Succulents: Know the main types and how to grow them

With contact with nature increasingly difficult, many people have been feeling the need to put more plants at home. The problem is often how to take care of them. And that's where the popularity of succulents comes from.

Easy to care for, they often resist even the slackest owners, which means that knowing more about them and how to grow them is not helpful in keeping them healthy? and alive? for even longer.

But after all, what are succulents?

The term succulents is popularly used. In the scientific world, it is unknown, with plants being divided into family, genus and species. But in general, succulents are plants that have the ability to store water in their leaves ?, explains Sara Seguette, a biologist and owner of Cultivarte, a gardening company specializing in plants.

Here are some tips and information compiled with expert help.

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Succulent Types

If succulent is every plant that stores water in its leaves, and the cactus does it, can we say that the cactus is a succulent?

Yes, but not every succulent is a cactus. In fact, Cactaceae is only one of nine existing succulent families, each of which can count on up to 1600 different species. Check out the most common species in Brazil:

Echevian or Stone Rose (Echeveria elegans)

It is one of the most cherished succulents thanks to its flower-like shape. Its leaves are rounded, with slight angulation at the tips. Besides being very beautiful, this type of succulent is cool because it usually indicates when you need more sun, as it begins to lose its original shape, becoming more elongated.

Ghost plant (Graptopetalum paraguayense)

Another succulent that resembles a flower, the ghost flower, as it is popularly known, has more elongated and pointy leaves, and is characterized by a purplish subtom that blends with its opaque green tone. To find out if she is getting the required amount of sun, notice if her leaves are getting a milky look. If so, it is time to move them to a more sunlit location.

Pearl Necklace (Senecio rowleyanus)

Perfect for those who like vertical gardens, these succulents have earned their popular name thanks to their long spherical stems that resemble peas. If all goes well, this kind of succulent still gets white flowers with cinnamon smell during spring.

Also read: 8 plants capable of surviving even the darkest place in the house

Ass-tail (Sedum morganianum)

Native to Mexico, this succulent is another option to hang thanks to its fairly long rods that can reach a meter in length! Its closely spaced leaves have a grayish green hue and a curious shape, reminiscent of a comma. In addition, small and reddish flowers can be born in it that stand out in the green.

Zebra (Haworthia fasciata)

Original from Africa, this succulent has a very rosette-like look and thick, fleshy, hard, white-bursting leaves. Although they enjoy a lot of sunshine, these succulents also tolerate low winter temperatures well, being a very tough type for first-time gardeners.

Shrek Ear (Crassula ovata gollum)

To understand the popular name of this succulent, just look at it: does it seem or does not look like the ear of the famous movie ogre? This is due to its compact, tubular leaves, which are great for heightening pots or terrariums. Another advantage of this type of succulent is that they do not usually suffer from pests or diseases.

Carnicolor Sedum

Another good option to add a little height to the vase or terrarium, this succulent from Europe is very resistant to extreme temperatures, whether hot or cold. As with many succulents, the greatest care with them should be in relation to excess water, which causes them to rot.

As stated earlier, these are just some of the many types of succulents in existence. But don't despair if you come across any other species not listed above. The good news is that, with slight variations, succulents are cultivated and require very similar care to stay alive and healthy.

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How to plant succulents

Got a succulent gift and don't want to leave it isolated in a vase? Alternatively, you can plant it in a more charming location, such as in a cup, or start setting up your terrarium by placing it next to other succulents.This is also true when the succulent is too big for the pot in which it is planted. Check out the step by step below to do this:

1. Choose a container with drainage holes for water. As long as they are made, the options range from sardine can to clay vase, it will depend on your style;
2. Prepare a special succulent substrate with washed sand, composted soil and ground coconut fiber;
3. If the vessel is large, place expanded clay on its bottom before placing the substrate to facilitate drainage;
4. Add to the vase the special substrate for succulents;
5. With the original succulent vase upside down, tap the bottom until it comes loose along with your clod (soil and roots);
6. Plant the succulent seedling in the new pot with substrate, being careful not to cover the leaves;
7. Tap on the sides to accommodate the ground, ensuring its contact with the root of the plant;
8. Cover the earth with sand and white stones to decorate and prevent rapid evaporation of water.

