The spooky season has a way of creeping into everything, even the greenhouse. Some plants are already eerie by nature, and others simply lean into the theme this time of year, a little strange, a little beautiful, and entirely at home beside a plastic skeleton and a few gourds.
Among the spectral standouts is the Ghost Succulent (Graptopetalum paraguayense), a plant that looks as if it were sculpted from moonlight. Its pale gray and lavender leaves shimmer because it holds less chlorophyll than its greener cousins, scattering light instead of drinking it in. The result is a color that hovers somewhere between silver and frostbite. Ghost plants prefer bright light, though harsh afternoon sun can scorch them. Too little light, on the other hand, turns their shimmering leaves a common green. They store water in thick rosettes, so the soil should dry completely before the next watering. Overdo it and the leaves will fall away, but a single dropped leaf will often root itself into a new plant if given the chance.
My Opuntia ‘Snow White’ follows in spirit. A fuzzy prickly pear dusted in soft white spines, it thrives on bright light and neglect. This cactus is happiest when left alone in a sunny window or outdoors in full light. It prefers sandy, quick draining soil and will tolerate weeks without water, though it resents a heavy hand with the watering can. Even a small cutting will root if left to callous for a few days and then planted upright in dry soil.
Nearby sits a Zebra Haworthia, striped and armored like some miniature dragon plant. Unlike most succulents, Haworthias prefer the cooler months, waking in winter and napping through summer, a reminder that even plants have their seasons of rest. Now is the time to water them, as they thrive in near dehydrated conditions through the heat of summer and finally enjoy a careful drink when the temperatures cool. A slow soak every few weeks through the winter will sustain them until the warmth returns. Bright, indirect light keeps their bold striping, while too much sun can fade or bleach the leaves.
The Devil’s Backbone (Pedilanthus tithymaloides) always earns a second glance. Its crooked stems resemble a skeleton mid dance, and the name certainly suits the season. This tropical oddity likes bright light and warmth, drinking only when the top inch of soil has dried. The milky sap can irritate skin, so pruning is best done with gloves, and the plant’s variegation fades in dim conditions but returns when moved to a sunnier spot.
No spooky collection feels complete without the Lifesaver, sometimes called a Carrion Flower or sometimes nicknamed Starfish Cactus. The star=shaped bloom looks like a piece of candy with a dark sense of humor, beautiful to look at but not quite as pleasant to smell. Lifesavers prefer warm, dry air and very fast draining soil; a cactus mix with extra perlite suits them well. They should be watered only when completely dry and rested during the cooler months. When they do bloom, their scent attracts flies instead of bees, so displaying them outdoors is often the better choice.
These are a few that live on my shelf, the ones I have come to know and admire for their stubborn and curious personalities. But there are others on my shopping list that deserve mention: a Brain Cactus that seems to think for itself, a handful of Lithops that peek from the soil like tiny tombstones or even miniature brains, the ghostly Euphorbia ‘White Ghost’, a sharp Spider Aloe, and the moody pair ‘Black Prince’ and ‘Black Knight’, whose deep rosettes look carved from shadow.
The Brain Cactus and Lithops also make perfect use of those small skull planters that are too tiny for anything else. Lithops fit neatly into two inch decorative skull pots, while a Brain Cactus curls and twists just right inside a larger one, making the perfect Halloween conversation piece. Both prefer bright light and minimal water. Lithops draw on moisture stored in their thick leaves and should only be watered after the old outer layer shrivels away in spring. Too much water at the wrong time splits them open. The Brain Cactus needs quick drainage and patience, drinking sparingly when the soil is bone dry. Its dense folds trap moisture easily, so excess water often causes hidden rot.
If succulents set the scene, carnivorous plants provide the plot twist. These are the true monsters of the plant world, quietly waiting until something unsuspecting wanders too close.
The Venus Flytrap is perhaps the most famous. With its toothed leaves snapping shut in less than a second, it looks like something straight from a B movie. In reality, the plant uses tiny trigger hairs to detect prey, closing only after two touches in quick succession — a clever way to save energy for a worthwhile meal. Flytraps thrive in full sun and poor, acidic soil. They must have distilled, rain, or reverse osmosis water, since tap water contains minerals that slowly poison them. The soil should stay damp but never muddy, and they require a cool dormancy in winter to survive year after year.
Pitcher Plants are equally eerie, their tall tubes lined with nectar and downward-pointing hairs that lead insects into a slow slide toward digestion. Some varieties even glow faintly under ultraviolet light, guiding prey inside like porch lamps on a humid summer night. These plants love bright light and humidity, and their soil should remain moist but never fertilized. They draw all their nutrients from what they catch.
Sundews and Butterworts are quieter hunters, using leaves covered in sticky droplets that glitter like morning dew until an unlucky gnat learns the hard way that the shine is deadly. They thrive in humid air and prefer gentle, filtered sunlight. Keeping their soil evenly moist and their water mineral-free keeps the dew glistening.
Grouped beside pale succulents, these insect-eating curiosities add just the right amount of menace to an otherwise calm collection, proving that even the smallest garden can hold a touch of the macabre.
It is easy to see why gardeners love these plants in autumn. They fit the mood, with strange shapes, muted colors, and a reminder that beauty often hides in odd places. And just as the trees outside are shedding their leaves, some succulents are doing their own quiet disappearing act. A few species, such as certain Echeverias, are annuals rather than perennials, which means their life cycle ends after blooming. Others simply go dormant, retreating into themselves until warmth and light return.
So if one of your plants looks tired this fall, do not rush to mourn it. In gardening, as in life, not everything that fades is gone for good. Some things simply need their season of sleep before they rise again.
