The 9 Best Types Of Succulents For Your Collection

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Succulents have surged in popularity over the last few years, and it’s easy to see why. These peculiar yet beautiful plants come in so many colors and shapes, and their pleasantly plump leaves form such stunning displays—from spiraling rosettes to long, trailingsuccu ropes. They aren’t very difficult to care for, and they make spectacular potted arrangements when you mix and match a bunch of different colored and textured varieties. Plus, you can get really creative with how you present them. Window frames, vintage birdcages, living walls, glass terrariums, and even some driftwood from the beach can be a great home for your succulent arrangement. 

If you’d like to start your own succulent collection, there are several types of succulents in Fort Lauderdale that you can grow at home. These nine are definitely our favorites!

9 Types Of Succulents To Grow At Home

There are so many different succulents out there, and it can be hard to decide on which one to buy. Luckily, we’ve narrowed that list down to our top faves, so you’ll end up with something fantastic no matter which ones you decide to take home. 

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Echeveria: Technically, this is a pretty broad category of succulent plants, but they all have that mesmerizing rosette pattern that we just can’t get enough of! They range in color from spring greens to dusty blue-greys and lavender purples. During their active growing season, they’ll often start to grow long “arms” that reach up higher and higher, sprouting little pink flowers all along the way.  

Hen and Chicks: This variety is better suited to outdoor growing because its tiny rosettes multiply and spread, making it a fabulous groundcover. Use it to fill in any gaps in your garden — they’re certainly nicer to look at than weeds!

Stonecrop: Also known as sedum, this is another outdoor ground cover that we absolutely love. Some of the more striking varieties quite literally display a whole rainbow of colors, with particularly vibrant shades of blue. They’re great for rock gardens, as they tend to slowly creep up and cover surrounding surfaces. 

Panda Plant: This Madagascar native has a dark brown, speckly border along the edge of its leaves, kind of like a toasted marshmallow. Even better? It’s cute and fuzzy, just like a baby panda! 

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Snake Plant: This one may not appear to be a succulent at first glance, but we swear it is! Its subtly striped leaves grow upright and are quite sturdy, ranging from skinny like pencils, to wide and flat like ribbons. Snake plant is among the easiest houseplants to care for, so it’s perfect for beginners or folks who claim they have a black thumb. They’re nearly impossible to kill! Just the occasional watering and good soil are all you need. They can even survive in a windowless office! 

Jade Plant: The deep green shade of this quirky plant is really quite gorgeous. Over time, if given adequate container space, jade plants can grow quite big, so they make great houseplants on their own. They can also make lovely additions to container arrangements. 

Burro’s Tail: We absolutely love the unique appearance of this trailing succulent. Its leaves are like tiny little green grapes that grow in a clustered rope form, trailing down the sides of the container. Naturally, they make fabulous plants for hanging baskets, or in a pot up high on a floating wall shelf. 

Aloe Vera: This aloe species is excellent for any of you Fort Lauderdale folks who love to bask in the sunshine, because their spiky leaves are full of nature’s #1 after-sun soothing gel. Crack off a leaf after a day of sunbathing, squeeze out the jelly inside, and smooth it on your skin for instant cooling relief. 

Ball Cactus: A large cactus species with a distinctively round shape, this funky succulent will definitely add some personality and attitude to your decor. You have to admit, there’s something undeniably cool about the many different varieties of cacti. Those spikes are just downright awesome!

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Basic Succulent Care

Since they originally hail from hotter, drier regions of the earth, they don’t need a ton of water. After all, they store so much of it in their leaves, so they don’t need top-ups as often as other plants. It’s important to remember to water the soil directly and keep moisture off of the leaves because they don’t take well to being soggy. Loose soil that drains well will help prevent root damage caused by sitting in a pool of water.

Try to place your succulent in a super sunny spot — at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. As for fertilizer, one application per month should be just fine. If you ever decide to re-pot your plants, handle them with care because their root systems are a bit delicate and temperamental. Try to avoid getting any soil or pebbles on their leaves. Once you get the hang of caring for them, you can start propagating them with cuttings and expanding your collection even further!

The sprawling greenhouse at Living Color is jam-packed with succulent plants that are well suited to the sunny skies of Florida. Come visit us, and one of our garden center experts will help you find the perfect new additions for your home. 

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