Succulents are a type of plant that retain a lot of liquid, hence the name succulent. They are typical of the African continent, but can easily be found here in Brazil as well.

Because they retain a lot of liquid, this is a great plant for those who don't have much time to take care of plants and therefore end up forgetting to water. Succulents can stay for days exposed to the sun without needing as much water as other types. One of the most popular we find around here is St. George's Sword.

They are usually confused with cacti, but they are not the same thing. Cacti are usually recognized by their spines, even though not all species have them, and succulents are more recognized by their "chubbier" leaves, even though some species have the appearance of cacti.

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There are more than 12,000 species of succulents scattered around the world, ranging in size from two centimeters, like the Stone Plant, to plants up to one and a half meters tall, like the Aloe tree. They can come from different plant families and some can have beautiful flowers like, for example, the Fortune-leaf and the Agave-dragon. Some of them also contain thorns, like the Pachypodium and the Crown-of-pearl.of-christ.

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If you like these plants and want to have one at home or at work, check out some growing tips for them:

• The soil should be rich in nutrients, but with little water. Do not use a very deep pot, because succulents tend to have short roots. Place pebbles at the bottom of the pot and then complete with three parts sand and one part vegetal soil. Add organic fertilizer to the soil.
• The advantage of succulents is that they do not need to be watered very often. In summer water once a week, and in winter once every fortnight is enough.
• Leave the plant in a place where it gets a lot of sunlight. Since they are native to more desert-like places, the need for sunlight is essential. Some species can even stay in slightly shaded places, such as Gasteria and Howorthias, but they still need indirect light.