appear only at night, needs weekly top dressing. Aporocactus prefers irregular fertilization, while havortia and sedum do with little or no fertilizing.

Features of reproduction of succulents

Succulent plants are propagated by seeds or vegetatively (by cuttings or grafting). Cut cuttings should lie down for several days at room temperature in a place protected from the sun. When the sections dry up, they are placed for rooting in sand, perlite or peat. The substrate must be dry, the cuttings of cacti are deepened a little, other succulents are placed deeper, then lightly watered and transferred to a greenhouse or windowsill. When the substrate dries up, the cuttings are covered with a glass jar or film, airing daily. On warm days, the cuttings can be lightly sprayed, but it is undesirable to cover them wet. If roots have formed, the shelter is removed and regular watering begins.

Mostly cacti are propagated by grafting, but the grafting technique is very complicated, and quite experienced flower growers practice it.

An unusual phenomenon is Mikhanovich's hymnocalycium with a pink, red or yellow body, sitting on top of a green fellow, a cactus without chlorophyll, capable of growing only when grafted onto another slow-growing cactus.

Seeds propagate lithops - "blooming stones".

Succulent plants are undemanding to care for, and a novice grower can safely choose them to settle in their home.

Succulents are plants that are distinguished by their ability to store the necessary moisture for quite a long time, unlike other types of house flowers. They are undemanding in care but need a lot of sunlight. In this article, we will look at the most popular indoor succulents, as well as answer the question of how to care for succulents, how to grow succulents so that they bloom.

Succulents have a huge number of species and a wide variety of names. Currently, denlologists have more than 10,000 species of these plants growing in various regions, and the most significant part is represented by the plant of the following families:

• cactus;
• dovetail;
• asphodelic;
• crassian;
• euphorbia;
• mesembryanthems.

Lithops

Indoor succulents - lithops

The most unusual succulents are plants resembling stones. The hot deserts of Africa are considered the birthplace of these exotic plants. Every year, these stone plants give birth to the most beautiful and graceful blooms.

Growing Rules

Lighting

Succulents of this species are very photophilous and react rather poorly to a change in location. It would be most correct to place lithops on the southern windowsill and not rearrange anywhere in the future.

Pot

Lithops is characterized by a voluminous root system, so the pot should not be small. In addition, it was noted that these plants may grow poorly and not please with flowering, if they are alone in a pot.

The soil

Under natural conditions, these succulents grow on stony soils, which perfectly pass water and air, but peat soil is not suitable for lithops. Clay or brick chips, as well as leaf humus, should be included in the mixture.

Temperature regime

This ornamental plant should be kept in a room with a moderate temperature. In winter, a temperature of 10 -12 C is best, and in the summer, it is better to take the succulent to an open area.

Watering

Like all succulents, lithops should be watered moderately, which will avoid the formation of rot in the root system. The bottom watering method is best, but do not forget that water should in no way get into the gap between the leaves. During the dormant period, lithops should not be watered at all.

Features of care

During the period of active growth, lithops change leaves: the outdated shell cracks, and inside a new pair of leaves is formed. Do not speed up this process, because it can destroy the plant. Lithops have such a feature, they should not be disturbed from the last days of July to mid-August, and also from November to March. During these periods, the succulent is at rest, the leaves fade, and the succulent itself stops growing. Having found these signs, it is necessary to stop watering the plant. In addition, during dormancy, lithops should be kept in a dry place. A couple of weeks after the August vacation, there will already be blooming succulents on the windowsill.

Haworthia

In the photo, indoor succulent - Haworthia Cooper

Haworthia is one of the most popular succulent flowers among house plant lovers. Indoor succulent has a beautiful basal rosette, consisting of fleshy, long and pointed leaves at the end. Peduncles are formed, but it is recommended to cut them off, since the buds of this species are not particularly decorative, but quite a lot is taken from the plant. Haworthia is native to South Africa.

Growing Rules

haworthia trunkata

Lighting

Haworthias need bright light, but do not forget that this plant can burn out from strong sunlight. In such a succulent should be darkened. In terms of localization, it is better to use the western and eastern sides.

Temperature

Indoor succulents of this species need a moderate temperature from spring to autumn and love it when the air temperature at night and daytime varies significantly. The optimal range in spring and summer should be 23-27 degrees Celsius, and in winter - 10-12 degrees.

Watering

From mid-March to November, these succulents should be watered moderately, only after the soil has dried, and in winter - no more than 2 times a month. For irrigation, it is better to use soft and settled water.

Air humidity

Air humidity for haworthia does not play a big role and spraying the leaves is not a mandatory procedure. Indoor haworthia succulent is in dire need of fresh air, therefore, not in the warm season, you should ventilate the room in which the plants are located.

Fertilizer

To improve growth rates, havrotia can be fed with a mild solution for cacti. The procedure for fertilizing should be carried out no more than 1 time per month.

