Domakihub How to Grow and Care for Succulents at Home
Everything you need to keep these drought-tolerant beauties thriving indoors and out.
Reviewed by Domakihub garden pros · 2026-06-23 · 5 min read
Succulents are one of the easiest plants to grow in Greece's warm, sunny climate — whether you are tending a home garden in Athens, decorating the terrace of a holiday rental in Crete, or adding low-maintenance greenery to a hotel lobby. The video above from Garden Answer walks you through the core principles visually, while this guide gives you a practical, step-by-step framework for getting it right from soil to watering schedule. Follow these steps and your succulents will reward you with bold colour and structural beauty through every season.
Why Succulents Suit the Greek Climate
Greece's Mediterranean weather — long dry summers, mild winters, and abundant sunshine — is almost exactly what succulents evolved for. Their thick, water-storing leaves are built to cope with drought, meaning that the summer heat that stresses other plants is no obstacle here. For holiday rental owners and hotels especially, that translates into low irrigation costs and minimal maintenance between guest stays.
There is one Greek-climate caveat worth knowing: while most succulents tolerate full sun happily, very intense afternoon sun in July and August (especially on south-facing terraces or reflective tile surfaces) can scorch the leaves of softer varieties such as Echeveria. A position that gets morning sun and light afternoon shade is often ideal from June through August.
Choosing the Right Variety
Not all succulents behave the same way. Sempervivum (hen-and-chicks) and Sedum are fully hardy and can stay outdoors year-round anywhere in Greece, including mountain areas with winter frost. Aloe vera is a practical pick for homes and rentals because it doubles as a natural burn remedy. Echeveria and Crassula (jade plant) are popular for indoor decoration — they stay compact and flower readily on a bright windowsill.
For outdoor containers on exposed terraces or hotel entrances, consider Agave or the low-growing Delosperma (ice plant) — both are extremely drought-tolerant and make a visual statement with almost no care. Mixing several compatible species in one wide bowl planter is a reliable approach for decoration in rental properties because it looks lush while remaining simple to maintain.
5 Steps to Growing Healthy Succulents
- 1
Start with the right soil mix
Standard potting compost holds too much moisture and will rot succulent roots within weeks. Use a dedicated cactus-and-succulent compost, or mix regular potting soil 50/50 with coarse horticultural sand or perlite. The goal is a mix that drains completely within a few seconds of watering — if water pools on the surface for more than a moment, add more grit.
- 2
Choose a container with drainage holes
This is non-negotiable. Even the most drought-tolerant succulent will rot if water sits around its roots. Terracotta pots are ideal — the porous walls allow excess moisture to evaporate. If you love a decorative pot without drainage holes, plant into a plain terracotta inner pot that you can lift out, water separately, and return once it has drained fully.
- 3
Give them as much light as possible
Succulents need a minimum of four to six hours of direct sunlight daily. Indoors, place them on the sunniest windowsill you have — south- or west-facing is best. Outdoors, most varieties thrive in full sun from spring through autumn. A tell-tale sign of insufficient light is etiolation: the plant starts stretching towards the light source, becoming leggy and pale. Move it to a brighter spot as soon as you notice this.
- 4
Water deeply, then wait
The most common mistake is frequent, shallow watering — the same schedule people use for ordinary houseplants. Instead, water thoroughly until it drains freely from the bottom, then do not water again until the soil is completely dry all the way through. In summer in Greece this may mean every ten to fourteen days; in winter, once a month or even less. When in doubt, wait another few days — underwatering is far easier to recover from than overwatering.
- 5
Feed lightly in spring and propagate freely
Give succulents a single application of diluted, low-nitrogen cactus fertiliser at the start of spring to support the growing season. Avoid autumn and winter feeding. Succulents are among the easiest plants to propagate: snap off a healthy leaf, let the cut end dry and callous for two to three days, then lay it on top of moist cactus soil in indirect light. Tiny new rosettes will appear at the base within a few weeks — a free way to multiply plants for rental properties or gifts.
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FAQ
- Why are my succulent leaves turning mushy and translucent?
- Mushy, translucent leaves are the classic sign of overwatering and root rot. Remove the plant from its pot, cut away any black or brown rotten roots with clean scissors, let the roots air-dry for a day, then repot in fresh, dry cactus soil. Hold off watering for at least a week to allow the plant to recover.
- Can succulents stay outdoors in Greece during winter?
- It depends on the variety and your location. Hardy types like Sempervivum and most Sedum tolerate freezing temperatures and can stay outside all year. Tender varieties like Echeveria should be brought indoors or under cover when temperatures drop below 5°C (41°F). In coastal and southern Greek locations with mild winters, most varieties do fine outdoors year-round.
- How do I stop my succulent from stretching and losing its compact shape?
- Stretching (etiolation) is caused purely by insufficient light. Move the plant to a brighter spot — ideally outdoors in spring and summer. You can also behead a stretched succulent with a clean knife, allow both the cutting and the original stem to callous for a few days, then replant the rosette top in fresh soil to restart with a compact shape.