Grow · Indoor plants · Beginner friendly

Succulents and cacti, a collection on one windowsill.

Small, sculptural and forgiving. A whole collection fits on one sunny windowsill and thrives on being left alone.

See the starter kit → Compare with terrariums

Start cost$37

Each month$4

SpaceA windowsill

NoiseQuiet

First resultSame day

MessA little soil

What it is like

Succulents store water in thick leaves and stems, which is why they tolerate the neglect that kills most houseplants. Give them sun and a soil that dries out, and the rest is mostly leaving them be.

The hobby is in the collecting. There are thousands of forms, most stay small, and many can be multiplied from a single leaf laid on dry soil.

Indoors · Solo, With kids

Is it for you?

You will probably love it if

You have a bright, sunny window
You like collecting and comparing
You tend to forget plants for a week or two

Maybe not, if

Your home has no direct sun
You love watering
You have cats that chew every plant

The starter kit - $37

Small succulents, 4 to 6Echeveria, haworthia and small cacti from a garden center$17
Cactus and succulent soil, small bagGritty mix that dries within days$8
Terracotta pots with drainage holes, 6Unglazed clay lets soil dry from the sides too$12
Everything you need to beginAbout $4 a month after that$37

Skip for now: Glass bowls without drainage · Fertilizer in the first year · Grow lights

Typical US prices for entry-level gear, rounded. Last checked October 2026. How we get the numbers

Your first project: repotting a first tray

Step 1 Unpot

Tip each plant out and crumble away the dense nursery peat.

Step 2 Pot up

Gritty mix, plant at the same depth, no water for a few days.

Step 3 Place

The sunniest sill you have. Turn the pots every week or two.

Step 4 Water rarely

Soak fully, then nothing until the soil is dry all the way down.

Before you start

Some common succulents, including many euphorbias and kalanchoes, are harmful if chewed by pets or children. Check each species before it goes on a low shelf.

Why people quit

OverwateringBy far the usual cause of death. When in doubt, wait another week.
Stretched, pale plantsNot enough light. They need hours of direct sun.
Pots with no holesWater that cannot drain rots roots within weeks.

How it compares

	Succulents and cacti	Terrariums	Bonsai	Dried flower wreaths
Start cost	$37	$52	$76	$45
Each month	$4	$2	$8	$10
Space	A windowsill	A shelf	A balcony or yard	A table
Noise	Quiet	Quiet	Quiet	Quiet
First result	Same day	1 afternoon	1 growing season	1 afternoon
Mess	A little soil	A little soil	Soil and clippings	Dropped petals