Succulents are a popular choice for people who want to add some life to their home but don’t have the time or space to maintain a garden. These plants are low maintenance, and they also look beautiful. However, many succulent owners find that they can’t get their indoor succulents to bloom no matter what they try! In this article, we’ll discuss how you can help your indoor succulents produce flowers.
How do Succulents get their Colors?
Succulent plants have a wide range of colors, from standard green to deep purple to bright yellow. The depth or brightness of the color comes from the amount of light the plant gets and what nutrients are available in the soil. In general, water will dilute any pigment present on the leaves, which means that if your plant has been sitting for a few days without being watered, its color may seem lighter than usual.
How to Get your Indoor Succulents to Flower
Use the Right Soil
First, provide high-quality soil and enough water. Often, succulent owners provide soil that is too dry or not rich in nutrients. Poor soil leads to stunted roots, which can’t produce flowers no matter how much sun they get. The key here is to use a good potting mix (like cactus/succulent sand) because it already contains fertilizer and other nutrients for healthy growth. Also, make sure you’re watering regularly but not over-watering. You don’t want any standing water sitting at the bottom of pots. Soggy soil will drown root systems.
Supplemental Light for Flowering Succulents
Next, try providing a little bit of supplemental light. Artificial light won’t always produce the same level of flowers as being outside in the full sun all day. But it should give your plants enough energy to flower, and you’ll be able to enjoy some blooms indoors.
If your succulent plants are near a window, you may not need to do anything else. If the windows aren’t receiving any direct sunlight or are in an area with low light, you’ll want to invest in some grow lights or set up a fixture that will provide additional illumination for 12-14 hours per day.
Give Your Succulents Some Space
It’s also essential that your succulents have enough space between them, so their leaves don’t get overgrown by other plants and prevent blooming entirely (this is especially true if you use artificial light). How much space should you provide? It depends on what type of plant it is, but usually, around three inches apart from each other should be adequate.
Watering Tips for Succulents
Finally, make sure you’re watering correctly. Succulents are desert plants and need more water in the summertime than they do in winter. If your succulent is growing taller instead of wider, it’s likely because it needs less moisture. And if its leaves have started to curl up or go limp? Then that means it needs a good drink!
15 Types of Succulents That Produce Flowers
Many types of succulents produce flowers. Here are a few of the most popular varieties:
1. Echeveria (Doris Taylor)
Echeveria is one of the most popular flowering succulents. These plants have long, thin leaves that grow in a rosette shape and range from white to deep purple or even pink.
2. Pachyphytum
Pachyphytum is one of those special types of succulents that can bloom twice – once when they’re young and once as an established adult plant. They’re also known for their strong stems, dark green color, and large magenta blooms that often last months.
3. Crassula Ovata
The crassula ovata is also called the jade plant. These plants are often grown for their attractive shape and ability to grow in dry environments like desert landscapes.
Crassula ovata is a succulent that can bloom at any time of year if it has enough light. Crassula is also known for its thick leaves and the way they grow in clusters or rosettes from their base.
4. Haworthia
The Haworthia is a bit harder to grow because they need more light and water than other succulents. But if you can get them just right, these plants will produce flowers that range in colors from orange to dark red. They make an attractive addition to any garden.
5. Crassula Perforata (String of Buttons)
This plant is the “string of buttons plant” because it has leaves that grow in long strings. They’re usually sold as small plants with two to three perforated leaves and will produce flowers if they get enough light and water. However, these are one of the more complex succulents to care for.
6. Echeveria Peacockii
The Echeveria peacock ii is a variety of rosette succulents with long, thin leaves. It’s called the Peacock plant because when it blooms in the springtime, its flowers are usually bright pink. They have waxy leaves in shades of white, pink, or red, and their stems are greenish-yellow with purple blotches.
7. Cotyledon Orbiculata (Kingdom Plant)
The Cotyledon Orbiculata is a flowering succulent that produces flowers in the springtime. They’re known for their bright orange-red blooms, and they have flat, round leaves with white or greenish centers. This succulent is a cross between two other succulents, the Echeveria and Cotyledon.
8. Pachyveria Nana (Rosette Plant)
This plant has got it all. It’s a rosette succulent that can produce flowers, has excellent drought resistance, and is one of the easier types to care for. The Pachyveria Nana has long, thin leaves which grow in clusters along their stem. These plants are usually greenish or brownish-green with small white dots on them, and they’re most often grown as potted plants.
9. Echeveria (Frosty)
Another one of the more popular flowering succulents is the Echeveria frosty. These plants produce white flowers and are often grown indoors because they’re known for their low light requirements, which means you can usually keep them in a windowless room or basement without any problems.
10. Dendrophyllum (Hens and Chicks)
Hens and Chicks are favorite succulents for beginners. These plants produce white flowers on their long, thin leaves, which grow in a rosette shape. They’re known for being hardy because they can survive colder climates than many
11. Euphorbia Cactus (Crown of Thorns)
Euphorbia cacti are also known as Crown of Thorns plants because they have sharp spikes on them. These succulents produce flowers that range in colors from white to pink or red, and they’re often grown as potted plants inside a home because of their low light requirements–it takes about 12 hours for these plants to flower, so it’s best if you put the plant outside before this period has passed.
12. Pachycereus Pecten-Aquae (Stone Cactus)
The Pachycereus pecten-aquae is an attractive succulent that you can grow inside or outside. They have a fleshy, green stem and large white flowers which produce seeds in the summertime.
13. Encephalartos Ferox (Coffee Tree Palm)
This plant produces flowers in the winter, and they range in colors from white to pink or red. The Encephalartos Ferox is an unusual succulent because it’s a palm tree, which means that when it blooms, you’ll have something other than leaves at the end of its branches.
14. Euphorbia Gigantea (Giant Spurge)
This plant is one of the most unusual succulents because it’s a flowering species and has huge leaves that grow up to eight feet long. Outdoors, this succulent can be used as a groundcover or grown into large “trees.” But make sure you have plenty of room for them since they spread quickly.
15. Opuntia Ficus Indica (Indian Fig)
The Opuntia Ficus Indica is another succulent that produces flowers in the winter, and they’re known for having bright red blooms. These plants are often grown as potted plants because of their low light requirements, which means if you put them outside before it’s time to flower, then you’ll stunt the plant’s growth.
How to Get Your Indoor Succulents to Flower – The Wrap-up
Caring for succulents isn’t always easy, but it’s not impossible either – even if they’re flowering types, which may require more attention and patience than other varieties to bloom again (and again).
Being patient is vital when it comes to getting your indoor succulents to flower. It might take weeks or even months before anything happens. If necessary, give the plant some supplemental lighting during those darker winter days, so it gets enough energy for blooming. And don’t forget about watering techniques: too little moisture may cause stunted growth, while too much will drown root systems no matter how bright the lights are. The key here is to use high-quality soil, water regularly but not over-water, and provide a little bit of supplemental light.
Each succulent tye is beautiful in its own way, and we hope you’ll have the opportunity to grow one or two of them in your home.
