How did I kill my container succulent?

A common question: how did I kill my succulents in my indoor terrariums?

Although these types of indoor arrangements are quite striking, especially in magazine articles and books, and they definitely have the potential to be grown indoors, having success with them can be tricky.

If you’ve lost your succulents, it’s down to two reasons: over-watering and lack of sunlight.

The potting media used in most pre-planted terrariums is usually too organic for most succulents, but even if the growing media were perfect, over-watering would still be problematic, since there’s nowhere for extra water to drain out.

Many people have told us that they water their terrariums once a week, which is most likely far too much.

Lack of sunlight is a problem on its own, but it leads to more problems when succulents are over-watered. Since the plants are not receiving enough sunlight to photosynthesis, they aren’t growing; and if they aren’t growing, they aren’t using water.

So it’s an endless feedback loop, leading to the demise of your adorable little miniature plants.

Solution: Try placing your succulent terrarium in a very bright window of your home, and watering it very, very sparingly. After you’ve watered the terrarium, pick it up and test the weight; you’ll be able to feel the difference in the weight of the container as the moisture evaporates or is used by the plants.

And if you’re like the rest of us, including me, and your terrarium is now empty, consider replacing the succulents with more tropical species that can handle a little more water and relative humidity. African violets, small-leafed ferns and ivies, or even mosses, would be good choices.