If the goal is not to replant but to propagate the succulent, use the same special substrate. In it, you should accommodate healthy leaves of the plant without burying them. Spray water on them once or twice a week, depending on the weather in your city, and you're done. At about two months, you will have new succulent seedlings to replant in other pots.

How to care for succulents

They are easier to care for than most plants, but according to Sara, "it is wrong to think that succulents do not need specific care." Among the most common mistakes, she mentions the lack of sun and the presence of some pests. "The most common is the aphid, a small organism that sucks the sap of the plant, once identified must be treated immediately, as it can spread to other plants," warns the expert.

See other tips to ensure the survival of little plants:

• Remember that succulents suffer more from excess than lack of water;
• Forget the widespread rules out there. The only way to know for sure if the succulent needs more water is to feel the moisture on the substrate with your fingertips;
• "Ceramic pots usually need more frequent watering, while hole-less cachepots need less because of the drainage system," says Sara;
• When watering, avoid wetting the leaves so that they do not rot;
• Always remove excess water if it accumulates in the dish under the succulent vase;
• Succulents need sunshine and not just light, so try to leave them in the window or outside in the morning;
• Try to fertilize the pot from time to time. To do this, put NPK fertilizer on the ground or gravel so that it will release its nutrients with watering;
• Always keep an eye on plants for possible pests before they spread;
• If you notice aphids or scale insects, isolate the affected succulent and carefully remove insects with a cotton swab dipped in Neem oil. Spray the product on the plant with each watering until the problem goes away.

Finally, remember that story of talking to the plants? According to Sara, every plant communicates with us in some way to inform about its welfare. So be aware of any changes in leaf color, loss of shape, etc. They are clues that something is not going well with its juicy.

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30 succulent photos to inspire you to have a terrarium

Now that you know how to replant and care for succulents, how about starting your terrarium? Besides being a very relaxing process, the result is super cute and can even be a gift for family and friends! The inspirations below are here to help you in this endeavor.

1. Since we are talking about a gift, a creative vase makes all the difference

2. Imagination and permanent pen are enough to reshape a clay pot

3. Another good example is this sleepy little vessel

4. But who says a good old clay cup is not cool either?

5. For a more modern footprint, plant your succulents in concrete pots

6. Combine terror and succulents? Only if it's with a vase from Edgar Allan Poe

7. For those who like to sing for plants, David Bowie is another good combination.

8. Just as a woman who, like the succulents, is also an example of strength and endurance

9. This succulent is here to prove that, even outside the vase, succulents are beautiful.

10. Even more when in a group

11. If you want to keep them on a shelf, just remember to put them in the sun

12. Is that succulents really like to take a bronze

13. Therefore, there are those who already leave them outside

14. And look how some species even get a little color

15. For those who like patterns, terrariums with the same kind of succulent are a plateful

16. Even more fun when they appear in different sizes.

17. Though, of course, lonely succulents are also pure charm

18. Even more so if you are in a romantic vase with colored stones

19. The cool thing about succulents is that they can be planted almost anywhere

20. As an example, cups and bowls are a great choice.

21. And since the subject is kitchen utensils, how about a copper pan?

22. For the nostalgic, this terrarium resembles a mirrored globe of the? Disco Era?

23. Already this inspiration here is for the antennas, with succulents in pots printed in 3D

24. For the vertical gardens, few species outnumber the donkey

25. Those who like succulents have certainly seen terrariums in aquarium-like containers.

26. What you may not have seen yet are the poetic arrangements you can make with them.

27. These Little Prince-inspired terrariums are another example of this.

28. Even without intervention, notice how some terrariums really look like miniature barren landscapes

29. Especially when succulents are from the cactus family

30. Is it so juicy beautiful you don't know where to start? Calm?

In addition to the fact that they are easy to grow and care for, another advantage of succulents is that they are very affordable and easily spread. That is, what are you waiting for to start your terrarium?

Types of Succulents -- Cold Hardy and Soft Succulents (May 2024)