7 Gorgeous Succulents for Balcony You”ll Wish You”d Known Sooner

Succulents are one of the best plants to grow indoors & if you want to give a touch of greenery to your home there is nothing like the succulents.

They are easy to grow, beginner-friendly and you literally have hundreds of genera to choose from.

I have made a list of 7 Best succulents you can grow in your balcony which will totally change the appearance and feel of your place instantly.

Benefits of Growing Succulents in the Balcony

• Succulents can instantly help in enhancing the ambiance and elegance of a place. So nothing like give your eyes a soft touch of greenery every time you come out to take fresh air in the balcony
• Succulents are low maintenance plants that even grow well under the condition of neglect. If you have a busy schedule and don’t have much experience regarding gardening even then you can go ahead with succulents because they need very much basic care.
• Most succulents help in removing toxins like formaldehyde, toluene, and benzene from the air and act as a natural air purifier.

Here are some of the Best succulents for the Balcony:

 

Burrows tail

Botanical Scientific Name: Sedum morganianum

Common Names: Donkey’s Tail

• Burrows tail is one of those succulents that look majestic on hanging baskets.
• They have tear-shaped leaves of green color that loves the morning shade and does well under shade.
• They can put up with low sunlight exposure however they prefer bright sunlight while under shade.
• Regarded as non-toxic to animals and humans(Source).

Caring tips:

• Use succulent friendly drainage aided soil rich in inorganic elements like pumice, pebbles, sand, etc.
• Trim the long stems and the leaves as per need to keep it in shape
• The plant leaves are extremely sensitive to touch and can fall off easily so don’t move around the plant too much
• Like all succulents only water them when the soil is dry so watering once in 7 to 9 days is quite good.

Crown of Thorns – Red

Botanical Scientific Name: Euphorbia mili

• These succulents like extreme weather and they do quite well under warm temperatures. They like the sun and can survive even under the full sun.
• The main characteristic of this plant is the bright red colored flower it produces that looks magnificent even from a distance.
• However, they will do quite well even under shade. They only need to be watered after thorough gaps and only when the soil feels dry to touch.

Caring tips:

• Fertilize lightly during the spring, over-fertilization can lead to a reduction of flowers and unrequired offset growths.
• The plant can become tall if it gets the right amount of sun and remains on the correct watering schedule. You can occasionally prune them for better shape.
• The plant is poisonous when ingested so be careful if you have children or pets in the house (Source).
• Be cautious while propagating and pruning as the plant also contain thick thorns.

String of Beads

• This succulent is an extremely carefree plant to grow and moreover it has a distinguishing appearance that will instantly transform the look of your balcony.
• The succulent resembles a beaded green necklace and looks astounding when kept in a hanging basket.

Caring Tips:

• Only water the succulent when the soil around the stem base feels properly dry.

Generally if placed in a cactus mix soil and if it gets enough sunlight, watering once in 6 to 10 days is just fine especially in hotter seasons. Water a lot less frequently during the fall and winter.

• From time to time you can prune the stems and leaves a bit in order to maintain its shape. Cut off the dead-looking stems and branches, remove the beads carefully. This further helps in promoting better growth.
• The string of beads is a bit toxic so take extra care if you have children or pets in your house. Leave them hanging up at the top of the balcony where it won’t be easy to reach (Source).

Aside from this fact, this succulent is something that will definitely turn heads and hence is a must-have for the beautification of your balcony.

Hen-and-chicks

Botanical Scientific Name: Echeveria elegans

This genus consists of one of the largest collections of succulents.

• They are known for their small stature and rosette leave arrangement that provides them with their unique look.
• They do remarkably well in balconies as they thrive best being exposed to full sun while being under shade.

Caring Tips:

• They don’t require fertilizers mandatorily however if you wanna fertilize it, do that before the start of the blooming season and use a low nitrogen fertilizer.
• Water, when the soil is dry and always water the plant by drenching the soil and try to avoid the leaves as most of the water, will get absorbed by the roots only.
• It is totally non-toxic to humans and animals (Source).

Photo by Vidal Balielo Jr. from Pexels

Zebra Cactus

Other names: Star Window Plant, Cushion Aloe

Botanical Scientific Name: Haworthia cooperi

• They resemble aloe in many ways. They have  Long flashy green pointed leaves however they have white wart stripes on the leaves.
• These stripes give them a unique look and attract attention quite easily. They grow up to be quite an attractive looking plant.
• They do good in cactus soil mix and love the bright indirect sun.
• They dont do well under full sun conditions as the leaves will change its color into red or purple.

