Hey y’all! So here’s a post I’ve been wanting to write for a while. Mainly because succulents are so awesome, but can be tricky too! When I bought my first succulent, I definitely had to adjust my normal indoor-plant thinking. But once you get a few tricks down, then these little guys can be a breeze! Especially the succulents on this list. This list of the easiest succulents to grow are both easy to keep alive and are the best succulents for beginners!
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Easiest Succulents to Grow #1: Aloe – Aloe vera
This is a great place to start! Not only is the aloe vera plant very attractive, but it is also widely used for its medicinal properties. Just cut off a leaf/stem and rub the juices onto a burn or a wound (just be sure that you aren’t one of those few who are sensitive to it first).
To ensure a healthy aloe vera plant, make sure you allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Also try to give it at least a couple hours of direct sunlight each day. This plant can have sharp edges on its leaves, so make sure that it isn’t in a location where people might brush against it and get scraped. Only repot plant it once the roots are starting to push out of the pot. Follow these guidelines, and you’ll have a super easy, super useful, and super awesome little succulent! Get it here!
Easiest Succulents to Grow #2: String of Pearls – Senecio rowleyanus
String of pearls is great for any beginner who loves hanging baskets. Used as a filler or as a main specimen, string of pearls looks almost unreal! Make sure that this little guy gets plenty of bright light, but don’t keep it in direct afternoon sun. It usually doesn’t need too much watering, but if it is in a warm climate and gets lots of bright light, then it may need a moderate amount of water. Just keep an eye on it and adjust accordingly. Get it here!
Easiest Succulents to Grow #3: Paddle Pant – Kalanchoe tetraphylla
This succulent definitely makes a statement in any modern-style home! With its red-tinted leaves and geometric shape, this succulent looks great in many different styles of containers. Make sure that it is only watered once the soil has become dry on the top. Don’t expose it to direct, hot sunlight, but do give it plenty of bright, indirect light to keep the edges red. Get it here!
Easiest Succulents to Grow #4: Jade Plant – Crassula ovata
Jade plant is one of my favorite succulents! I love that it can grow from a simple cutting up to the size of a small tree! Some tips to succeed with this plant is to not over-water it. Wait until the soil dries out completely before watering. But don’t wait until its leaves look dull or withered. This means you’ve waited for too long and most likely those leaves will eventually fall off. So find a happy medium, but err on the side of dry. Another nice thing about the jade plant is that because of its small root system, you won’t need to re-pot it that often. So sit back and enjoy the beauty of this large, but easy succulent! Get it here!
Easiest Succulents to Grow #5: Panda Plant – Kalanchoe tomentosa
This is another very cute succulent! Named for its fuzzy leaves, the panda plant can flower, but it is very rare indoors. So don’t count on it flowering, but instead enjoy the beautiful shape and tinted edges of this easy-to-grow succulent. Make sure that it dries out between watering and that it receives lots of bright, indirect sunlight. It can also deal with a few hours of direct sunlight in the morning, but keep it away from the strong afternoon sun. Also, this plant doesn’t grow well in cold drafts. Get it here!
Easiest Succulents to Grow #6 Burro’s Tail – Sedum morganianum
Here’s another great succulent to put into a hanging basket. Burro’s tail has thick rows of cascading leaves that can grow up to 2-3 feet long! However, place this little guy somewhere it won’t be disturbed because the leaves will fall off with the slightest touch. If you have young kids, I wouldn’t suggest this one for you. Go with the String of Pearls instead. But Burro’s Tail is pretty low-maintenance, especially during the wintertime when the plant enters dormancy and won’t need much watering at all. And this succulent can do well with bright to medium sun and can even be brought outdoors during the summer as long as it is carefully acclimated. Get it here!
Easiest Succulents to Grow #7: Lithops
Lithops have recently returned in popularity and it’s no surprise why! They are super easy to grow indoors, are low-growing and come in a wide variety of colors and designs. They can also bloom if given enough sunlight. These plants do well in poor soils, but need to stay well-drained and dislike too much water. Lithops also go through a dormant period in the winter where they will need little to no watering at all (depending on your climate). So enjoy these pretty, unique succulents! Get it here!
