What actually is a Succulent?

Most of us own at least one succulent, but not everybody actually knows exactly what they are and what makes a succulent a succulent. So I've put together a little information here for you to skim through to give you some more background knowledge on your succulent babies.

The Basics

Any plant that has fleshy, thick tissues that can store water is considered a succulent. Some succulents, like cacti, only store water in the stem and have no or few leaves, but other succulents, like agaves, primarily store water in their abundance of leaves. The majority of succulents are native to deserts or areas with a semiarid season and have deep or wide root systems to increase water retention.

These plants, whose names derive from the Latin word sucus, which means juice or sap, are frequently thought of as drought-resistant. This broad group of plants is loved by home gardeners as they typically don't need a great deal of attention. Succulents are widely used as indoor decor because they require very little care.

Succulents & The Environment

The timing of the opening of stomata, which are tiny mouthlike structures on the surface of plant leaves and stems, is one adaptation shared by many succulents. Stomata allow for the uptake of carbon dioxide from the environment and the loss of water and oxygen to the environment. The stomata of many succulent plants are closed during the day and open at night, in contrast to those of most plants. As a result, water loss during the warmer, dry daytime hours is reduced, and carbon dioxide uptake happens at night. As a result, these succulent plants display crassulacean acid metabolism, a modified form of CO2 fixation and photosynthesis. Succulents are able to store water so they can endure long periods of time with low or no moisture.

Succulents are arid-area natives that cannot survive subfreezing temperatures. While some may last through a brief spell, these plants will thrive in warmer temperatures. They frequently have spiky, needle-shaped, or rosette-shaped leaves as a distinguishing feature. Because they are easy to reproduce, succulents are also commonly found lying around in warmer climates. Even a portion of a leaf that has fallen will occasionally sprout into a new plant.

Common Succulent Varieties

Succulent varieties truly reflect the diversity of the plant kingdom. These plants might be simple or hardy, exotic or common. One of the most well-known succulents is the cactus. However, botanists often refer to cacti as a separate variety, but they ARE a type of succulent. These are some of the most common succulents you'll come across in shops here in the United Kingdom:

• Agave

• Cotyledon

• Crassula

• Echeveria

• Haworthia

• Kalanchoe

• Sedum

• Sempervivum

Are they Easy to Grow?

Succulents are becoming more and more common in households across the world as succulents are ideal for those of us who don't have a great deal of experience with intricate gardening techniques. These unique plants are easy to care for, for the following reasons as they require little watering or pruning. They are also:

• These plants are eye-catching and beautiful due to their unusual appearance.

• These plants are simple to contain and can be placed practically anyplace in small pots.

• Most pests are not attracted to succulents.

• Succulents can be grown either by themselves or with other plants.

• Most succulents are considered affordable and readily available.

• Some even have alternative or medical purposes, like aloes.

Final Thoughts

So hopefully you have learned a couple of things here, now you know the basics of succulents!