Bring nature indoors with your green fingers and grow juicy succulents

South Africa celebrates the first day of spring on Tuesday 1 September, so you might like to show your green fingers and try growing a succulent plant.

Succulents are typically drought-resistant plants that can easily adapt to dry environments. They store water internally in their fleshy leaves. This is how they got the name “succulent” as it is derived from the Latin word “succus” which means juicy.

Millennials and post-millennials are increasingly obsessed with these cute little plants with their thick and chunky leaves.

Succulents range from cactus, aloe, burro’s tail, snake plant and many others, including South Africa’s Karoo rose.

For many, the main attraction to growing succulents is that they are low maintenance and extremely hardy.

With spring approaching here are five reasons why you should start your “succulent phase”.

1. Succulents don’t need much attention

Succulents, unlike other plants, require the bare minimum of effort to maintain. You only have to water them about once a week in the warmer months and every two weeks in the colder months. Even then they still generally only require a mist of water.

These plants also do not need much soil. They can handle a little neglect which makes them the perfect plant for people with busy lives or those who are just naturally lazy.

They are also hard to kill, you would have to over water them or forget they exist for a long time in order to intentionally kill them.

2. Easy to grow and share

Succulents are generally easy to grow from other succulent shoots. All you need is a stem or leaf, and you have to ensure there is a little liquid dot where you cut them off. You then dry them off and little shoots should start to grow.

If you want different types of plants you can share with your friends, and grow your own off their plants. You can create your own little indoor garden this way.

3. Succulents are Insta-worthy

Succulents are perfect for those aesthetic types of pictures on Instagram. Millennials and post-millennials often like to decorate their personal and work spaces with succulents and show them off on their Insta.

Succulents are also great for decorating spaces and keeping “good” energy around you.

4. Something to look after

Human beings are wired to love and nurture and, as you grow older, you may want to care for something other than yourself.

However, the time may not be right to be a “parent”, even to a puppy, kitten or goldfish. For a start living, breathing creatures are a massive commitment, plus they are expensive, not to mention the ongoing responsibility.

On a light note, though, you can start to practice your nurturing skills on a really, really small scale with a plant. Yes, succulents are perfect “starter-kids”! You get to love and nurture something and watch it grow, which can be extremely satisfying.

5. Nature’s feel

As millennials and post-millennials, there is really no break from the digital world. Whether it is university, work or leisure, you do need a break from living online every now and again.

Succulents can bring you closer to nature without the need to leave your home. Unlike many flowers or shrubs, they also tend to be beautiful all year round.

Plants are the easiest living things you can keep if you are not living in your own place.  After all, many places do not permit pets of any sort.

However, whether you’re living in residence on campus, in a rented apartment or a unit in a complex, plants are always welcome. Another bonus is that you also can grow most succulents in a pot, which makes them portable and easy to move.