Easiest Succulents to Grow #8: Pincushion Cactus – Mammillaria
Pincushion Cactus is a very pretty cactus that got its name from its very sharp needles! This guy needs plenty of space as each needle has a hooked end that can be hard to get out of the skin. So once again, I wouldn’t suggest this plant for people with young children in the home. Pincushion Cactus is fairly easy to maintain, however. It just requires a lot of sunlight (if you have a bright south-facing window, that would be best). The soil also needs to dry out before its next watering. Pincushion Cactus will also need a period of no watering (during the wintertime) to allow it to go into dormancy. This is needed if you want it to produce those gorgeous blooms! Get it here!
Easiest Succulents to Grow #9: Snake Plant – Sansevieria trifasciata
This is another of my favorite indoor succulents as it’s one of the few thick, fleshy-leaved plants that does well in low light conditions. It is also on my list of Top 10 Hard to Kill Houseplants. And… it is also one of the large succulents that is also easy to grow! With its bright, vertical lines, Snake Plant does well in any room. Make sure to let the soil dry out between watering and plant in a well-draining soil. If left too wet, it may start to rot at the base. If given higher amounts of indirect lights, it is more likely to keep its colorful markings. Prune out any damaged leaves to keep it looking fresh and healthy, but know that once the tip has been clipped, it will no longer grow in height. Get it here!
Easiest Succulents to Grow #10: Zebra Cactus – Haworthia fasciata
Zebra Cactus is another of my favorite succulents because it is so easy to grow! Seriously, my 1-year-old got a hold of several of my succulents, killing several (sad day!), but being ripped out of its soil and tossed around the living room didn’t even seem to phase this guy! It has definitely earned its spot here on my list of easiest to grow succulents. I’ve heard some people say that the tips are sharp, but they aren’t too sharp in my opinion. It also helps that this succulent stays small, so there won’t be any worries of it outgrowing its space. Just re-pot every year or two with fresh, well-draining soil to give it needed nutrients. This cactus can also do well in a shallow pot, as its roots stay in the top portion of the soil. Make sure that your Zebra Cactus stays in bright, but indirect sunlight. Hot, direct sunlight can burn the leaves.For more care information, check out my post, Zebra Plant Succulent Care! Or you can purchase one here!
Easiest Succulents to Grow #11: Air Plants – Tillandsia
Air plants have recently gained more popularity due to the fact that they don’t require any soil to grow. However, they do need to be watered and given proper attention or they will die. But once you get a few simple tricks down, all of your air plants will thrive! So first, make sure that you water it correctly. This consists of lightly misting it once or twice a week (depending on how much light it is getting), and soaking it once a week for several hours. Then make sure that it completely dries out! This is one of my beginner mistakes with this plant. I bought one that was already glued into a glass orb and when it came time to dry it out, it was extremely difficult. This was because it couldn’t get enough airflow to it to allow it to dry out completely. So make sure that it soaks it all up, but then has plenty of time to completely dry out! For more care information, check out my post on Air Plant Care, or my post on How to Water Air Plants! Or you can purchase one here!
Easiest Succulents to Grow #12: Hens and Chicks
Last, but definitely not least is Hens and Chicks. Both Sempervivum and Echeveria species are often called Hens and Chicks because they not only look very similar, but they also both create small offshoots, or what is referred to as the ‘chicks’ part of the plant. These small chicks can be cut off and re-potted for more plants. Hens and Chicks does best in bright, indirect light, but can also tolerate some light shade. Just make sure that it is in well-draining potting soil and that it dries out a bit between watering. They will also need very little water in the winter months as they enter a dormancy period. And also make sure to keep water off the leaves while watering, as it can cause them to be permanently marked. Get it here!
So there’s my list of 12 Easiest Succulents to Grow Indoors! I hope you found the tips helpful! Make sure to check out my other post on Top 10 Hard to Kill Houseplants that includes the easiest non-succulent type plants to grow indoors as well. I hope you all have success growing some of these awesome succulents and feel free to leave any additional tips or questions below!
Happy Digging!