Don’t know where to start when it comes to your plant journey? Try succulents!
Succulents are a great type of plant to start with when you are beginning your gardening/planting journey for a multitude of reasons. I am going to give you my top 5 reasons on why I love succulents and then I’ll give you a list with pictures of my favorite succulents! Let’s get started!
1. Very easy to keep alive/hard to kill
Succulents are very hardy plants, so they can take the harsher climate differences that might be present in your home. They are able to handle dryer conditions due to their ability to store water in their leaves to sustain them between waterings for longer periods of time differentiating them from other types of plants.
2. Cheap and inexpensive to purchase
Mot succulents you can find at small or large box stores for very reasonable prices depending on the size you get them for. Most succulents come in tiny containers that don’t cost any more than $5-7 at a reasonably priced store (and that’s on the high side). Check out stores with garden centers as well as your local garden centers to find the right plant for the best price.
3. Come in a plethora of shapes and sizes
Just like many other house plants varieties, succulents also come in so many species that then vary in all types of shapes and sizes. The amazing types of succulents allow you to find those that will add an extra dimension to your home or whichever space you are trying to upgrade. Read to the end to see some of my favorites!
4. Easy to propagate
Succulents are very easy to propagate mainly because they do it all on their own with little interference needed from you. Most succulents grow “pups” or secondary plants off of the mother/main plant. These miniature plants can live next to the main plant until you are ready to give them their own pot. Just make sure you do it in time before the plants become pot or rootbound. This is where the plants have grown so much inside their container and have nowhere else to go so the roots begin to get tangled together. But with another small pot, a bit of soil and some water, you can turn one beautiful plant into two and many more!
5. Can be great gifts for family and friends
Depending on the size of your succulents and how well you have kept up with the care of your plants, they can make great gifts to those close to you. Just like the minimal care that you put into keeping your own succulents alive, those you gift them to will just have to sustain that level of care for the plant to continue to thrive in their home. Some succulents are a bit hardier than others so consider those as gifts when you are out looking for something for your special someone!
BTTR Favorite Beginner Friendly Succulent List!
- Aloe Vera – This will always have a space in my heart just with all of the many benefits that come with growing and caring for this plant.
- String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus) – A beautiful plant that looks just as its name describes, a “vine” or string with little beads/pearls along the string.
- Zebra Plant (Haworthia fasciata) – This plant has a similar growing pattern to the aloe vera in terms of growing shape but has distinct dark green leaves with white stripes in random across each leaf.
- Blue Torch Cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus) – A pillar-like cactus that screams elegance that with the right species and if grown correctly can reach up to 30 feet tall!
- Mexican Snowball (Echeveria elegans) – A stunning little succulent that grows in a similar shape to a flower when looking at it from the top down.
- Moonglow (Crassula) – Known for its thick leaves, this wonderful plant grows in a column-like shape slower than your average succulent, perfect for a year-round piece of green.
For now though, I hope you have a better idea of where to start in your gardening journey when it comes to succulents. I hope you also find your favorite succulent to grow and have a great time exploring all of the different options when it comes to purchasing your first plant.
Until next time, as always, Plant with a Purpose! – BTR
