These Adorable Succulents Are Begging for a Home on Your Desk

If you can't get enough of your spring flowers and find spending time in your vegetable gardening therapeutic, even if you don't exactly have a green thumb, succulents may be the plant for you. They’re low-maintenance, forgiving if you forget to water occasionally, and come in endless types of shapes and sizes. (In fact, there are about 10,000 species found all over the world, that thrive in various climates!) Succulents, like cacti, have adapted to harsh conditions by developing fleshy stems, roots, and leaves that retain moisture, which is what makes them so easy to care for.

Most of these make amazing indoor houseplants, but many also thrive outdoors, even in the cold. If you’re looking for the type of succulent you can plant outside, read the tag to ensure it can survive winters in your USDA Hardiness zones (find yours here). Or, pot it up and bring it inside for the winter. Then, set in a bright south, west, or east-facing window or under a grow light.

In general, succulents like to dry out between waterings (after all, they do have their own reserves!). Water them until the liquid runs out the bottom of the pot, then check them again in about a week or so. A lot depends on how dry your house is in terms of how often they'll need to be watered, but you don't want to give them another drink until a finger pushed into the soil a few inches in feels dry (just nudge any decorative gravel out of the way, if need be). If your plant came in a cute decorative pot, make sure it has holes or transfer it to one that does. Typically, all types of succulents—whether they hang, flower, grow tall, or simply look adorable on your desk, do better if you err on the side of under-watering, rather than overdoing it. They’ll tell you they're thirsty if the leaves drop or appear shriveled. Ready to adopt one? Here are a few of the most popular succulent plant types to add to your family, plus, how to care for them.