Flowering Succulent Houseplants

Characteristics

• The ability to store excessive moisture is a distinguishing characteristics of plants in this group. Succulents are classified into three broad groups. Stem succulents, like cacti, store water in their stems. Leaf succulents have water reserves in their leaves. Examples of leaf succulents include blue echeveria, Senecio antandroi, panda plant and Haworthia cymbiformis. The third group is the less-common root succulents that store moisture in their roots. Yams are an example of root succulents.

Flowering Succulents

• A large number of flowering succulents grows well as houseplants. These include the South American air plant (Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi), also referred to as lavender scallops and gray sedum. This perennial plant also is used as a ground cover in regions with warm summers and mild winters. Wax begonia (Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum) is a flowering succulent from the begonia plant family. Wax begonia comes in a wide variety of sizes and colors.

Cultural Requirements

• Succulents thrive in a well-drained soil and have low requirements for water or fertilizer. These drought-tolerant plants have a slow growth rate. When cultivated at home, succulents grow well under conditions that match their natural habitats. Succulents are the easiest plants to cultivate as they are superbly hardy under negative growth conditions, cites Diana Morgan in "Succulents for Mediterranean Climate Gardens" (2004). The majority of succulents, excluding cacti, prefer bright light and are not highly tolerant of direct sun.

Propagation

• The majority of succulents, including cacti, easily are propagated with cuttings taken between late spring and early summer in temperatures of 70 degrees F. Some succulents produce young offsets or pads that are joined to the parent. Take 2- to 4-inch-long sections of stems or remove offsets with a sharp, clean knife. Leave in a cool, dry place for two to three days to allow the cut to dry. Plant the cut in a small pot filled with equal amounts of potting soil and sand. Place it in a shaded area and water lightly. The offsets generally root in about a month.

Habitat

• The natural habitat of succulents includes regions with distinct dry and rainy seasons. The plants absorb water during the rains, storing it in their various parts. This water is used as sustenance during the dry weather. Nearly all varieties of cacti are natives of North and South America. All other succulents are native to Africa and regions of Europe.