Succulent and Cactus Care Guide

Adam's Needle

Yucca filamentosa · Succulents & cacti

An extremely hardy, architectural plant that forms sword-like leaf rosettes. It is very tolerant of full sun, heat, drought and cold. It likes well-drained and sandy soils, and its cream-white flowers that open in summer rise on a long stalk.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera · Succulents & cacti

A succulent known for the gel in its fleshy leaves, used for medicinal and decorative purposes. It likes plenty of bright, indirect light and very well-drained soils; its biggest enemies are overwatering and root rot.

Century Plant

Agave americana · Succulents & cacti

A very large, sculptural succulent that creates a striking focal point in the landscape. It needs full sun and well-drained, sandy soil. Care should be taken with the spiny leaf tips and the sap, which can irritate the skin.

Echeveria

Echeveria · Succulents & cacti

A popular succulent that grows in a rosette form. It needs plenty of light, well-drained cactus soil and a potting medium that dries out completely between waterings. Its worst enemy is overwatering, and it is very prone to root rot.

Gasteria

Gasteria · Succulents & cacti

A hardy succulent that, unlike many other succulents, prefers bright but indirect light rather than direct sun. It has thick, tongue-shaped leaves and is very sensitive to overwatering; the soil must dry out completely between waterings.

Jade Plant

Crassula ovata · Succulents & cacti

A popular, easy-care succulent; it needs plenty of sun and well-drained soil that dries out completely between waterings. Its biggest enemy is root rot caused by overwatering, and its most common pest is mealybugs.

Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana · Succulents & cacti

A popular succulent with fleshy leaves and long-lasting colorful flowers. To flower again, it must spend about 6 weeks in autumn in uninterrupted darkness for 14 hours a day (short days); overwatering rots its roots.

Moss Rose

Portulaca grandiflora · Succulents & cacti

A spreading annual with succulent leaves that is extremely tolerant of heat and drought. It is known for its silky, brightly colored flowers that open on sunny days. It likes poor, sandy, very well-drained soil; it is ideal for rock gardens and hot, dry areas.

Prickly Pear

Opuntia ficus-indica · Succulents & cacti

A cactus that is extremely tolerant of drought and heat, grown for its edible fruit (prickly pear) and pads (nopales). It likes plenty of intense sun and poor, very well-drained sandy/gravelly soil. It is also used as a natural hedge; care should be taken with the fine spines (glochids) on the fruit.

Snake Plant

Sansevieria spp. · Succulents & cacti

A succulent known as nearly indestructible, extremely tolerant of low light and drought. The greatest danger is overwatering; the soil should be allowed to dry out completely between waterings. It is also popular for its air-purifying quality.

Stonecrop

Sedum spp. · Succulents & cacti

A broad group of succulents that like full sun and well-drained, poor soil and are extremely drought tolerant. They are ideal for rock gardens, green roofs and xeriscapes; their worst enemies are overwatering and rich soil.

Torch Cactus

Echinopsis spachiana (syn. Trichocereus spachianus) · Succulents & cacti

A columnar cactus that offsets abundantly from the base and over time forms large groups. It needs plenty of sun and a very well-drained soil mix. Keeping it completely dry in winter is vital to prevent root rot.