Plant profile: Succulents

For a dramatic indoor display of greenery, you’d be hard pushed to find a better range of plants than succulents – “Arguably the toughest low-maintenance plants on the market,” says Matt Leacy, director of Sydney-based Landart Landscapes.

Read on as we share tips, tricks and beautiful ways to display this oh-so-versatile collection of plants.

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Design tip

“When arranging succulents, look for different shapes, textures and sizes, as this helps keep the display interesting,” says Tammy Huynh of Yates.

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Care

While succulents come in a range of sizes, colours, shapes and also habits, a common characteristic is their water-storing, fleshy leaves, which help them to survive in drought conditions, both in the wild and indoors. “When it comes to watering succulents, less is more,” says Tammy Huynh of Yates.

“Give them a good drink (until the water runs out of the drainage holes) once a week. If you forget, don’t fret – they’re likely to forgive you anyway!” Georgina Reid, founder of The Planthunter, suggests testing the potting mix before you wield the watering-can. “Stick your finger into the mix and if it’s moist, don’t water,” she advises.

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Let there be light

Succulents and their close neighbours, cacti, love lots of light. “You need a really well-lit room and at least four hours of good sunlight hitting the plant,” says Matt Leacy. For sun-loving plants like crassula and echeveria (pictured opposite), a window sill with northern light is perfect, says Georgina. “But optimal position will really depend on the plant.”

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More is more

“If your succulents are bursting out of their containers, repot,” says Tammy. “Propagation is easy,” adds Matt. “Take a cutting of your succulent and leave it in a dry area by a window with soft light. Wait for it to dry out a little. It should start to send out shoots within a couple of weeks. Once it has, plant it in a small pot using a good succulent mix.”

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“If you’re not a fan of traditional succulents, consider types that take on a shrub-like form and provide colour. Crassula undulata and Kalanchoe ‘Silver Spoons’ are examples”
Matt Leacy Landart Landscapes

Their compact form makes succulents a winner when contrasted with statement plants, such as this staghorn fern. Seek out containers of different shapes and sizes and pair with plants in proportion to retain visual harmony.

After more plants that don't need a lot of water? Click here.