If you want to join in on the latest plant craze but you're not sure where to start, you might want to dive into the world of beginner-friendly succulents. These hardy plants are perfect for newbies because they are self-sufficient and can survive in almost any environment. Just water them when the soil is dry, give them about 6 hours of sunlight, and you're pretty much good to go!
In this article, you'll find our helpful succulent guide for beginners, as well as a list of the 10 best picks for creating a beginner succulent garden. Also, watch out for the video towards the end of this article for tips about succulent care for beginners. Read on and get to know more about these wonderful low-maintenance plants!
Quick List - Top Beginner-Friendly Succulents
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Here are some key points to consider:
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
To begin with, choosing a healthy succulent means that it has a higher chance of survival, which will motivate you to keep going and grow your collection. When purchasing online, it’s best to ask the seller for pictures before shipment to ensure that you’re getting a healthy plant.
The rule of thumb is that the succulent should be brightly colored and flawless. In particular, choose one with dry soil and plump, firm, and even-colored leaves. These are signs that the succulent is getting just the right amount of water and sunlight.
Conversely, it’s best to avoid one with mushy and yellow leaves, black stems, and wet roots since these indicate an unhealthy succulent, and it can be difficult for beginners to recover the plant. It’s also best to steer clear of plants with bumps and bugs because these may be signs of infection.
For newbie plant parents, it's best to start off with a larger and more established succulent since it already has a well-developed root system. This means that it's easier to maintain and is more tolerant of rookie mistakes such as underwatering and improper sunlight. Thus, look for tightly packed roots, also known as root ball.
It's easy to check the root ball of an uprooted succulent for sale. However, if you intend to get a potted succulent, you won't be able to inspect the condition of its root ball. In this case, don't forget to check the leaves for an idea about its health, as well as reviews from previous buyers.
Before you bring home your very first succulent, check the space where you plan to put the plant. Is there enough light, air, and space for the plant to grow in that particular area? In general, colorful and tender succulents are better suited indoors, while cacti and hardy succulents would thrive more outdoors due to the difference in sunlight exposure requirements.
It's also important to consider the plant's water requirement. Generally, succulents need watering only when the soil is dry, which means that they would need to be indoors or at least sheltered from the rain during the rainy season. Also, research about the place of origin of the succulent so you can determine if it's suited for the climate in your place.
More often than not, purchasing a succulent from a reputable and experienced seller will ensure that you'll get a healthy succulent. We also recommend choosing a merchant that's near your location to lessen the risk of damage during shipment.
Nonetheless, it's important to read the reviews so that you'll know if the plant that they're selling is worth the splurge or not. Also, check if the succulent is well-packaged since it can be quite delicate and might get damaged during transport.
Lastly, if you're getting an uprooted plant, check if it has been air-dried properly to prevent root rot. On the other hand, if it's already planted in a pot, see if the succulent is planted in the right potting mix and in a pot with a drainage hole.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Domino Cactus | ![]() | A Low-Maintenance Succulent for Busy Plant Parents | |
2 | Sweetheart Hoya | ![]() | Perfect for Gifts or Brightening Up Your Desk | |
3 | Zebra Plant | ![]() | Purify the Air With This Patterned Plant | |
4 | Prickly Pear Cactus | ![]() | An Edible and Spineless Cactus | |
5 | Sansevieria Moonshine | ![]() | A Pretty Succulent That Lessens the Effects of Allergens | |
6 | Jade Plant | ![]() | A Succulent That'll Bring in Wealth and Luck to Your Home or Office | |
7 | Aloe Vera | ![]() | A Succulent With Healing Properties | |
8 | Agave | ![]() | A Versatile, No-Fuss Succulent | |
9 | Rose Cabbage Succulent | ![]() | Create Beautiful Arrangements With This Rosette-Shaped Succulent | |
10 | Pink Aurora Sedum | ![]() | A Trailing Succulent for Hanging Baskets |
Nothing says self-sufficient more than cacti! These plants thrive despite neglect. This means that you only need to keep an eye on them every once in a while, which is perfect for people with busy schedules. For beginner plantitos and plantitas, the Easter lily cactus, also referred to as the domino cactus, is an excellent place to start.
The dome-shaped cactus got its name due to the characteristic white spots all over its exterior. It's a good choice for beginners because it can survive prolonged periods of drought and extremely hot weather, making it suitable for the Philippine climate.
Right off the bat, this succulent will make you want to take it home in an instant! This special variety of the Hoya plant is often given on Valentine's Day or as tokens for wedding guests because of its unique heart shape.
More than its adorable appearance, it's very easy to maintain since you'd only need to water it once or twice a month. Also, it's great as a houseplant because it can survive in bright indirect light. It also doesn't require much in the way of fertilization, as it has only a single leaf and would need fertilization only about twice a year.
With this succulent's eye-catching stripes, you'll definitely want to get one to spruce up your space! Whether you plant it in a plain or colorful pot, it'll surely stand out and become a conversation piece in your home or office.
