:strip_icc()/burros-tail-8a85738b-2535d33a31c74ab4adf71555b7e3f356.jpg?w=1920&resize=1920,2342&ssl=1 "The 10 Easiest Types of Indoor Succulents")
Indoor succulents are becoming increasingly popular, and for good reason. There are hundreds of unique varieties to choose from, and just about anyone can grow them—beginners included. Their special water-storing tissue allows them to survive in environments that are too dry for most other plants. Even if you forget to water them for a while, succulents will hang in there. These tough houseplants thrive in dry air and warm temperatures, which most homes already have.
If you’re a new plant parent, here are a few of the best indoor succulents to buy as you start your collection.
Burro’s Tail
Burro’s tail or donkey’s tail (Sedum morganianum) is a trailing succulent that looks best in a hanging basket or container sitting on a ledge, shelf, or plant stand. Each stem reaches up to three feet in length and is packed with gray-green leaves about the size and shape of a plump grain of rice. The leaves have a pale sheen on them that wipes off when you touch them so it will show your fingerprints.
The leaves are fragile and fall off easily so it’s best to handle this plant as little as possible. Native to Mexico, burro’s tail prefers bright, indirect light for best performance. Let the soil dry out between waterings, especially in winter when its growth slows down.
Christmas Cactus
Unlike other cacti, the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) doesn’t have sharp spines. Its flat, fleshy, segmented stems each grow up to a couple of feet long, often draping over a vessel’s edge in a way that earned it the nickname crab claw cactus. It also prefers a bit more moisture than its spiky kin, so water whenever the top inch of soil is dry.
Keep this cactus in bright, indirect light near a window and fertilize it at the correct time. It should reward you by blooming in winter with showy pink blooms.
If your plant blooms a little earlier than you expect and the stem segments are spiky instead of scalloped, you might have a Thanksgiving cactus. It is closely related to the Christmas cactus and the care instructions are similar for both.
Hens-and-Chicks
Two succulent plants share the common name of hens-and-chicks, and they’re closely related but look a little different. Both produce “chicks”—small, identical plants that are slightly offset from the mother (the hen). Echeveria elegans forms flat, flowerlike rosettes with rounded edges and grows arching, bell-shaped blooms every year. Sempervivum tectorum also forms rosettes, but each leaf tends to be flatter and more pointed. It has tiny, star-shaped flowers. Both of these succulents come in all sorts of varieties that offer interesting colors, so they’re especially fun to collect.
Echeveria and Sempervivum have similar needs when grown as houseplants. Both should be allowed to dry out slightly between waterings, as constant moisture can cause their stems and roots to rot. They’ll do best in bright light near a window. It is easy to propagate these succulents by removing the chicks and placing them in their own pot filled with well-draining potting mix for cacti and succulents.
Jade Plant
The jade plant (Crassula ovata) is a classic favorite for a reason: It’s a cinch to grow. This sturdy South African native grows stocky, branched stems with thick, glossy green leaves that are sometimes tinged with red around the edges when grown in full sun. Some varieties have different-looking leaves, such as the variety ‘Gollum,’ which has leaves that resemble green monster fingers.
When grown as a houseplant, jade plants usually don’t exceed one foot in height. However, the tend to get a bit top-heavy, so it’s a good idea to plant them in a heavier container like terra-cotta. The key to keeping a jade plant happy is to let the soil dry out completely between waterings.
Some gardeners only water jade plants when the leaves start to pucker or lose their shine. This is not recommended because these are signs that the plant is already stressed; if you wait that long, it may start to drop leaves.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera grows as a cluster of long, slender leaves on a short stem. Over time, it produces more clusters of leaves called offsets that eventually form a colony large enough to fill the whole container. The plant is well-known for its healing sap used for centuries to treat wounds and sunburn. When selecting a location in your home, keep in mind that it does have sharp “teeth” along its leaf edges, and wear protective gear when handling it.
Aloe vera is a forgiving, easy-to-grow houseplant that’s tough to kill. Like other succulents, it prefers being kept on the drier side and does best in bright, indirect sunlight. Avoid moving it abruptly into a hot, sunny window where its leaves can get burned.
Panda Plant
Among the dozens of Kalanchoe types, the panda plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa) is one of the most distinctive. A native of Madagascar, panda plants have fuzzy, gray-green leaves covered with soft, silvery hairs and tipped with brown or rust-colored spots. They very slowly grow about 2 feet tall as a houseplant.
Give the panda plant bright, indirect light by a window and let the soil dry between waterings. When you water the plant, make sure not to get any water on the leaves or they may rot.
Ponytail Palm
Ponytail palms (Beaucarnea recurvata) aren’t really palm trees, but they do look a bit like them thanks to a long, woody trunk and a tuft of leathery leaves at the top. They grow slowly to reach tree-like proportions of 12 to 20 feet, though indoors they top out around 4 feet. Although the ponytail palm doesn’t look much like a succulent, the swollen, bulbous base of the trunk (called a caudex) stores water and gives the plant its other common name: Elephant foot.
This succulent is very adaptable to life as a houseplant but does best with a maximum amount of bright light, temperatures above 60ºF, and low humidity. It’s the perfect houseplant for a neglectful gardener because it doesn’t need much water, especially in the winter when it isn’t actively growing.
Snake Plant
This classic succulent houseplant has a reputation for being (nearly) indestructible. Snake plants (Sansevieria trifasciata) can survive weeks without light and water without losing their good looks. Their thick pointed leaves grow straight up, reaching about 3 feet tall, and often have patterned markings reminiscent of a snake.
Over time, snake plants multiply into a thick clump that fills the whole pot, but it’s easy to divide and repot them as needed. While snake plants tolerate low light, they do best in medium to bright, indirect light. They also benefit from a little water whenever the soil feels dry.
African Milk Tree
Despite its name, the African milk tree (Euphorbia trigona) is not a tree, it is a succulent. As a houseplant, this succulent only grows up to 3 feet tall, about one-third of its towering height in nature. Its upright, branched stems are lined with short but sharp thorns. The tips of the green stems also have small leaves with a reddish tinge.
Plenty of bright, indirect light and evenly moist soil is the key to keeping this plant healthy. Similar to its relative, the poinsettia, the African milk tree produces a milky, sticky sap that is toxic to humans and pets. Wear gloves and goggles when handling the plant.
Zebra Haworthia
The striking stripes of zebra haworthia (Haworthia fasciata) and spiky foliage might make it look like a rare, exotic plant, but it’s commonly available at garden centers and is very easy-going when it comes to its care.
Set this succulent near a window where it’ll get a few hours of bright, indirect light every day, and let the soil dry out completely between waterings. Zebra haworthia is also a good choice for terrariums or for growing alongside other succulents because it will stay small, maxing out at about 5 inches tall.
