Low-Light Indoor Succulents to Grow as Houseplants

If you’re a houseplant beginner, indoor succulents are the perfect option. They are incredibly low maintenance and don’t require much attention. Most grow well in a pot with adequate drainage holes in soil you can buy pre-formulated. Because their fleshy leaves are used to storing water, they aren’t often fussy about irrigation.

Unlike what you may expect from these plants, many succulents grow in lower light conditions and don’t need direct light all day to grow well.

Not all succulents are adapted to indoor conditions, but there are several that can handle them with ease. We’ve compiled a list of the best indoor succulents to add to your succulent collection.

Growing Succulents Indoors

Before discussing specific indoor succulent plants, let’s discuss their basic care. Then we’ll get into the nuance of caring for each one and discuss their basic features. 

Light 

Most succulent plants prefer bright indirect light to full direct sunlight. Provide direct sun to light-loving succulent plants via sunny windows (particularly a south-facing window sill) or via grow lights.

For those that love low light and get scorched in full sun, provide bright, indirect light. Succulent plants will often show some indication of too much direct light via browning or reddening leaves. If you notice these, adjust light conditions to better suit your plant. 

Soil

When growing indoors, a pre-formulated cactus or succulent soil is perfect. If you decide to develop your own cactus soil, ensure it has more drainage material than moisture-retentive properties.

Well-drained soil is one of those musts that come along when these plants are grown indoors. 

Water

In low light conditions, your succulent won’t need much water. Those that grow in brighter spots will have quicker periods where the soil dries out.

There are two ways to keep your succulent happy: a watering schedule or a soil test. Since most succulents go dormant in the late fall and winter months, water once every month. During the growing season, water your succulent every other week.

Alternatively, test the soil with your finger If the top two to three inches of soil is dry, add water. 

Temperature

For most succulents, temperatures between 40°F and 80°F are best. Temperature fluctuations are difficult for these plants, especially in extremes.

Most of the time, homes are right in the range that succulents love. However, if the power goes out in a winter storm or during a heat wave, make sure they are sheltered. Beyond 5° of fluctuation can damage their leaves or even kill them.

Fertilizer

Just as watering slows in the dormant season, so does fertilizing. During the growing season, feed your succulent up to once per month. Many will do well with no fertilizer or even one feeding during active growth per year. In the dormant season, do not fertilize at all. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer that is diluted to half-strength. 

Types of Indoor Succulents

The moment you’ve been waiting for has arrived. Let’s talk about specific succulents that are great for your indoor garden. We’ll cover the specific care needs for each too.

Echeveria

These bunching rosette-forming succulents are wonderfully low-maintenance. Don’t be alarmed if they drop leaves. It’s a completely normal part of their life cycle.

Echeveria Lola is a lovely rosette succulent with light blue-green leaves with a sharp tip. They do well in a southerly window where bright direct sunlight is accessible. They are also great for learning succulent propagation, as you can make new plants from individual leaves and stem cuttings.

For your indoor goth garden, consider Echeveria Black Prince. This succulent is shaped just like Lola but has stunning dark maroon to black leaves. It’s a hybrid of Echeveria affinis and shaviana, also referred to as black hens and chicks. It’s a slow grower that won’t outgrow its pot easily.

Echeveria elegans is another succulent common in North America. Instead of donning completely pointed leaves, the points are surrounded by rounded edges. This is why they are commonly referred to as Mexican snowballs.

Sedum

Sedum morganianum is a favorite succulent among gardeners. Known as burro’s tail, this trailing succulent has long stems that reach three to four feet.

Unlike the echeverias, this plant prefers partial shade and can withstand a sparse watering schedule. The leaves bunch in a spiral around the trailing stems. This makes the burro’s tail great for hanging baskets slightly offset from brightly lit windows. 

Sedum kamtschaticum, also known as Russian stonecrop, has bright yellow flowers that look somewhat like St. John’s Wort. Like all sedums, it has long, trailing stems surrounded by bunches of either pointed or serrated greenish leaves.

The stems of these plants range from brown to green and tend to lean over and form a mound. While partial shade is the standard for most sedums, this one can handle a little more light than others. 

Sedum rubrotinctum is another trailing stem succulent known as jelly beans due to its small, rounded leaves. They range from light green to red to translucent green and love lots of sunlight. This succulent is toxic, so keep it out of reach of pets and children. 

Aloe

Aloes are not only a lovely sight in the indoor succulent garden. One in particular can be used to alleviate sunburn and digestive ailments. These succulents are all varying shades of green and have long, pointy leaves with spikes on the leaf margin. 

Aloe vera is one of the most well-known succulents out there. Much like agave, the long light green leaves of Aloe vera are lined with sharp thorns and covered in white spots. Within each of the leaves lies aloe vera gel, which is excellent for treating skin remedies.

When it comes to caring for this succulent, it’s pretty easy! Aloe can be sensitive to too much light and heat, so look out for reddening leaves as an indication of that. Another thing I’ve learned over time is that aloe vera needs repotting and division as it grows (especially if it takes up the whole pot where it lives). Because it can grow to a few feet tall and wide, you’ll need some indoor space for this specimen.