One noteworthy aspect of this plant is that it is a low-growing species that grows in clusters, so it doesn't require a lot of space to thrive and survive. More than that, though, the zebra plant is known for its ability to cleanse the air of harmful toxins. This plant will truly give you a great bang for your buck, even with minimal care and attention!
Another popular option for beginners is the Prickly Pear Cactus, which you can safely place in any part of your house, since it's spineless, non-toxic, and even edible. In Mexican cuisine, the pads and the fruits are used in delectable dishes such as ensalada, soup, and chili.
Just like most cacti, it can tolerate dry conditions and requires very little care. Do take note, however, that this paddle-shaped succulent needs plenty of room to grow, so place it in a sunny area that has a lot of space!
This rare snake plant deserves a space in your collection, not just because it looks pretty, but also because it purifies the air inside your home or office. By filtering out toxins and releasing oxygen, you'll be able to improve the air quality and reduce the allergen level in your living space. It's also drought-tolerant, perfect for beginners and busy people.
This plant is best placed beside the window sill, where it gets enough sunlight, so you can showcase its unique silvery-green tone. Take note, though, that when kept in low-light conditions, the leaves may turn a darker shade, although they will still have a silvery sheen.
The Jade Plant, also known as the Money Plant, is a popular gift among business owners since it symbolizes good luck and fortune. In particular, the luscious green leaves are said to attract financial abundance to the recipient of the plant. Aside from its feng shui qualities, it purifies the air and increases humidity, which is especially helpful in airconditioned rooms or in dry weather.
If you're wondering about how to care for this particular succulent, you're in luck because you can leave it alone for long periods of time, and it'll still survive. This can be attributed to the thick and glossy leaves, which can store a lot of water. Cool right?
If you want to achieve the Korean glass skin that most people dream about, check out this particular succulent. Aloe vera is a valuable medicinal plant that any beginner can easily take care of. It offers a multitude of health benefits both for your skin and your body.
To harvest, simply cut off the leaf as close to the stem as possible and apply the gel topically on your skin or include it in your smoothie. Just remember to wash the plant thoroughly before use to remove the latex coating that may be dangerous when ingested.
If you're a blue agave syrup or tequila enthusiast, look no further because we've found the perfect plant for you! Introducing the blue agave plant, which has all the right qualities for beginners since it's easy to maintain, edible, and of course, aesthetically pleasing.
Simply place it in a sunny area where it has room to grow, and it can liven up a once dull and boring space. Also, like aloe, it can be used in a variety of applications such as alcohol preparation, cooking, and skincare due to its health benefits.
One of the most common succulents is the Rose Cabbage Succulent, also known as Hens and Chicks. The plant's distinct rosette-shaped leaves form clusters that make it a standout among other types of succulents. This unique design is also what makes it the perfect centerpiece for beautiful succulent arrangements.
If you're new to being a plant parent or don't have a green thumb, this plant is for you! It is very communicative since the leaves wrinkle when the plant needs water, and they get discolored when the plant needs more sunlight. A word of caution, though, treat the leaves delicately, as they can be quite fragile.
If you want a unique plant to add to your collection, this lovely pink sedum is a must-have! Also known as Pink Jelly Beans, this succulent has plump bean-shaped leaves in beautiful color combinations. As it grows, the plant sprawls out, which is why it's great to plant in a hanging basket.
This succulent does best in areas that receive only partial or indirect sunlight and will thrive even when kept indoors. That said, it also does well in outdoor environments, as long as placed in a shaded area, since direct exposure to sunlight can result in its leaves burning. Other than that, it's pretty much low-maintenance, needing to be watered only when the soil is dry.
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.
To repot succulents, choose a pot with a good drainage hole and fill it with porous and well-draining soil. Then, remove the plant from the old pot by turning it sideways and taking hold of it at the base of the stem.
You can also use a stick or a trowel to loosen the soil before giving it a gentle tug to get it free of the container. Don't forget to gently remove any dirt clinging to its roots before placing it in the new pot. Lastly, add more soil to the top to keep it in place.
Succulents' water requirements vary across types, but generally, they need to be watered around once a week or only when the soil is dry. Infrequent watering is needed because succulents store water in their leaves, which is why they can get by with minimal water. In fact, overwatering leads to root and leaf rot and is one of the leading causes of succulent death.
Succulents thrive best in sunlight, and most variants need at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. Placing them outdoors is a good idea, as long as you take the time to move them to a sheltered area when it rains. If you prefer an indoor succulent, make sure to place it in an area that receives a lot of sunlight, such as window sills or any place near a window.
Caring for succulents isn't as hard as it seems. As long as you follow their light and water needs, they will thrive and add a lovely accent to any space. Check out the links below for more products to help you along in your journey as a succulent parent!
Author: Aprille Jarcia
Re-editor: R. Umlas
No. 1: |Domino Cactus
No. 2: |Sweetheart Hoya
No. 3: |Zebra Plant
No. 4: |Prickly Pear Cactus
No. 5: |Sansevieria Moonshine
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