A succulent arrangement for a low-light workspace
Succulents are notoriously difficult to keep alive in low-light environments. However, arrangements can be carefully crafted to suit an otherwise hostile environment for these sun-loving plants.
Most succulents are desert plants and thrive on abundant sunshine.
Howorthia
A few varieties, such as this Howorthia, can tolerate some shade indoors.
We use a light-weight round fiberstone container, made mostly of cement and has no finishing glazes or paint. This will help absorb excess moisture that would otherwise drown the succulents.
Succulents are drought-tolerant plants and will do well if allowed to dry out completely before watering again, especially in low light!
For our soil mixture we use a combination of:
1/3 cactus mix
1/3 volcanic pumice
1/3 sand
This mixture maximizes drainage after watering. Succulents need water, of course, but their roots need to dry out in order to stay healthy.
Soil mixture is placed over a small layer of rock at the base of the container. This is to provide open space for the water to drain out of the soil.
We have many succulents to choose from. We're mostly interested in varieties that can withstand shade, though the rule isn't strictly followed for this project.
After the succulents are placed in the soil mix, we add a layer of decorative rock to finish. Some handy tools in this phase are a tooth-pick and turkey baster to remove any rock or soil that is trapped in the various nooks and crannies of the succulent bodies.
Don't forget to break the roots apart a little bit before planting!
Trumpet Jade, Photo by freestocks.org on Unsplash
Among the varieties in this arrangement is another succulent known for its tolerance of the dark, the Trumpet Jade.
The spiny cactus (one tall and one short and round) are not known for their shade tolerance. I'm curious to see how they do in this arrangement in the long run. If they fade away they can easily be replaced by more appropriate varieties.
I hope you found some of this information useful in demystifying the needs of succulents indoors!
Kabba
In the UK I grew a jade plant to about 3 feet, here in Thailand they always die :-( either too much sun or too little, perhaps too much humidity and heat here. Local plants do well, like aloe vera and local cacti.
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Thanks accelerator! Jade plants are well suited for drier climates, so be careful how much water you give it ;)
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