Another more compact aloe is Aloe brevifolia, also known as the chunky crocodile for the spiny dark green leaves that protrude from its center. Outdoors, this short-leaved aloe tends to crawl and bunch together, keeping with the usual aloe growth pattern. For indoor growers, there will be some division required to keep this plant healthy. 

Sempervivum

These succulents are similar in shape and habit to echeveria plants. In fact, they look so similar that one even shares a common name with an echeveria species.

Hen and chicks is the common name for Sempervivum tectorum. However, this plant is also known as common house leek and homewort. Its care needs are similar to the other plants we’ve discussed thus far.

The fine white hairs that sit along the leaf margins separate it from the others. The plants are often green with burgundy edges.

Kalanchoe

Another common type of indoor succulent that can be grown as a houseplant is kalanchoe. These plants are beloved for their flowers and ease of propagation.

Mother of thousands (Kalanchoe daigremontiana) is one such plant that has an interesting growth habit. While it’s not appreciated for brightly colored flowers, it grows tiny plantlets on its spiky leaf margins. Each of these can be rooted into new soil to become a new plant. 

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is sought after due to its brightly colored flowers. This is why it’s no wonder it is also known as flaming Katy. The leaves of flaming Katy (like most kalanchoes) are smooth, dark green, and waxy with scalloped edges. The most common cultivar has white flowers, but others have red, pink, yellow, and salmon.

The panda plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa) is covered in fine hairs. The seafoam leaves of the panda plant have broken purple lines around the edges in some cases, whereas others simply have a stained-looking leaf edge.

The panda plant is a great succulent for people who aren’t as familiar with growing succulents. It loves direct light and sometimes does better when neglected. If you’re not sure where to start with succulents, panda plants are a great way to go.    

Haworthia

Succulents in the Haworthia genus are very forgiving. Give them enough light and a sizable drainage hole, and you’re set. 

Haworthiopsis fasciata, also known as the zebra cactus or zebra plant is great for those who like the look of aloe but want something smaller. Topping out at a foot tall, the spike-leaved zebra plant is covered in white bumps that give the deep green leaves a lovely texture. Some cultivars have thicker and more sparsely arranged textures, while others have a speckled appearance. 

Haworthia attenuata is another zebra plant that has the same care needs as the one we’ve just mentioned. It’s also morphologically similar. Both are excellent choices for indoor growing. 

Senecio

Succulents in this genus are so different from one another, it’s a wonder they are all classed together. While many have upright leaves, we’ll discuss one trailing succulent that is easy to propagate.

String of pearls makes a statement in an indoor succulent garden. Instead of displaying prominently pointy or spiked leaves, the floppy stems host small round leaves shaped like pearls.

This is a great plant for those who want to grow indoors but don’t have access to much light, as it will happily grow in the shade. If you give the plant all it needs, you’ll have lovely compact white blooms in its growing season. 

Crassula

The members of this genus have unique characteristics. The two examples here look different but require similar care. These are also great for beginners who want a little more of a challenge. 

The jade plant, known botanically as Crassula ovata, is unique in that it looks like a tree. Its branched stems are brown and almost woody. Jade plants hare considered lucky plants that usher in good energy and new friendships. When it reaches two feet, it produces small pink flowers in winter. If you want a succulent that has a woodland feel, requires pruning, and brings in good vibes, Crassula ovata is the one!

The jade plant has a cousin called string of buttons. Crassula perforata is another easy-to-care-for plant that has more of a succulent feel than its aforementioned cousin. These bunching crassulas bloom in spring with bunches of white or pink flowers. Bright, indirect light is best for this plant.

Sansevieria

These succulents (now classified under the Dracaena genus) have eye-catching leaf patterns that give them more of a tropical feel. The snake plant is one of the most popular indoors succulents of all time, and it’s pretty easy to tell why. 

Sansevieria trifasciata is also known as mother-in-law’s tongue due to the flat, waxy leaves that rise from the soil. The snake plant is easy to care for and handles neglect well. It has been the premiere choice for offices since the 80s. 

Another cool sansevieria is African spear or Sansevieria cylindrica. It has lovely smooth cylindrical leaves with horizontal cream bands. It grows about the same height as the well-known snake plant at roughly four to six feet tall but branches outward.

Lithops

Want to grow some brains? Then lithops are your succulent! These bifurcated succulents have gray-green leaves sometimes, and other times pink, brown, or slate silver ones. Between their leaves, you’ll find a lovely flower in the right conditions.

Lithops love to grow in rock gardens and sandy soil. Give them that and full sunlight, and you’re good to go. 

Beaucarnea

The ponytail palm is another succulent that looks like a tree. This one looks a lot like a weeping palm tree, and it’s great when grown to its full potential (up to 15 feet tall) or when it’s pruned in the bonsai style.

The ponytail palm, like aloe, produces pups when it’s ready to reproduce. These should be divided as they crop up to keep your parent plant healthy. 

Frequently Asked Questions