HOUSEPLANT or SUCCULENT PLANT?

 

BOTH! But if you really must choose between a houseplant or a succulent plant, then a few questions are in order. Gardeners, be honest because your plants’ future is at stake . . .

YES or NO?

Do you have lots of spare time?

Do you enjoy the task of frequent watering?

Do you like cleaning up spent flowers and fallen leaves?

Do you have a desire for repotting your plant time and again?

Do you look forward to regularly fertilizing?

Do you like to fight pests?

Do you know how to successfully treat leaf mold?

Do you have an unlimited budget?

If you answered “NO” to two or more questions, then it might be best to stick with succulent plants! Here’s why:

LESS TIME. Typically, succulent plants are hardier and easier to grow than traditional houseplants. After all, many succulent species originated in desert climes and ruggedly remote regions, so never did they experience nurturing or pampering. Even when forgotten for a week or two, most tend to survive because it’s in their DNA. No wonder they require less time than household plants.

LESS WATERING. Since succulent plants’ plushy leaves and stems retain water for later use, they don’t require continual watering. In fact, watering too often and too much tends to be their greatest threat to health. Couldn’t be easier than watering fully and then waiting till they fully dry — which can take three or four weeks.

LESS CLEANING UP. Most succulents are slow growers and ‘clean’ growers because they don’t drop their leaves when healthy. That equates to easy care with little to no ongoing clean-up required.

LESS REPOTTING. When life is busy and time is short, what a relief to have plants that don’t require constant pruning and repotting. Of course, you can easily propagate succulents, so you have more. But the choice is yours!

LESS FERTILIZING. Unlike houseplants, succulents seldom, if ever, require fertilization. Most do just fine in nutrient-free sandy soil, and the only time they might welcome a boost is during the onset of growing season. And even that is optional.

LESS PESTS. Houseplants’ pesky pests don’t usually show interest in succulents. Sure, there can become infested when pests are brought in. However, compared with houseplants, the odds are less, and the survival rate tends to be better.

LESS DISEASE. Succulents don’t usually succumb to disease unless you overwater and root rot sets in. That equates to fewer product purchases and less hands-on efforts to save their good health.

LESS COST. The prices of houseplants and succulent plants run the gambit, depending on size, source, and rarity. However, succulents tend to be quite affordable — especially when supplied by a domestic producer.

So which will it be: Houseplant or succulent plant? Log onto SucculentMarket.com for options and photos, and we’re pretty sure you’ll make the best decision for you!

NOTE: Nothing scientific about the definitions intended here. For the sake of this blog, “houseplants” are lumped together as most any indoor plant EXCEPT a succulent (e.g., philodendron, peace lily, African violet, fern, etc.). Conversely, the term “succulent plant” is intended to encompass those families of plants with fleshy stems that retain water (e.g., cactus, Haworthia, aloe, etc.). BTW, regardless of the reference, typically both houseplants and succulent plants can live in the house!