Indoor plants have grown into massive popularity in the past few decades for various reasons, including the increasing indoor pollution, the need for a healthy aesthetic around the house, the stress decreasing besides other therapeutic qualities of greens, the better air quality and many more.
However, as much as everyone would like a touch of nature inside their houses, achieving it is not half as easy, especially for those new to being plant owners. Different indoor plants have different caring requirements to thrive, be it watering routine, delicate plants like receiving, fertilization, etc.
Any mishandling or carelessness typically puts these plants on survival mode, which, when stretched for long, can even kill the greens. One may as well blame the hectic work life and schedule of countless that any plant they bring home dies of neglect. But does it have to be so?
Yes, while many plants die of neglect, not all do. Instead, some even thrive better when their owners are carefree and less fussy about them. These make for a perfect green partner for anyone with no prior experience in handling plants or those with little time at hand to do so.
The following article discusses five succulents that are too hard to kill, requiring little to no attention or care from their owners while being a beautiful touch of nature that they are. Ready to dig in?
Jade Plants
Jade plants, also known as Crassula Ovata, are succulent houseplants that are easy to grow and relatively resilient. One of the significant aspects of jade plants is their very long life span, so much so that one can often find jade plants that have been passed down from one generation to another, some even reaching the height of three feet or more.
Jade plants can thrive in any area of your house as long as they get a good amount of indirect sunlight every day as they adapt well to dry and warm conditions.
As for the watering, though jade plants can make good use of a thorough watering session, a person must let the soil dry out between waterings (not utterly dry, though). Twice a month must suffice. However, note that overwatering or leaving the plant with standing water can make it rot, so just forget to water even if you don’t. Take wrinkled leaves as a call for water.
Since jade plants propagate fast, occasionally pinching the new growth will help them maintain shape. But don’t trim through the entire plant at once as such sudden change might stress the plant, do a couple of branches at a time. You can further use these cutting to get more jade plants; just let them callus for 4-5 days and plant in succulent soil.
There are various jade plants that one can choose from, including money plants, hummel’s sunset, lemon, and lime, etc., each with its own set of charming appearance and decorative appeal.
Sansevieria
Sansevieria makes for one of the most popular evergreen household plants that can not just survive but thrive in just about any condition around the house, considering their high tolerance without requiring anything.
You can place it inside your room with little to no sunlight, near the window with the maximum sunlight, or even make it your bathroom buddy, and the plant will yet leave you in awe of its beautifully rich colors and textures.
The plant features thick leaves to store water, making them drought-proof, and therefore one must let the soil dry out thoroughly before watering, putting it off for several weeks again. Unlike many other plants, sansevieria prefers to remain root-bound and does not need a change of potting soil for years, and if you think doing this will cause pests, don’t worry, as pests are never an issue with them.
However, the only thing one needs to be careful of is to prevent getting water into the center rose shape formed by the leaves, considering how making the leaves rot. From various sansevieria species, one gets to choose the distinctive coloration and patterns as per what appeals to them the most.
Crinkle Leaf Plants
If the addition you are looking to make must also check the list of being a little unique and cute, the crinkle leaf plant or what is also popularly known as the essential lime pie plant is the one for you. These are small, slow-growing succulents characterized by their unique triangular, gray-green, and fleshy leaves, which grow upward from a central base and are a little crinkled at the top.
Though the plants typically prefer warm temperatures and full sun, they can surprisingly also tolerate temperature drops to as low as freezing with reduced light if necessary. However, prolonged cold and frost may damage or, in some cases, kill the plant.
They only need minimal water once every week or two, that too after the soil dries out. Know that overwatering can kill the plant more efficiently than underwatering. What’s more, the crinkle plant is relatively easier to propagate through a simple method of leaf-cutting, making it a worthy one-time investment. Not to mention how it blooms during spring to give you charming reddish-white flowers.
Aloe
The increased use of the aloe vera plant, a succulent species of genus aloe, in skincare and for multiple usages around the house has indeed skyrocketed its popularity globally. In addition, the healing abilities further make it one of the must-haves, especially around the kitchen for those fond of cooking. But, don’t worry, the many benefits do not mean special care; in fact, you do not care for aloe as it does so itself.
Aloe plant varieties are easy to find, easy to grow, and cheap. However, this succulent is particularly fond of bright and naturally lit areas for optimal growth with plump leaves. Since aloe stores water in its thick leaves, you must only water them once in a while with draining soil. Make sure not to overwater your aloe and put in some drainage holes in that terra-cotta pot of yours. Any sign of stress, be it from little watering, too much sun, or cold, is easily visible with the leaves turning yellow, reddish, or brown, indicating it is time you care for it a little.
ZZ Plant
ZZ plant, also known as Zanzibar Gem, is a low-maintenance succulent houseplant characterized by its broad, shiny, beautiful oval-shaped leaves mostly shooting upward. The plant’s appeal is genuinely spotless, just like its leaves that are also waxy and deep green, so much so one may easily mistake them for an artificial plant at first glance.
But the shiny leaves of the plant do not come at a price; in fact, they are even drought tolerant with minimum care required to keep them alive. They can do well in bright indirect light at any spot around the house, but never under too much direct sunlight. In addition, these are slow-growing plants and therefore do not require a change of potting soil with water only once in a while.
The ZZ plant is ideal for anyone with little to no experience at keeping plants, but for all that’s worth, the little care that one does is enough to give them the perfect study table perfect plant.
CONCLUSION
Succulents are known to boast thick, fleshy, and engorged leaves, making them ideal for conditions that are not so favorable for the growth of other plant species, be it the neglect or weather at work. And, since plants add to life, indoor succulents are perfect for those who want one but cannot manage to care for them.
While the above mentioned are just five types of succulents, you can find many others, such as snake plants, pothos, etc., on the market to match the look and feel of what you are looking for, not to mention the added health benefits each has to offer. Happy Scrolling!
