If you’ve ever had anything mini in your possession, then you know how valuable and irresistible it is. Have you heard of mini succulents? They are among the mini plants that continue to mesmerize. If you’re the type of persons that loves exploring different varieties of succuli, you will find mini succulents quite interesting and appealing. In this article, we will discuss what mini succulents are and how to take care of them.
What Are Mini Succulents?
Mini succulents are small plants or cuttings that haven’t reached their full size. You can either plant them alone or together with other plants. You can also glue or wire them to align with the arrangement of your choice. For example, it could be a wall decoration, wreath designs, terrariums, or gardens.
How Big Do They Grow And Where Are They Found?
If you plant them in a tight pot, you will notice that they will have stunted growth. However, if you plant them in a place where there’s enough room to grow, they will continue to grow until they reach their fullest potential. A mini succulent can grow to up to 6 inches. Therefore, if you’ll want your plants to grow bigger, you have to repot them to a bigger container or space.
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Mini succulents are available in different parts of the world. Generally, they are found in Africa, South America, Central America, and the European Alps. It’s also important to take note that most succulents do well in dry and arid climates like cactus.
Types of Mini Succulents
If you’re thinking of growing succulents, it’s important to know that there are different types and they have different ways of handling them. For example, you will notice that there are some plants that will require more sunlight and water more than others.
Again, there are some that grow slower than others while others remain small. Therefore, it’s valuable for you to know the right type of plant that will not only suit your tastes and preferences, but also be compatible with the environment you’re in.
Here are types of mini succulents you might find interesting.
Zebra Cactus
It has evergreen leaves with white bumpy stripes. In most cases, it won’t grow beyond six inches tall. As a result, don’t be surprised if it stays in a miniature state forever.
“Living Stone” Plant (Lithops)
If you’ll want your succulents to stay small, this is one that you should consider. It has two thick leaves with each one of them resembling a pebble. If this is the succulent you want to grow, you may notice it producing a few blossoms from time to time.
for more information about lithops and lithop problems, check out our article by clicking the on the link. Lithops Dying: Reviving and Caring For Your Living Stone Succulent
Air Plants (Tillandsia sp.)
The good thing with this succulent is that it requires no soil. This is a plus to those who aren’t to sure about soil requirements. Another major advantage with this particular plant is that you can place it anywhere. One of the common uses for an air plant is hanging it in wood or glass containers. The one thing you should always remember is to spray it with water regularly.
If your interested in more reading on air plants, check out our article here. Tillandsia Xerographica: The Famous Air Plant.
Hen and Chicks (Sempervivum)
Usually, this mini succulent doesn’t grow very tall. In fact, it can remain at 1 inch tall for the rest of its life. If you love this variety, it comes in different colors and it doesn’t require a lot of water for watering. Another important characteristic about it is that it prefers sandy soil for its ability to drain well. It’s also important to mention that it loves direct sunlight.
Although this is a short list of different mini succulents, the possibilities of creating a mini succulent garden are endless.
How To Care For Mini Succulents
Effective care for your succulents carries a great deal of significance for their effective growth. Keeping your plants healthy will allow them to flourish and stay vibrant. Remember, there are certain types of mini succulents that need certain elements like water more than others. So, you have to know the characteristics of your particular plant for you to know how to take good care of it. Here are some of the things you should keep in mind:
1. How Much Sun Do Mini Succulents Require?
Generally, succulents love being in a sunny environment. You should ensure that they receive at least 6 hours of sun daily. In the same vein, you should take note that you don’t introduce newly planted succulents to a lot of sunlight. This can destroy them, and it’s not what you want to see.
The best thing to do is to introduce them to direct sunlight gradually until when they are able to accommodate it. If you expose them to direct sunlight, you can provide shade for them for protection. The bottom-line is that sunlight is very important for the healthy growth of these indoor plants. Thus, make sure you provide for the same depending on the type of succulent you have planted.
2. What Type Of Soil Do They Need?
It’s imperative to always remember that not any type of soil is good for growing succulents. For you to get the right results, you have to use the soil type that will give you the best results. Basically, succulents require soil that drains water well. Any type of soil that holds water is not good for mini succulents. There are two types of soil that you can use to get the best results.
One of them is course sand. You are free to use any type of sand soil but to be sure of fast drainage, you can consider course sand instead of fine sand.
Alternatively, you can use perlite. It’s composed of organic soil that retains very little moisture. Another characteristic of this type of soil is that it helps to prevent soil compaction and makes drainage easier. The main factor in these two types of soils is that they help drain water faster, which is extremely valuable for succulents to grow healthy.
For more information about soils, we offer an in-depth article. What Are The BEST Potting Soils for Every Type of Plant?
3. Is Potted or Planted Better?
The question of whether to opt for a potted or planted succulent is what conditions are favorable. You can either choose to have it potted or plant it on the ground. However, potted is always better.