The soil

For haworthias, the best combination of leaf soil, humus and sand, in addition, you can buy ready-made soil in a gardening store.

reproduction

The process of propagation of indoor haworthia succulent is easily carried out with the help of daughter outlets, which are separated when planted along with the root system. In addition, these succulents can be propagated by a cut leaf, which must be sprinkled with crushed coal, dried for several days, and only then planted in prepared soil. The transplanted havortia should be watered only after the formation of young roots, which appear no earlier than three to four weeks.

Pachypodium

In the photo Pachypodium horombenze

Pachypodium has a tree-like structure, and its thickened stem perfectly retains water and is covered with thorns. The narrowed and oblong leaves of these succulents are shed during the winter period. Some species of pachypodium contain rubber in their leaf sap.
Under natural conditions, these plants grow in the central and southern regions of Africa.

Growing Rules

Lighting

Lighting for the pachypodium does not play a significant role in the process; indoor succulents of this species grow well both in bright light and in partial shade. In early spring, it is better to darken the pachypodium a little so that the plant adapts to the sun's rays.

Temperature

To temperature, as well as to lighting, pachypodiums are not very demanding. The main thing is that in summer the temperature regime does not exceed 28 degrees Celsius, and in winter it does not fall below 16 degrees. Also, do not forget to take these succulents to the balcony in the summer.

Watering

Watering during the growth of the pachypodium is quite intensive. In an adult plant, the soil should dry out between waterings. In winter, watering should not be carried out more than 2 times a month.

The soil

The soil is best used with a neutral acidity with a loose consistency. A mixture of turf, coarse sand and leafy soil is excellent. Inclusions of clay or charcoal will not be superfluous, and sprinkle the top layer with a fine fraction of gravel. For the normal growth of the pachypodium, drainage is required, which will occupy at least a third of the height of the pot.

top dressing

Fertilization for pachypodium occurs in the spring and summer, and complex fertilizers are excellent as top dressing. These succulents should not be fertilized within three to four weeks after transplantation, this can kill the plant.

Transfer

Due to the fact that pachypodiums are slow growing succulents, they should not be replanted every year. When transplanting, one must act quite carefully, since the root system of these indoor succulents is rather fragile.

reproduction

The propagation procedure should be carried out exclusively by seeds, because this type of succulent family is characterized by poor rooting of the stem.

Bloom

Blooming Pahapodium Sanders

Blooming pachypodium succulents can please their owners no earlier than 6-7 years and only with proper care.

Pachypodium diseases

A possible reason for the fall of the upper leaves of the pachypodium is too frequent watering, and with insufficient water, the leaves wither and the trunk shrinks. Blackening and falling of the leaves can be caused by insufficient sunlight or when watering with cold water. Rotting of the trunk of the pachypodium indicates a low temperature and excess water.

fat woman

In the photo, a fat woman is carpeted

The birthplace of this popular and very numerous plant, which is called the "money tree", is the southern part of the African continent. The leaves of indoor succulents are both small and scaly, and quite large, reaching 2-3 cm. Succulent plants of this species have a wide variety of leaf shapes and a very large palette of shades, there are even bright red and inconspicuously gray leaves.

Growing Rules

Lighting

It is better to place the fat woman in the southeast side of the house. These succulents are afraid of direct sunlight, from which the leaves may turn red, wither and fall off. Falling leaves at the "money tree" can also be caused by a lack of fresh air. In summer, the fat woman will feel great on the balcony, and in winter - on the windowsills of the south side.

Temperature

In spring and summer, these succulents should be kept at a temperature of 20-25 degrees. In the autumn winter months, the optimal temperature regime is 14-16 degrees Celsius. The fat woman can be left at rest and at room temperature, but it is likely that the leaves will fall off and the plant itself will dry out.

Watering

The most important point in caring for these indoor succulents is watering. You should carefully monitor the earthen clod and prevent drying out or excess moisture. In hot weather, it is best to water at least 2 times a week. In winter, the fat woman should be watered 2 times a month.

reproduction

When propagating the "money tree" with the help of cuttings, they should be put in water, so the roots will sprout. For the speedy formation of a new root, it is recommended to add crushed charcoal to the water. After the roots appear, the cuttings are planted in small vessels with soil obtained by mixing soddy-deciduous soil and sand in equal proportions. In the future, pots with cuttings must be placed in a room with a temperature of 16-18 degrees and watered every day. Propagation by seed is a less common procedure, and the process of caring for germinated seeds is no different from caring for cuttings.