They also make beautiful gifts, so you can propagate them from stem cuttings or leaves.

• Plant those plant parts after callusing in an attractive looking pot, give it a few weeks, you will see the stem and little leaves plunging out. Gift it to anyone you like after tieing a ribbon around the pot.

Caring Tips:

• Take soak and dry kind of approach for watering. Avoid watering the leaves and rosette portions of the plant as that can lead to rotting in colder temperatures. Target watering the stem base and the soil around.
• They can grow up to varying heights but they are one of the smaller succulents out there
• Fertilize them before the start of the growing season.
• They like airy conditions so the balcony is the right place for them.
• Haworthia is regarded as non-toxic so are safe for people and pets. (Source)

Image by Goran Horvat from Pixabay

Moss Rose

Common name: Portulaca grandiflora

This is one of the low maintenance yet prettiest succulents out there.

• It’s an extremely colorful plant with multiple blooms producing yellow and pink flowers.
• Moss Roses can put up with long periods of drought however they can’t tackle cold that well.
• They love bright indirect sun throughout the day. This plant is quite easy to grow especially if you have little to no experience with succulents.

Caring tips:

• These succulents love to thrive in drainage friendly soil and water them only when the soil feels completely dry.
• So in case, your place gets quite chilly in winter, bring them inside.
• Moss roses best thrive outside in the balcony or in the garden where it can get a sufficient amount of bright light. Some varieties of the genus can be toxic when ingested.
• They can be toxic when ingested, so keep them away from reach for children and pets. (Source)

Snake Plant

Scientific Name: Sansevieria trifasciata

Other Names: Mother in Law”s tongue, Good Luck Plant.

Snake plant is regarded as one of the most beginner-friendly plants as it has extremely basic needs.

Their flashy leaves and stunning appearance makes them stand out in any place of the house you put them.

• It can put up with neglect quite well and can survive in low to bright light conditions.
• Snake plants are thought to help in cleansing the air by removing toxins and in acting as a natural air purifier.
• They produce wonderful greenish-white flowers in the spring.

Caring Tips:

• Snake plants are extremely sensitive to overwatering like most succulents so water them once in a while only when the soil feels dry.
• Snake Plants are toxic when ingested. So keep them in a place above reach for your children or any kind of pets (Source). Symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, mouth irritation, etc.
• These indoor friendly succulents dont like colder temperatures so if your place gets cold (Less than 10 degrees Celcius)bring it inside.

So where to start?

• Firstly properly observe the things your balcony can offer to the succulents.

Different succulents require different conditions to survive. If your balcony receives almost no sunlight and is dark throughout the year then you should aim to collect succulents that can do well under low light conditions. If your balcony receives proper sunlight you can plant literally any succulent you want. So decide accordingly first.

• Secondly, you can aim to diversify the look and feel of the balcony as much as possible.

Different succulents have their very own unique appearance and characters. So mix it up.

• For better spacing, you can aim to hang the smaller pots and even use a proper shelf to keep a lot of collections in one place.
• You can even use the balcony railing and have hanging baskets on them.

Basic Care Tips for all these Succulents for the Balcony:

• Always water only when soil is dry. Succulents die from overwatering rather than underwatering. When in doubt always hold back. Their roots are extremely sensitive to root rot.
• Keep it at a place that gets enough indirect sun. Most Succulents dont like the direct full sun as that can damage the plant and it will lose its vibrancy.
• Always use a cactus mix soil for these succulents. This is the only and main requirement for growing succulents. They can only thrive in drainage friendly soil.
• Use slow-release, balanced fertilizers after diluting them somewhat. Fertilize the succulents before the start of their growing season and not during the months they remain dormant.
• Keep an eye on the succulents from time to time for signs of pest manifestation, overwatering, underwatering, etc.

Conclusion

There are many reasons why succulents are one of the most popular plants right now. All these 7 succulents for balcony

• Have some very basic needs of sunlight and water
• They require extremely less care when compared with tropical plants
• They have striking features that brighten up any place

Growing succulents in the balcony will provide your home with a touch of elegance and will improve the air quality as well.

Also Read:

• Can you plant Succulents in Mason jars or Glass Containers?
• Can Succulents Live & Grow inside?: Indoor Succulent Care

So Which One out of this List you liked the most for your Home?

Let me know in the comments below!

Cheers