The disadvantage of a planted mini succulents is that you need to take extra care of it. It can be difficult to maintain because of the constant need to protect it from harsh environmental conditions. For example, if it’s newly planted, it doesn’t need a lot of direct exposure to the sun, in turn placing unnecessary stress on it. Also, not all succulents can do well in very cold temperatures.
In the same vein, there are succulents that can’t withstand extremely hot conditions. If you have planted it on the ground, it will have to deal with harsh conditions which are likely to affect the quality of its growth.
On the other hand, a potted succulent is easier to manage because you don’t need to be constantly worried about exposure to weather. Whenever you need it to have some sunshine exposure, you can take it outside for a few hours then return it to a shade spot. In other words, if the conditions are harsh, you can create a more favorable one when potted.
Also Check out our article about the different pots and uses. What is the perfect pot for my plants?
4. Does Temperature Effect Growth?
Yes, temperature plays a big role when it comes to the growth of mini succulents. To begin with, too cold temperatures are not good for these plants. You should be careful not to have your plants exposed to temperatures below 40F to avoid damaged.
On the other end, you should be careful of high temps because it might cause similar outcomes. Temperatures higher than 90F are not recommended. While there are those that can tolerate lower or higher than normal temperatures, most of them do well in temperate climates. Essentially, you should ensure that your mini-succulents are growing in a temperate climate ranging from 60F to 80F.
5. How Much Water Is Required?
Water is one of the most valuable elements that your plants need to grow healthy and vibrant. However, you should be keen not to overwater. If you overwater, you will be destroying it and it will eventually die. The best thing to do is to ensure that you allow the water to drain.
During the growing season, you should water them regularly. The growing season is usually from Spring to Fall. It’s recommended that you water at least once per week. The most imperative thing is to make sure that you allow the water to go through the drainage holes so that it doesn’t accumulate on the container.
If your looking for more of a controlled watering method, check out our article on drip irrigation by clicking here.
Garden Ideas: How Effective Is Drip Irrigation on Succulents?
6. Do They Require Fertilizers?
Yes, mini succulents require fertilizer for them to grow well. Of course, fertilizers contain nutrients that are essential for these plants. That is why regular fertilizing will bring about a lot of benefits. For example, fertilizers will help them grow healthier and have better colors. However, you should be extremely careful not to use fertilizers that are too strong because they will end up burning the succulents.
7. Do They Do Better Indoors or Outdoors?
The question of whether mini succulents do better indoors or outdoors is a good one. You can choose to have them either indoors or outdoors. There are advantages and disadvantages of both scenarios.
For the indoors, one of the major advantages is that you will protect them from harsh temperatures. Also, you’re able to protect your mini succulents from pests and bad weather if you choose to have them indoors. This makes it easier to maintain them.
However, the disadvantage you have here is that it takes a longer time for soil to dry up when indoors. So creates drainage problems which are not good for your growing plants.
As far as growing outdoors, one of the advantages here is that there’s much space outside that allows it to grow without limitations. Also, you won’t have drainage problems if you have your plants outside. It’s much easier for the soil to dry when it’s outside than when it is indoors. The disadvantage of opting for outdoors is that you will find it difficult to protect your plants when the weather or climate is harsh. Additionally, pest control is not easy when you have planted mini succulents outdoors.
If one so desires, there are many terrarium ideas one can come up with. Just make sure it is big enough for growth and have enough room for drainage. check out our article on Terrariums by clicking here, How to Build Your Own Terrarium: Beginners Guide.
Thus, from the comparison above, it’s evident that you can choice either of the two ways of planting, but your final choice depends on the environment you’re in and your personal preferences. Whichever one fits your environment and needs best should guide you on choosing the best method.
Do Mini Succulents Do Better In Groups?
Planting succulents in groups has its own advantages which are worthy of a mention. One being they will grow together and make the arrangement tight, which is a good thing. Again, if you want them to have the same size, planting them in groups will achieve that goal. Also, taking care of them will be easier and it will help to give them a healthy and robust growth. If you choose to separate them, you will have to take extra care of them, which requires more efforts and resources.
Can You Propagate Mini Succulents?
Yes, it’s possible to propagate mini succulents. You can take a leaf that falls from the plant or remove one gently for the propagation process. You should be careful when breaking a leaf off the plant because it can cause damage. In addition, take not that poor cuttings will result to poor development of leaves that won’t give the required results.
How Long Do Mini Succulents Live For?
Mini succulents are known to be slow-growing plants that can stay forever if you maintain them well. You can change the soil in the pot after two to three years to maintain its health.
Conclusion
From the discussion above, it’s certain that mini succulents are plants that require easy-to-maintain requirements of care, if you understand the right type of succulent to plant. They will give you an ever-fresh and beautiful look around your home if you take good care of them. Happy Gardening.
