By Helenruth Schuette
Beltrami County Master Gardener
The term Succulent refers to a broad, loose category of plants,
including cacti, which have developed thick fleshy leaves or stems.
These serve as water storage organs to insure survival under arid
(dry) conditions. Succulents are found worldwide. Besides cacti,
they include many familiar plants such as the jade plant (Crassula
arborescens), snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata), the medicine
plant (Aloe barbadensis), the century plant (Agave americana), and
the flowering Kalanchoes (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana).
Many cacti and succulents are extremely well adapted to living in
houses where the relative humidity is low (10-30 %). They require
only modest amounts of water and fertilizer, but do need abundant
light. They should be placed in a bright, sunny window or use white
fluorescent tubes for light positioning plants 6-12 inches below the
lights. Keep the lights on for 14-16 hours daily.
In nature most cacti and succulents are found growing in open, well-
drained, sandy soil. These conditions should be duplicated indoors.
A mix of one part potting soil and one part coarse sand is usually
porous enough. A good test is to moisten the mixture and squeeze it
in your hand. On release, the soil should fall apart. Both pot and
growing medium should be sterile. Ideally these plants should be
grown in pots with drainage holes because excess water trapped in the
soil will result in rotting and decay quickly.
During the low-light winter months, cacti and succulents should be
watered only enough to prevent shrinking and withering. When
watering, do it thoroughly. Water should flow through the drain
holes, and the excess should be discarded after a few minutes. A
series of repeated shallow sprinklings often results in distorted
growth. As the amount of light increases in the spring, so does the
plants's need for water. Always allow the soil to dry out completely
between waterings.
Cacti and succulents have relatively low nutrient requirements.
Cacti need fertilizer only once or twice a year during the late
spring or summer when they are actively growing. Use a houseplant
food that is higher in phosphorus than nitrogen, diluted to half the
recommended rate. Other succulents may be fertilized in the same
manner three to four times during the brighter months. For best
results read the label directions when you purchase the plant.
You may be able to bring your cacti and succulents into bloom indoors
if you can approximate their native winter conditions. This
involves a combination of good light, dry soil, and cool nights.
Often a windowsill location will give the necessary conditions. As
well, many cacti and succulents benefit from spending the summer
months outdoors. Once the weather warms up they should be placed in
a semi-shaded, protected area of the yard and then gradually moved to
a sunnier location.
Cacti and succulents are not troubled much by pests. If they have
mealybugs or scale, the problem can be controlled by wiping them off
with alcohol-dipped cotton swabs. Fungal or bacterial rots can
almost always be prevented by maintaining adequate cultural
conditions-bright light and proper watering.
Cacti and succulents can be propagated easily by stem cuttings. Many
succulents will form new plants from leaves which have been broken
off. Allow the cutting wound to air dry before sticking the cutting
into slightly moistened, sterile sand. Water sparingly since
moisture retention is not a problem. When the roots have formed,
transplant into the regular sand and potting soil mixture. Since
cacti and succulents are diverse, consult a textbook regarding the
specific requirements of individual species.
