With their versatility, resilience, and timeless look, succulents are becoming an increasingly popular plant for both indoor accents and outdoor gardening. Succulents can be planted in individual pots for unique placement throughout your home and garden, or they can be planted directly into the ground for permanent placement.
At this point, you know how gorgeous succulents look, but you might still be wondering how to plant succulents. These plants are known for being tough guys that can resist drought and other curveballs, but luckily for you, succulents are not nearly as tough to plant.
From intricate succulent bowls to delicate individual rosettes, planting succulents is an easy task to conquer on your own, all you need are a few materials and simple instructions.
The Perfect Placement
Before you begin planting your succulents, you should consider where you want them to grow. If you live in a hot climate, you should look for an area that receives partial sun and shade.
Contrary to popular belief, if succulents are direct sunlight in hot temperatures all day, they often get spotty and sunburnt. However, if you live in a cold climate, you want to position your succulents in a space where they will receive the optimum amount of sunshine.
Gather the Materials
Once you know where you want to plant your succulent, the next step is ensuring you have the right materials to set your succulent up for success. One of the reasons that succulents have such a great reputation is because they are drought resistant.
However, this also means that they do not thrive in moisture like many other plants. Therefore, some special materials are needed when it comes to succulent soil mix.
To accommodate succulents’ unique soil needs, you can purchase potting soil that is specifically designed for succulents and cacti. If you like getting your hands dirty and doing things yourself, you can also make this soil at home with a few simple ingredients.
Combine one part Perlite, two parts coarse sand, and three parts peat moss. Pumice or grit can also be added into the mix if you are missing one of these items. The main goal is to create a combination will allow for water drainage through the soil, keeping your drought tolerant friends happy.
After you have created the soil, you must have a container or area designated to plant the succulent. If you select a pot or bowl, it is important that it has a hole in the bottom so that water can drain through. This is essential so that your succulents do not drown and experience root-rot.
If you are going to plant your succulents in the ground, make sure that you provide your succulents with at least six inches of this specialized soil. This can go on top of the existing soil, or you can mix it in while adding additional porous materials such as sand.
Last but definitely not least, you will need some succulents! If you are new to succulents or are looking to diversify your collection, we offer plenty of stunning succulents to shop from. On the other hand, if you already have a healthy succulent garden, you can take succulent cuttings from existing plants and use those as well.
Bowls and Beyond
Succulents can be planted in bowls, pots, and just about any other container imaginable. This is versatility is a wonderful attribute when using succulents to compliment your interior decor. We have all seen beautiful bowls of succulents, which lead most of us to wonder how to replant succulents into those vibrant arrangements.
Fill your bowl or pot up about 75% of the way with soil. As you add succulents and decide that you like the placement, you can fill the soil in. After you have added the soil, select a succulent for your bowl’s centerpiece.
This is often a larger or unique succulent that will serve as a focal point. Next, plant around the border of your bowl. Succulents that drape over the side of the bowl look wonderful around the edges.
Finally, take the remainder of your succulents and fill in the middle areas. Once all of your succulents are in place, you can fill any empty spaces with soil. If desired, cover with gravel for a clean, finished look. Now that your pot is complete, you can water your succulents, but be very careful not to overwater.
Outdoor Oasis
If you want your succulents to grow outside, you can plant them directly in the ground, in planters, or in a combination of both. When planting your succulents in the ground, ensure that you provide them with six to eight inches of succulent specific soil.
This will allow the roots with plenty of space to grow without being bogged down by moisture. After you have spread the soil, create holes for the succulents before placing them in the ground and filling in the soil.
Finally, gently water the succulents to solidify their placement. Remember that your succulents will grow, so do not plant them too close together if you want them to spread out and grow larger. Succulents that are planted directly in the ground pair well with succulents that are in bowls or pots, creating levels and adding another element to your garden.
Now that you know how to plant a succulent, your outdoor oasis awaits! Whether you are looking to plant a single succulent or to create a lush garden, succulents are not only simple to plant, but also simple to care for. Check out our ultimate guide on how to care for succulents if you want to learn more!