8 Best Indoor Succulents: A Guide to Indoor Succulents

Succulents are plants with thick, fleshy leaves or stems that store water and protect the plants from drought. Succulents are known for being low-maintenance, but they are not synonymous with cacti. While nearly every variety of cactus is a succulent, not all succulents are cacti.

While indoor succulent plants might be easy to grow, it’s important to keep a few considerations in mind when choosing the right indoor succulent for your home.

• Sunlight: Succulents are adaptable, but some require more sun than others depending on the species. Observe where the best sunlight is in your home and what kind of light each room gets. Some succulents need full sun for four to six hours a day, while other succulents grow best with low light or in spaces that don’t get direct sunlight. Other succulents do best with a mix. Aloe vera plants, for example, do best when exposed to bright light and indirect light throughout the day.
  
• Space: For the most part, indoor succulents stay relatively small, but if you’re hoping to grow a larger succulent like a snake plant, make sure you have adequate space for it.
• Drainage: Overly wet soil can cause indoor succulents to die. Let the soil dry between waterings to help your succulents survive and thrive. To minimize the risk of overwatering, choose a potting mix designed for succulents, porous pots made out of clay or terracotta, and pots with drainage holes to help facilitate proper drainage.

If you’re new to maintaining indoor houseplants, start with one of these popular succulents known for their hardiness.

1. 1. Jade plant: Jade plants (Crassula ovata) have thick, oval leaves and stout stems. There are many types of jade plants, but the most common include the Harbour Lights variety and ‘Hummel's Sunset’ cultivar. Even though they grow slowly—roughly two inches a year—jade plants can grow up to six feet tall and live for 100 years when cared for properly.
2. 2. Burro’s tail: The burro's tail (Sedum morganianum) succulent is known for its pendulous stems and blue-green leaves. These plants grow best in hanging baskets or large pots because the trailing stems of the burro's tail grow vertically downward and can reach up to four feet in length. In the spring and summer, the burro's tail will sometimes grow small, red, pink, or lavender flowers. You can also easily propagate burro’s tail.
3. 3. Christmas cactus: A Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) is a unique blooming succulent with long, draping stems that bloom with vibrant flowers. As these plants originate from a tropical climate, they need a bit more watering than your typical succulent. Water them when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch and they will bloom just in time for the holidays.
4. 4. Panda plant: The panda plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa) is native to Madagascar and has fuzzy, light green leaves with brown tips and edges. While it will thrive in bright, indirect sunlight, it can easily adapt to low-light corners of your home.
5. 5. Snake plant: The snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata) is one of the most common and low-maintenance houseplants. Their dark green, sword-like leaves can feature yellow borders and light green streaks. Snake plants make excellent indoor plants in part for their ability to absorb pollutants from the air like formaldehyde and benzene. Although not deadly, snake plants contain toxins that can affect people and pets if consumed.
6. 6. String of pearls: String of pearls (Curio rowleyanus) are known for their small, pea-shaped leaves. In their natural habitat, they exist as ground cover, but as houseplants, they provide cascading vines from window boxes, hanging baskets, and pots. When cared for properly, these plants blossom with small white flowers in the spring.
7. 7. Zebra cactus: The zebra cactus (Haworthia fasciata), looks similar to aloe vera plants but have white stripes wrapping around each pointy leaf. While technically not a cactus, zebra cacti require direct sunlight, minimal water, and potting soil designed for cacti.
8. 8. Echeveria: Often confused with hens and chicks plants (Sempervivum tectorum), echeveria (Echeveria spp.) have concentric rings of leaves form a rosette shape. They are mostly green but can also come in shades of blue and grey. They thrive in bright light and can get leggy when they don’t get enough sunlight.

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