Last Updated on May 25, 2022 by Marco C.
Succulents are favorite plants to many indoor gardeners as they’re usually easy to care for, but many wonder how big do succulents grow indoors. As we now know, there are succulents that can grow to massive sizes, but there are also tiny plants that aren’t bigger than the palm of your hand.
In today’s article, we’ll be taking a look at how big they can get and learn how to grow them!
How Big Do Succulents Grow Indoors?
The most important defining element of succulent growth is sunlight – succulents usually love light (although there are a few species that prefer indirect sunlight), and keeping them in the light is going to make them grow more. However, when you’re growing them indoors, the amount of light is limited.
Because of this, most succulents won’t be able to reach their full size. For example, snake plants (some of the most popular succulent plants in the world) usually grow up to about 10 feet. However, if you could grow them outside and if they got 100% of the light they need, they would certainly grow to be much larger than that.
Learn more about: How to Transfer a Succulent?
Echeveria, another popular succulent, won’t grow past 12 inches if you keep it inside. The size of the succulents depends mostly on the exact species and placement. If you live in an environment that’s warm all year around, then you’ll be better off leaving your succulents outside.
They’ll definitely reach larger sizes.
How To Grow and Care For Succulents Indoors?
Firstly, not all succulents are the same and they all have different requirements. However, some of the most popular succulents that you could start with are Aloe Vera (also called the medicine plant – there are also smaller varieties of this plant), Zebra cactus, and Pencil cactus, Jade plant, and the Snake plant.
Lighting
If your indoor space is large enough, you should be able to fit all of these plants inside without any trouble. What succulents really like is indirect sunlight…when they’re outside. Inside, however, they need direct sunlight. Since they’ll already be receiving less sunlight than they would if they were outside, it’s best to provide them with as much as they can get.
That means that you should place them near a window that gets plenty of sunlight.
They should get at least six hours of direct sunlight per day – everything more than that is a bonus! Succulents need this much sunlight because, in the wild, they grow in very warm regions with plenty of exposure to sunlight. This will reflect to watering, but we’ll discuss that later on.
If you don’t let your succulents get enough sunlight, then one side will grow more than the other. This is because they’re, quite literally, leaning into the sun.
Watering
Sunlight exposure is important because it affects watering directly – succulents that spend more time in the sun will need more water. Since succulents are accustomed to very dry climates with plenty of sunlight, you won’t need to water them very often.
It’s best to let it dry for weeks before watering it again – succulents are extremely prone to ‘drowning’, and they’re the last plants you want to overwater. However, if you’re keeping the temperatures quite high in your home and they’re getting plenty of sun exposure, then watering them twice a month should be enough.
They’ll also need more water during the summer, and less water during the winter.
Fertilization
Succulents need very little fertilization if any – they’re used to growing in soil that’s very poor when it comes to nutrients, so they don’t really need fertilizers to grow. They will definitely appreciate it if they get some fertilizer once a year.
Don’t fertilize more than once a year – since these plants aren’t used to getting that much nutrients, they probably won’t react well.
Overwintering Succulents
Since they belong in warm climates, making it through the winter can be a problem for succulents. However, you’re at a great advantage since you’re keeping them indoors. The biggest difference is watering – you’ll water less because the temperatures aren’t as high and they don’t get as much sunlight exposure.
This is why it’s important to choose a pot with good drainage and fill it with well-draining soil – that way, moisture won’t evaporate as quickly.
When it comes to lighting, if you don’t get enough natural sunlight during the winter, it might be smart to invest into LED lights. Even though nothing beats the real thing, LED lights can mimic sunlight well enough to help your succulents make it through the winter.
FAQ
Do succulents grow well inside?
Succulents can grow just fine inside, but they'll never reach their full potential because they won't get maximum exposure to sunlight. If the climate in your area allows it, bring your succulents outside - they'll grow much better there.
Do succulents grow bigger in bigger pots?
Yes - small pots can be restricting for plants and moving them into a larger pot can make them grow larger. However, the biggest handicap to indoor succulent growing is sunlight, not pot size.
How do I grow bigger succulents?
The best thing you can do is take them outside. If that's impossible, then put them near a south or west-facing window where they'll get plenty of light. They need at least 6 hours of sunlight daily to grow well.
Are succulents difficult to grow?
No, succulents aren't difficult to grow, they just need plenty of sunlight and you need to keep a watering schedule. Succulents don't like to be overwatered, so it's best to water them rarely and let the soil dry before you water again.
To End
Depending on the exact species of the succulent – they can grow to be a few inches tall or the be 20 feet tall. This depends also on the amount of sunlight they get – these plants love sunlight and they’ll grow much larger if you can bring them outside and provide them with more than 6 hours of sunlight per day.