How to grow succulents indoors?

Phy1345797
by Phy1345797

Do succulents grown indoors need special grow lights for indoor plants, dirt, or sand?


  21 answers
  • BS BS on Apr 23, 2015
    I love succulents and have quite a few growing indoors. Bright light is essential. Most of mine are in south-facing windows. I use a cactus mix to pot them in containers with drainage holes. They are happy in much smaller containers than the usual tropical house plant. However, indoor succulents potted in a well draining flourish with more frequent watering than you would suspect. I give mine a good soaking in the sink once a week. Let them drain thoroughly before returning them to their saucers. Sitting in standing water will quickly cause lethal root rot. So, well draining potting mix, adequate water, and bright indirect light will contribute to happy succulents indoors. Oh yeah. I live in a very arid climate. If you have a high level of humidity, you may need to reduce the frequency, not the thoroughness, of your watering. Best wishes. Growing succulents is a lot of fun.
  • Judy Judy on Feb 05, 2014
    I bring a few snippets in every Fall. They do just fine in shallow round plant water catchers with a few drainage holes drilled in them. Use a sandy soil that drains well and do not over water. They prefer a sunny spot near a window. If you have cats beware-they love to nibble on them. Good luck.
  • Mikell Paulson Mikell Paulson on Feb 05, 2014
    Yes, they do well in the house! Do not over water them!
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Feb 06, 2014
    They would be fine indoors in a sunny spot. If you are bringing them in from outside, I would move them to a shady spot outdoors for a couple of weeks before you move them indoors. This will help them better acclimate to the lower light levels in a house.
  • Chloe Crabtree Chloe Crabtree on Aug 08, 2020

    General speaking, indoor succulents do not need grow light. If your window is full of sunlight all day then your succulents can survive well even in winter without grow light. However, during winter time, succulent often do not get sufficient sunlight and hence, etiolation and fading color are common issues.

  • I struggled when I brought mine inside... now with the sole survivor I water it just once a month and have it in cactus soil and it's been going strong for several months.
  • KathrynElizabeth Etier KathrynElizabeth Etier on Feb 06, 2014
    I brought in a lot of succulents this winter and have had mixed results. The broader leafed varieties are thriving, but the finer ferny looking ones bit the dust. The most important thing to remember is they can go quite a while without water.
  • Chel Chel on Feb 06, 2014
    I've had Jade Plants grow to huge sizes inside, also Aloe Vera.
  • I'd use regular sunlight by a window or take them outside for a couple hours during the beginning or end of the day for a little fresh air and light.

  • Maura White Maura White on Aug 08, 2020

    They flourish as long as they are near a window! Succulents are very hardy! Like the easiest plants to take care of!

  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Aug 09, 2020

    My succulents thrive on sunny window sills. My daughter uses grow lights for hers, because her apartment doesn't get enough sun. I find them easy to grow because they don't like a lot of fuss, just give them sun and an occasional drink and they thrive. Good luck and stay safe!

  • Aloe Vera grows great in a sunny window!

  • Diane Coverdale Diane Coverdale on Apr 18, 2019

    Have you thought of a jade plant?

  • Maura White Maura White on Apr 21, 2019

    I have Hens and Chicks that does well!

  • Beverly Ulveling Beverly Ulveling on Aug 05, 2018

    Minimum amount of direct light. Very little water.

  • Allyssa Swearingen Allyssa Swearingen on May 28, 2017

    Dessert roses, jade, mini jade, many variations of aloe are sold small, echeveria. If you're interested in plants that don't need a ton of water, also take a look at cacti. Snake plants aren't necessarily small, but they are an amazingly hardy variety of succulent. If you want a flowering plant, kalanchoe is a beautiful succulent, can be trained to bloom continuously, and kept relatively small. Hope this helps!

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Sep 04, 2019

    It will depend on what you want to use for a planter. You can add a bit of gravel with the soil. You only mist them weekly so water drainage shouldn't be an issue.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Feb 21, 2023

    Yes they grow indoors, so long as they have light. You can buy special succulent mix from garden centres etc.

  • Janice Janice on Sep 22, 2023

    Succulents love bright sun and little water and can grow in shallow containers. There's such a wide variety to choose from, you'll want to try many different ones. They look great in a large shallow dish.