The Best Succulents For Your Home

By Danielle Wirsansky on November 7, 2018

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The Washington Post wrote, “Millennials are filling their homes — and the voids in their hearts — with houseplants.” And not just any houseplants. College students are going gaga for succulent plants in particular. Why succulents in particular?

Marie Blom Varhevaara, the owner of popular Stockholm-based florist Ginkgo told The Local Swedish that “Over the past four years since we opened this florist, we’ve seen sales of succulents go up hugely year-on-year – and over the past 12 months, we’ve seen the number of customers coming in to ask for succulents specifically increase by about 50 percent. Succulents are undemanding [because they do not need to be watered often]….”

So, what exactly is a succulent anyways? Generally, something that is succulent is juicy, tasty, or even tender.

So, then what is a succulent plant? The name can be somewhat misleading. The DIY Network describes them simply, as “plants that store water in leaves, stems, or both.” This ties back to Varhevaara’s point about succulents not needing to be watered often as they store their own water.

Are succulents related to cacti? Sometimes! Do you remember how in school you learned that while all squares are rectangles, not all rectangle are squares? The same is true with succulent plants and cacti. While all cacti are succulents, not all succulents are cacti.

If you are just dipping your toe into the succulent plant trend and are not sure which plants to start with, just take a look at our handy-dandy guide of which succulents are the best for your home based on three different categories: which are the easiest to care for, which are the prettiest, and which are the most exotic. No matter your taste, you are sure to find a succulent plant to fit your needs!

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The Easiest to Care For

College is a crazy busy time. Everyone can agree on that. So especially if you are new to the gardening game and are not quite sure what you are doing (or if you have a green thumb), you may want to choose your first couple of plants based on the level of care they need. If you are never home, a plant that is more high maintenance (like it needs to be watered every day and get direct sunlight) might not be the best choice. While succulents are pretty easy to care for in general, there are particular kinds of succulents that are the easiest to take care of, and they are generally a great place to start your garden!

Aloe Vera

These succulents are easy to care for and provide you with a plethora of benefits, such as healing wounds or burns. They need sunlight so keep them in or near a window, and water them when the leaves feel dry or brittle.

Echeveria

A very popular succulent plant, it does best in dry conditions, so it should only be watered when its pot is completely drained and dry. It should also be kept in direct sunlight.

Jade Plant

A native plant of South Africa, this plant is easy to take care of because it should only be watered when its soil has gone dry. Just make sure it gets some light!

The Most Beautiful

Sometimes, the most important element of a plant will be the beauty it can provide a space. When you live in a dorm or small college apartment and can’t afford to truly decorate as you would like, a plant can go a long way in terms of decoration.

Crown of Thorns

This succulent has beautiful pinkish-red flowers that can bloom all year as long as you are taking care of it. It does need to be watered a bit more than some succulents on this list, but if you can keep up with its care, its beauty will reward you.

Euphorbia Tirucallii

These plants are unique looking, with vertical stems, and actually looks like a part of a coral reef. It’s appendages change color, going from yellow in summer and red in winter, so it will always be a beautiful addition.

Kalanchoe Luciae

A plum purple in color, this flat cabbage leaf-like plant is very vibrant. The colors of the plant get more vibrant with extreme changes in temperature. And in winter, they bloom lovely pale-yellow flowers that are striking against the purple leaves.

Photo by Magda Ehlers from Pexels

The Most Exotic

Edithcolea Grandis

This plant is pretty unique, in both its look and its scent. Originally discovered in Somalia, it is brown and white—and it gives off the scent of carrion, or dead meat, in order to attract insects to help it pollinate. Certainly a conversation starter, but you will have to decide if that makes it worth the smell.

Copiapoa Hypogaea

Originating from Chile, this succulent has a rugose epidermis (or a so-called “Lizard skin”) that makes it unique. On top of its interesting color and texture, it also has lovely blooms in shades of yellow that contrast strikingly against the gray-brown rough skin of the plant.

Dioscorea Elephantipes

This rare cactus has a skin that looks like the hide of an elephant and in its entirety actually resembles an elephant’s foot (resulting in its name!). Discovered in Africa, it’s a unique plant that will certainly be a unique addition to your home.

There are so many succulent plants to choose from, that no matter your choice, it is hard to go wrong. Just make sure to really think about what you want from these plants and the kind of care you can afford to give them and the choice will be clear.

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