Succulents (echeveria, haworthia, sedum)

About Succulents (echeveria, haworthia, sedum)

The small succulents sold in dish gardens and 2-inch pots are a mixed group: echeverias from Mexico and South America form tight, often pastel rosettes; haworthias from South Africa are little striped or translucent-tipped rosettes that take less sun than most; tender sedums like burro's tail trail from baskets (NC State, Wisconsin Horticulture, Iowa State). They all store water in their leaves, so they want bright light, a gritty mix and long dry spells between drinks, and most will root from a single leaf.

Soft (tender) succulents survive outdoors only in zones 9-11 (Illinois Extension); they are grown indoors everywhere and can summer outdoors in part sun once nights stay above about 45-50 F, moved into brighter light slowly so they don't sunburn (Iowa State, Wisconsin Horticulture).

When to plant

Timing is counted from your average last spring frost (and first fall frost). Sow & Tell works out the actual dates for your ZIP code.

Usually bought as small nursery plants or started from an offset, a stem cutting or a single leaf laid on dry mix (Iowa State, NC State).

Growing it indoors

• Light: Iowa State asks for at least 6-8 hours of bright light, ideally 10, or a grow light 12 in away for 12-16 hours; pale, stretched growth means too little, while haworthias are happy in an east or west window with a few hours of direct sun (Wisconsin Horticulture).
• Water: Water until it runs out the drainage hole, then let the mix dry completely, checking several inches down; start at every 2-3 weeks and stretch to once every few weeks in winter (Iowa State, Illinois Extension). Never leave water in the saucer, and skip pots without a drainage hole, since a layer of gravel is no substitute.
• Humidity: Dry air is normal and good for them; if leaves shrivel in very dry heated rooms, a pebble tray or humidifier helps (Iowa State).
• Temperature: Iowa State says most tolerate about 45-85 F and do best at 55-75 F with cooler nights; haworthias survive the low 40s if the mix is dry (Wisconsin Horticulture). Keep them off icy windowsills and away from heat vents.
• Feeding: An all-purpose or succulent fertilizer at a quarter to half the label rate every 3-4 waterings in spring and summer, or one early dose of slow-release, and nothing in winter (Iowa State); Illinois Extension uses a low-nitrogen fertilizer at half rate about monthly.
• Repotting: Only when a plant has outgrown its pot, in spring, into a pot just big enough for the roots; haworthias every 2-3 years in a shallow pot (Iowa State, Wisconsin Horticulture).

Soil

A fast-draining mix of about 1 part organic material (potting soil, bark or coir) to 2 parts mineral grit (perlite, coarse sand, pumice or fine gravel), or a bagged cactus-and-succulent mix, in a small clay pot with a drainage hole (Iowa State, Wisconsin Horticulture).

Pot in a gritty mix of 1 part potting soil or bark to 2 parts perlite, coarse sand or pumice, or a bagged cactus-and-succulent mix, in a small pot with a drainage hole (Iowa State).

Feeding

• Spring and summer, during active growth: all-purpose or succulent fertilizer at a quarter to half the label rate. Feed every 3rd or 4th watering, or apply slow-release fertilizer once early in the season (Iowa State); Illinois Extension uses a low-nitrogen fertilizer at half rate about once a month.
• Fall and winter: none. Don't fertilize while the plants are not growing (Iowa State).

Over-fertilizing gives weak, watery growth that rots easily (Illinois Extension).

Varieties (11)

NC State names echeveria species and cultivars and Wisconsin Horticulture names haworthia species; sedum houseplant cultivars aren't named by the pages we opened.

Pests to watch for

Mealybugs, Twospotted spider mite, Fungus gnats

Diseases and problems

Root and crown rot

In the kitchen

Safety: Echeveria and haworthia are not listed as poisonous to people (NC State tags echeveria pet-friendly and non-toxic). The 'succulent' label covers toxic plants too, such as kalanchoe and jade, so keep an unidentified one away from small children.

Pets: Echeveria (ASPCA lists Echeveria elegans as 'hens and chickens') is non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses, and haworthia is non-toxic to dogs and cats (ASPCA). Not every succulent is safe: the ASPCA lists kalanchoe and jade plant as toxic, so check each plant by name.