Do you lack a green thumb and often struggle to keep your plants alive? Don’t worry. Luckily, there are several wonderful succulents that are very forgiving and can tolerate a period of neglect. If you are a novice gardener then begin with some easy-to-grow plants and then you can add more challenging plants to your collection. These succulents are not only easy to maintain, but they also look great displayed in indoor and outdoor gardens.
I have created a list of some wonderful succulents for novice gardeners.
1. Jade Plant (Crassula ovata
The Jade plant is a resilient succulent also known as lucky plant, money tree, or money plant. It is one of the most famous indoor succulents with a lovely appearance. It is a miniature tree-like plant with thick woody stems and oval-shaped leaves. The Jade plant is a lovely houseplant that adds a great appeal to your home gardens plus, it is a long-living plant.
These succulents grow best in well-draining soil at a sunny location. They need moderate watering, and the soil should be allowed to dry out completely between watering. Give your jade plants a drink full of water to soak the soil completely. Avoid overwatering as they are very susceptible to root rot.
2. Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe is an amazing and diverse group of succulents. They are becoming extremely popular over time. They come in a variety of shapes and also produce colorful and attractive blooms. The best thing about these succulents is that they don’t demand a lot from you. If you often forget to water your plants, then Kalanchoe succulents will be a great choice for you. They can survive for weeks without water. Plant them in well-drained soil under partial to full sun and enjoy their ultimate beauty. Some great varieties of Kalanchoe succulents include Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, Kalanchoe tomentosa, Kalanchoe pinnata, and Kalanchoe baharensis.
3. Haworthia
Haworthia is well known for its Zebra-like pattern, therefore, it is also known as the Zebra plant. It has a unique stripe-like pattern on its leaves that resembles the skin of zebra. Due to their unique appearance, they will make a great addition to your living place. The Zebra plant is a very hardy succulent that doesn’t require a lot of care from you. It needs moderate water and can thrive in low light. Make sure to avoid overwatering as it can be damaging the root system.
4. Burro’s Tail (Sedum)
Burro’s Tail belongs to the Sedum family. It is also known as Donkey’s Tail. It grows long strands that look amazing trailing from the hanging baskets. You can display these succulents in hanging baskets to add a character to your place. Burro’s tail is one of the easiest to grow succulents in the Sedum family. It is not only easy to grow but it is also very easy to propagate. You can take the fallen leaves and propagate all-new plants from them.
They prefer to grow in partial sunlight. It is better to set aside them near a sunny window. They grow best in well-draining soil and containers with good drainage holes. Burro’s tail needs moderate watering so care must be taken to avoid overwatering as it can cause root decay.
5. Echeveria
Echeveria is a classic and fascinating group of succulents. They are commonly grown as houseplants. These succulents produce rosettes in a variety of colors. Echeveria succulents should be planted in a well-draining succulent soil mix and should be moderately watered. Water well until it starts coming out of the drainage holes and wait till the soil dries out completely. Avoid overwatering as Echeveria succulents can’t stand overwatering at all.
There are several beautiful varieties of Echeveria succulents with colorful pastel. But if you are planning to grow Echeveria succulents indoors make sure you select the shades of green because the other colorful varieties require more sunlight for their growth.
6. Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata)
Snake plant, also known as Mother in Law’s Tonge is a sturdy succulent. It not only looks attractive, but it also improves indoor air quality by absorbing toxic pollutants like formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, xylene, nitrogen oxides, etc.
Snake plant is a great choice for the beginner because it can survive for weeks without care. They are drought-resistant succulents, so you don’t need to worry about watering them. They preferably grow in well-drained soils but do not overwater them as it can cause rotting.
7. Sempervivum
Sempervivum is another group of succulents that can be a good option for beginners. You do not need to put a lot of effort into growing them and they even thrive on neglect. They are very famous for their attractive foliage and look amazing in container gardens, rock gardens, and rooftop gardens.
Like all other succulents, they also prefer to grow in well-drained soils with moderate watering. They can thrive in partial to full sunlight. The easy-to-grow varieties of Sempervivum include Sempervivum arachnoideum, Sempervivum ‘Pippin’, Sempervivum ‘Engle’, Sempervivum marmoreum.
