How to Plant Succulent Plants

Overview

Succulents are like friendly cactus because they have no thorns. Hundreds of succulents exist, some with whimsical names such as "hen and chicks" and "pork and beans." You can plant these hardy plants indoors in containers or outside in an area with full sun and well-drained soil.

Planting Succulents

Step 1

Plant your succulent in a pot with a drainage hole if you plan to grow it indoors or use it to add interest to your outdoor landscaping. Fill the pot half full of a potting mix designed for cactus that has sand and nutrients in it. Then empty your plant from its nursery pot and place it in the decorative pot. Fill to within a half inch of the rim and pat the potting soil down firmly with your hand.

Step 2

Plant your succulent outdoors if you wish. Choose a sunny location where you know the soil does not promote standing water after a rain.

Step 3

Build a raised bed for your succulent because this will ensure good drainage. To build a raised bed, dig a shallow trench around the border of the planting area and dump the soil in the center. Then dig in about one shovelful of compost and one shovelful of sand for an area that measures 2 feet by 4 feet.

Step 4

Dig holes for your plants that are slightly larger than their nursery pots. Remove your succulents from their pots and gently loosen the root system to promote root growth and spreading. Then set your plants in the holes you dug and fill in with the soil/compost/sand mixture you dug out.

Step 5

Water your succulent once a week during its active growing season, but reduce the frequency when it is dormant in winter.