3 Easy-To-Care-For Succulents That Even YOU Can’t Kill!
I can hear you now before you even say it – “I LOOK AT A SUCCULENT AND IT DIES!”
Is that you? It used to be me, so I cast ZERO judgement!
But, believe it or not there ARE easy succulent varieties to start with that I bet even YOU can’t kill!
Here’s what we’re covering in this post:
· After surveying several friends and fellow [unintentional] succulent killers, I’ve found the 3 different types of succulents that even THEY can keep alive.
· WHY these are easier than others to care for, and what you can do to make sure they thrive in your care as well.
· Where you can get these three varieties to test your skills if you’re up for it (Mmwahaha)!
Let’s dive in!
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1. Aloe - WAIT! Don’t click away! I know what you’re thinking, that this is probably the most boring succulent out there, or that you didn’t even know Aloe was a succulent, but hang with me.
I wish I had taken a picture of this, but when we first purchased our home there was a large, dirty yellow planter out behind the shed with some mangled-up, weird looking Aloe plant growing out of it. The planter had very little to no soil inside, it was just full of roots and tight clusters of Aloe, but IT WAS ALL ALIVE! I washed the yellow planter, added some fresh soil and it is thriving today. It grew so rapidly that I’ve uprooted several pieces and repotted them, built succulent arrangements with them and yes, have even used them medicinally (this variety is a true Aloe Vera).
They withstand our harsh Houston summers and weird, random arctic fronts, and though most Aloe varieties have a cold tolerance below 32 F, if you have long, harsh winters I would advise growing them in a planter vs in the ground so you can bring them in during the coldest months. This plant is seriously so versatile that it will do well indoors year-round if that’s your preference.
I have also found Aloe to not be very picky about the substrate (soil) they’re planted in. While I have a post coming soon about how I mix up my own succulent substrate, Aloe will do just fine in a good ‘ole bag of Miracle Gro Succulent Soil . We will have some aloe pups like the ones below, added to the site very soon for purchase!
The same yellow pot of Aloe that was found behind our shed when we purchased our home. Turns out the yellow pot wasn’t ugly at all after being cleaned :)
A mix of some sun-kissed Aloe pups with Ghost Plants (number 2 in this list)
2. Ghost Plant (Graptopetalum Paraguayense) – If you’re in any way familiar with succulents, you’ve heard of this one. This is another succulent variety (in my opinion) that gets overlooked and a bit under-appreciated, but they are seriously so easy to care for and you can do SO MUCH with them!
Just like Aloe, I’d describe the Ghost Plant as being versatile, and I pair these with Aloe often because they grow so similarly. They are hardy in our Houston climate (9a), and by hardy I mean they tolerate our high heat and whacky arctic fronts. Just last week we had nights in the 20’s and I covered my large pots of overgrown Ghost Plant and they did just fine. I also hate to admit that I forgot about a smaller pot of Ghost Plant in my backyard, so it did not get covered and it is still thriving! We’ll call this an unintentional science experiment (ha)!
These are a go-to plant when I make succulent arrangements, as they have a super bold look to them when thrown in with other succulent varieties. They have a rosette shape similar to an Echeveria species, but they grow completely different than Echeveria; instead of growing in tight clusters they grow on long branches and end up spilling out over the pot they’re grown in. These branches can be cut and replanted to start new growth (propagation), and if you have a single cutting, plant it in a big enough pot where there’s room to grow and it won’t be long until your one-stemmed plant has new growth branching off. I mean, just look at what these guys can do!!
One of my overgrown Ghost Plant pots. This pot is a mix of Ghost and Mother of Pearl.
Get your cuttings here - Ghost Cuttings
This succulent is going to grow better outdoors than in, unless you have it super close to a south or west-facing window. If they don’t get enough sunlight, those beautiful rosettes are going to start to stretch as they look for light. You will see the layers of leaves begin to separate further and further apart as the plant becomes etiolated. Mine are all outdoors and receive lots of direct sunlight everyday.
These also do very well being grown from a single leaf (if you’re into experimenting with leaf propagation). After a Ghost Plant has been recently watered, the leaves become full and sometimes break off the steam easily (especially the lower leaves). This is the best time to test your leaf propagating skills, when they are plump and happy! I often just set the fallen leaves on top of the soil in the pot they’re in and soon enough, a baby plant emerges! I have had the most success propagating this plant by leaf, over any other succulent varieties. Keep an eye out for a leaf propagating post, coming soon!
So, when you grab your Ghost Plant Cuttings, when they arrive and you notice a fallen leaf or two in the box, place it right on top of the soil in the pot that you plant the cuttings into and leave it alone. The soil should be dry, so there’s no need to worry about the leaves rotting. Do not water until roots are present on the cuttings themselves.
3. Jade Plant (Crassula Ovata) – If I had to describe this plant in one word, that word would be resilient. Their undemanding nature makes them easy to grow and maintain, really the only concern with these is to be careful not to give it water too frequently.
I have neglected and forgotten about my own personal Jade Plant countless times and it still, for whatever reason, chooses to live for me.
Jade Plant comes in many different varieties, shapes and sizes and I’ve probably cared for every type of Jade Plant there is, and their care needs are all fairly similar. They can be grown indoors and out, but it’s important to note that unless they’re grown under a high-quality grow light indoors, they are not going to have the same amount of color that they would being grown outdoors.
The only two issues I’ve had with these that I haven’t experienced with the other two succulent species in this post are (1) they can be unforgiving when it comes to watering too frequently and (2) they are more susceptible to pests (mealie bugs). You’re probably thinking, “then why in the world are they listed here as being easy to care for” and that’s because despite those two issues they’re known for, they are still a VERY EASY succulent species to have in your collection.
To combat overwatering, you’ve probably read elsewhere that you are not to water a succulent until the soil is dry, but we need to take it a step further and make sure the plant is actually thirsty despite the soil being dry. Give the Jade Plant’s leaves a squeeze on both sides; if they’re soft and bendable, the plant is thirsty. If they’re firm with very little give when you squeeze, the plant is not thirsty and does not need to be watered.
For pest prevention or treatment, have an Insecticidal Soap on hand. If you notice a white webby substance on part of your Jade Plant, spray the entire plant down with the insecticidal soap. Continue doing this every other day for a while. You can also use it as a bi-weekly prevention spray if you want to, just to try to avoid ever having a pest issue. It’s not guaranteed that your Jade Plant will ever have an issue with pests, but better to be prepared for it just in case!
We are propagating some fabulous Jade plants right now and they will be ready for purchase soon!
When I first started collecting succulents, I killed a lot of them. I’m sure you can relate if you’ve had any experience at all with them. But, try one or all of the three varieties I’ve mentioned in this post, and I bet your luck will change!