Crassula flowering

Crassula blooms

Crassula flowering is a very rare occurrence, which not all experienced florists can boast of. It is possible to grow a "money tree" blooming with amazing snow-white flowers only with careful observance of the entire set of care recommendations. In most cases, the flowering of the fat woman occurs during active growth.

crown formation

To give these succulents a more decorative look, one has to resort to crown formation, which consists in pruning overgrown shoots. After proper pruning, four leaves should remain on the branch. Periodically, you should pinch the top of the fat woman. In addition, in order to give the succulents a beautiful and uniform crown, it is necessary to periodically change the side of the plant, on which the bulk of the sunlight falls.

adenium

Adenium - a beautifully flowering indoor succulent

Adenium is a compact flowering tree. An unusually thickened stem, thick twisted roots immediately attract the eye and give this succulent an original and rather interesting appearance. These plants are in high demand among florists because of their predisposition to the Japanese art of bonsai.

Growing Rules

Lighting

This succulent plant is light-loving, so the best place for it would be a windowsill on the south side. During extreme heat, it will not be superfluous to darken the lighting a little, since the sun's rays can burn the trunk of this plant.

Temperature

For adenium, whose natural habitat is hot deserts, a temperature of 24-26 degrees in the spring and summer is perfect. In winter, the temperature regime should not fall below 10 degrees, otherwise the succulent will die. The optimum temperature will be 14-16 degrees.

Watering

When watering, use water at room temperature, and repeat the procedure only after the soil is completely dry. Adenium, like any other succulent, is afraid of excess moisture.

Transfer

It should be taken into account that the root system of these succulents increases in width, so the capacity must be wide. Based on this feature, it is better to choose light colors for the plant container so that the soil, and with it the root system, does not overheat. In the process of transplanting with seeds, they should be kept in an epin solution for 6-8 hours, and then planted in a mixture of vermiculite and sand. Approximately in 7-10 days the first shoots will appear. When propagating these succulents using cuttings, one should take seriously the concentration of moisture in the soil, because with an excess of water, the cuttings will simply rot.

Priming

The soil for Adenium is the same as for most succulents - a mixture of sand, leaf and sod soil. Impurities of crushed brick chips and charcoal will not interfere.

Indoor succulents are a great option for beginner gardeners. They are quite easy to care for, the main thing is not to forget about good drainage and ventilation of the room.

Video "Secrets of growing indoor succulents"

The succulent is a real miracle of nature that retains water in its leaves, stems and roots. Since people are used to thinking of succulents as a desert plant, many do not realize that when they are grown at home or in the garden, special attention must be paid to watering.

How to water succulents indoors

Instead of watering succulents little by little, it is better to water them once in large quantities so that the water completely soaks the soil. The soil must be well-drained so that there is no stagnant water. Be sure to drain the water that accumulates in the pan at the base of the pot. Allow the soil to dry completely before watering again. After watering, after a week, check the soil. If it is still damp, then watering is not necessary. After a couple of days, you can check again and then water it.

Stonecrop, juvenile, kalanchoe, aloe, and sansevier (also known as mother-in-law's tongue) are popular succulents for growing at home. Succulents also include cacti, which usually need less water than other succulents.

You can buy potting soil for succulents at flower shops or make your own. The substrate should be light, loose, well-drained and well aerated, containing coarse sand particles with the addition of perlite. You can use the following composition of the soil mixture:
- leaf humus - 40%;
- sand (not very fine, 1-1.5 mm) - 40%;
- charcoal - 10%;
- soil baking powder (perlite, coarse sand, expanded clay 2.5-4 mm) - 10%.
If you use ready-made soil for cacti for transplanting, then it must be supplemented (by 20-30% of the volume) with sand, add a little charcoal and a substrate baking powder.

Succulents require more frequent watering in early spring when the plants are growing vigorously. In summer, watering should be less frequent, and in winter, minimized. Most succulents are dormant in the winter and require little to no watering. Usually in winter, succulents are watered at a frequency of once a month.

The frequency of watering will also depend on the light level as well as the size of the pot. The larger the container, the longer the moisture stays in the soil. Small pots should be watered more often.

How to Water Succulents in Outdoor Containers

Summer is a good time to put succulents outdoors. Although these plants love the sun, they need to be allowed to acclimate to outdoor conditions. First they are placed in a shaded area before being transferred to the sun. When choosing a place, pay attention to the fact that there is no intense lighting in the second, hottest, half of the day. Outdoor plants usually require more frequent watering than indoor plants. Your conditions will dictate how often these plants will need to be watered.

Succulents, including cacti, that are grown in shallow containers will need watering every few days.

How to water succulents outdoors

Succulents, especially stonecrops, grow quite well outdoors. They should also be watered weekly, depending on conditions. Plants transplanted into the ground have stronger root systems and withstand dry conditions better than container plants.

Whether you are growing hardy or annual succulents, they should be planted in well-drained soil. Constant moisture inhibits the root system of succulents. If the soil where you want to plant the succulent is clayey, then it is recommended to remove the soil layer and replace it with a well-aerated mixture.

Good soil, good aeration and good drainage equals a happy plant.