Here's why succulents are good indoor winter houseplants

Succulents are easy to deal with, are resistant to disease and thrive in the dry humidity common inside homes in winter.
Succulents are easy to deal with, are resistant to disease and thrive in the dry humidity common inside homes in winter.
photo Succulents offer eye-catching foliage and flower colors and are easier to care for than traditional houseplants.

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For more about growing succulents indoors, go to www.extension.illinois.edu/gardenerscorner/issue—02/winter—03—06.cfm

If you're shifting to houseplants as cold weather approaches, consider gardening with succulents. Succulents are easy, disease-resistant and thrive despite the dry air common indoors in winter.

Think of them as the new African violets.

"They require so little care. They look good all the time and they do well in low humidity," says Gary Bachman, a research professor with Mississippi State University Extension in Biloxi.

Their soft, juicy leaves and enlarged stems allow the plants to store water under dry conditions, he says.

"The only thing the homeowner can do wrong is overwater," Bachman says. "They won't like it in containers that don't drain well."

Succulents offer a wide variety of eye-catching foliage and flower colors. "Growth habits include everything from ground-hugging creepers to upright growers," Bachman says.

Pruning generally is not required because the plants tend to grow slowly, he says.

"You don't really need to fertilize very often, but a little slow-release fertilizer can promote faster growth."

Most succulents are tender plants - natives of frost-free areas - so planting them in shallow trays makes it simple to carry them inside before the killer frosts arrive.

"Succulents also are easy to plant indoors," Bachman says. "They look great on windowsills and bright office spaces."

Growing them in ornamental containers gives them a decorative edge when grouped with other houseplants. Combining several different kinds of succulents creates attractive dish gardens. Choose plants with similar growth habits and care needs, though. That makes them easier to care for.

Some succulents are hardier than others but it's best to look at them as a group, Bachman says.

"Most require some care or protection in northern climates," he says, though here in the South they usually can stay outdoors throughout the year.

Succulents prefer bright light most of the day, the kind they would get from south-facing windows, says Leonard Perry, Extension professor emeritus at the University of Vermont.

"If your plant starts to 'stretch,' or grow tall and lanky with space between leaves, it isn't getting enough light," Perry says. "Also, rotate plants weekly if they are bending toward a light or window."

Succulents recommended for growing indoors include aloe, sansevieria, jade plant, echeveria, mother-in-law's tongue, Christmas cactus, sempervivum, sedum and spiderwort, among many others.

Succulents crave heat, so keep them away from drafts or from rubbing up against cold windows.

Well-drained, sandy soils are the best potting mixtures. Allow them to dry completely between each watering.

"One rule of thumb is that the thicker the leaves, generally the less water the plant needs," Perry says.

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