INDOOR SUCCULENTS: THE 8 MOST BEAUTIFUL FOR DECORATING YOUR HOME

You don't necessarily have to have a large balcony or a garden to give a touch of green to your home. It is enough to know how to choose the right plants, those that perhaps do not require special care and that are also suitable for those who are not gardening experts. In addition to being an excellent piece of furniture, some plants also have a very useful function for the environment that surrounds them, that is to purify the air.

The best option is that of indoor succulents. There are really many species, each type with its own particularities, and they can be perfect according to the kind and shape you prefer and the various needs.

Today we will discover the ones that green-fingered enthusiasts and do not consider the most beautiful succulents for houseplants.From "Aloe vera to Crassula ovata, any genre is ready to best decorate your home, adapting to everyone's space and budget.

1. Aloe vera

Let's start with one of the most famous houseplants and not just for beautifying the home. Aloe vera is part of the succulent plants and is very appreciated for its leaves of different shades of green, sometimes tending to blue. They make it a very decorative succulent plant, especially because it can reach quite large diameters, even around 50 -60 cm Furthermore, it is really easy to care for and is known for the many properties of its leaves.

Aloe vera comes from tropical countries and for this reason it adapts very well to apartment life. The only attention it requires is the temperature and light of the surrounding environment. In fact, it is advisable to place the vase in a very bright room, perhaps near a "large window or a French door, where the light must" however be filtered by a curtain. Being a succulent plant, the water must be given with great moderation, always touching the ground to check its state before irrigation.

It is also available on Amazon, for € 9.90 plus shipping costs.

2. Opuntia microdasys

Several varieties are part of the Opuntia family of succulents, some for outdoor and garden, such as, for example, that of the Prickly Pear, and others for indoor use. In any case, they are always cacti with a flat stem, similar to a shovel. One of the preferred apartment species is the Opuntia microdasys, native to the highlands of Mexico. It is easily recognizable because it could be defined as "beautiful, but untouchable": the thorns that completely cover its "leaves" make it are also quite irritating if touched. It is therefore not recommended if there are pets or children in the house.

Its peculiarity lies in the yellow flowers that bloom in summer. It is very simple to take care of because, naturally accustomed to the hot and arid temperatures of Central America, it requires very little water: in autumn and winter watering must be practically suspended, while it must "be resumed often in spring and summer with the" adding fertilizer to the pots. Opuntia microdasys needs light and can reach a considerable size. For this reason, it is recommended to choose a spacious spot in the living room or a room to place the vase.

3. Christmas cactus

If you are looking for an indoor succulent plant with beautiful flowers, then one of the best choices is definitely the Schlumbergera, also known as the Christmas Cactus. Belonging to the Schlumbergera family, it comes from Brazil and owes its best known name to the fact that it blooms during the Christmas holidays. Despite being the same species, Schlumbergera is very different from traditional cacti. Its stems do not have thorns and the flowers bloom on their tops: their colors range from red to lilac and pink. It is very particular for its falling leaves, which make it perfect to be placed in a tall or "suspended" vase.

Like other succulents, the Christmas Cactus also does not need great care. It should not be exposed directly to the sun's rays and needs mild temperatures all year round. It needs little watering in winter, while it requires more water in warm seasons, where it can also be moved outside, onto a balcony or terrace. Finally, a curiosity: it has been noted how the Schlumbergera purifies the air, reducing pollution in the environments that surround it.

4. Crassula ovata

From the Crassulaceae family, succulent evergreen plants, there are really many species among which you can choose, depending on the size of the plant you prefer or the shape of its leaves. We recommend a very particular variety, namely Crassula ovata. Also known as the Jade Tree, Crassula ovata is native to areas of South Africa and adapts very well to apartment living. It has a shrub-like appearance, with brown branches and small, round, curling green leaves. It is very beautiful to look at and is therefore good for decorating different areas of the house, from the living room to the hallway.

Not even the Jade Tree is difficult to care for. It needs a mild climate and a lot of light, but without it being direct. Water should be given in moderation during all seasons, noting the state of the earth before water. In fact, if the soil is still wet, there is a risk of rotting the roots.

Crassula ovata succulent is available on Amazon for just € 3, plus shipping costs.

5. Echeveria

One of the great classics regarding indoor succulents is certainly her, the Echeveria, appreciated for its elegance and simplicity. She too belongs to the Crassulaceae family and is native to Central America, especially Mexico. It is best known for its easily recognizable leaves. Ovoid in shape, they have a color tone that characterizes them, with shades of green, gray, silver and blue to give a refined touch to any apartment. In addition, they have a light layer of bloom which makes them soft to the touch.

Echeveria is a very resistant plant, also excellent for those who are not gardening experts. It only needs abundant light and to be watered often and regularly, so as to keep the soil always moist. In summer, it is also suitable for life on the balcony: the important thing is that the pot is put back in the house as soon as the first colds arrive.

You can find it on Amazon for only € 3.30, plus shipping costs.

6. Frailea

Native to South America, the areas of Colombia, Argentina and Brazil, Frailea is an excellent choice if you want a small succulent indoor plant with flowers. In fact, it is similar to a small cactus, with spines all along the diameter, where a single flower blooms in the center, the color of which ranges from yellow to white. Its decidedly small size makes it perfect for making simple compositions in even confined spaces, such as shelves and corridors.

The important thing is to keep the Frailea in a position with a lot of light, although not direct from the sun's rays. Especially in the summer or winter months, do not expose it to too high heat sources and wet it abundantly throughout the year. This is because, being a plant of tropical origin, it is used to humid climates and more or less regular rains.

7. Cereus of Peru

Under the name of Cereus, at least 50 species of succulent plants are gathered, all native to Central and South America. A variety that lends itself very well to life both in the garden and at home is that of the Cereus peruvianus, better known as Cereus of Peru. It has a main shaft that almost assumes the function of a column, around which all the secondary ones develop, strictly covered with thorns. It is of a very particular color, green with blue shades, and it grows above all in height, so you must always consider its size carefully before buying it. Normally, it is placed to decorate the living room or a "large kitchen."

This succulent plant is very long-lived. In fact, it is only after three years of age that it begins to bloom during the hottest months. Its flowers are large and are characterized by white inside and dark red outside. They also produce small fruits similar to figs of India, absolutely edible.

The Peruvian Cereus needs sunlight, whether it is kept on the balcony or in the apartment. If you want to keep it outside during the summer, it is good to remember to withdraw it at home already with the first cold weather. It should often be wet in the warmer seasons and rarely in the winter ones.

8. Euphorbia

Unlike others, the Euphorbia is a succulent plant that develops in height, on a single supporting stem which can be accompanied by some secondary ones. The variety of Euphorbia Mayurnathanii, for example, has beautiful yellow flowers tending to green. to be treated like the rest of succulents, or with little watering to be distributed only if the soil is completely devoid of water.

A particular type compared to the other species is the "Euphorbia Mili. Upon seeing it for the first time, this variety does not even seem to belong to succulents and does not even resemble its sisters which grow mainly in height. It is a very decorative shrub thanks to the its yellow, pink or red flowers, which normally bloom during the summer, but, if cared for properly, can remain throughout the year.

This succulent plant should be placed in terracotta pots placed in bright spaces. Better to use natural fertilizer during the hottest periods. We recommend the Fito Piante Grasse Liquid Fertilizer available on Amazon for only € 5.70, shipping included.