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Shallow trays packed with tiny drought-resistant plants in shades of green, red, and purple are pretty much all most people know about indoor succulent gardening.
But when it’s too cold to garden outside, there’s another way to bring desert warmth into your home.
Go bold with indoor succulent gardens, suggests Tucson educator and author Marylee Pangman, who specializes in desert container gardening.
“Choose just one specialty plant and see how it works before you expand your collection,” advises Pangman, who has designed, built and maintained gardens for hundreds of clients throughout southern Arizona. “Success builds confidence.”
Pangman says you can grow architectural succulents, such as the green and yellow snake plant, whose tongue-like leaves reach toward the ceiling, in a large ceramic pot. Or try a African The milk tree grows upright with many arms and can reach 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall indoors.
Succulents, including cacti subspecies, are plants with fleshy tissue that conserves water. They come in many shapes and sizes, with the larger structural varieties being particularly eye-catching.
Pangman says succulents are great for busy people or retirees who want a garden that’s a joy to have, not a chore. Succulents are easier to care for than thirsty plants and generally require less light and water, sometimes as little as every two to four weeks.
“Anyone can grow succulents,” Pangman said. “They’re especially useful if you travel a lot.”
Pangman had no gardening experience when he moved here Tucson In 1996, I was escaping the winter of upstate New York. Within two years, she studied to become a master gardener and launched her own landscape design company, The Contained Gardener.
Pangman later sold the company and now shares her knowledge through writing, including the book “Getting Potted in the Desert” as well as her website and Substack platform. She also teaches online courses on her platform and through the Tucson Botanical Garden.
These are her tips for growing large succulents indoors.
plant
Consider your home’s indoor lighting and avoid plants that grow quickly or may grow to unusually large sizes.
For high-shine or south-facing areas: Consider more vertically shaped architectural and medicinal aloe vera plants, which can grow 2 to 3 feet (0.6 to 0.9 meters) tall. Some agaves are also suitable for south-facing plantings, including the foxtail agave (agave attenuata), a sculptural plant that forms rosettes that can spread 3 to 4 feet (0.9 to 1 meter) wide. In smaller homes, consider a striking queen victoria Agave or Smurf aloe hybrid.
For medium-sun or east- and west-facing areas: the striking African milk tree (Euphorbia trigona), the classic jade tree (Crassula ovata), the velvety-leaf felt shrub (Kalanchoe beharensis) and the tree-like Aeium arboreum (forming a rosette on woody stems).
For low-light, north-facing areas: The sturdy snake plant (Sansevieria) is a winner, as is the shade-tolerant Gastrodia elata variety with its dagger-shaped leaves. The smaller zebra plant (Haworthia fasciata) makes a striking appearance when planted. Although it’s not technically a succulent, Pangman likes the ZZ plant, or zamiifolia, which has glossy leaves and stems and can be grown in very low light with little watering.
flowerpot
Containers for larger plants should be especially large, at least 18 to 22 inches (46 to 56 cm) in diameter and 16 to 18 inches (41 to 46 cm) deep. Don’t buy plastic pots. Choose breathable terracotta, glazed ceramic, or lightweight resin containers with drainage holes. A plant stand on wheels protects the floor from heavy potted plants, allows plants to rotate so that all sides are exposed to sunlight, and allows plants to be easily moved outdoors in the spring.
soil
Use tough, well-drained soil. Ask your local nursery or large home improvement store for commercial cacti and succulent mixes. A top dressing such as colored recycled glass, gravel, or smooth river rock can be spread over the soil to control moisture and create an attractive focal point.
light
Place the plant farther away from the window, preferably 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 meters). Rotating planters are especially helpful for east- and west-facing windows to ensure light gets in on all sides. Insufficient light causes pale colors and signs of stretching. Too much light can cause sunburn and brown or white patches.
watering
The easiest way to kill succulents is overwatering. Generally speaking, they don’t need to be watered more than once every two to four weeks. Large pots are especially slow to dry out, so be sure to test the soil to a depth of 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm) with a moisture meter. If dry, water the plant until the water drains from the bottom.
Still need help?
In addition to Pangman’s online resources, you can also check with large home improvement stores and nurseries in your community. A nearby community college or agricultural extension office connected to a public university or county government may also have educational resources to share.
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