Generally low maintenance and simple to propagate, it's easy to see why the succulent has become a favourite of the 'Renter Generation'.

However, they're not quite as indestructible as everyone thinks. Root-rot, neglect and pests are all common enemies, leading to soggy aloes and withered cacti.

It can be embarrassing to kill one of the most unkillable plants on the planet, but fret no more: we're here to help. This simple guide contains everything you need to keep your succulents healthy and happy, and to keep you out of thorny territory.

This is how to keep a succulent alive.

Julianne Robertson is a writer, content creator and gardener. She is qualified in horticulture and owns The Secret Garden micro-nursery, raising a variety of hardy perennial plants suitable for the Scottish climate. Her work has been featured in a range of print and online titles, including The Guardian, The People’s Friend, My Weekly, Platinum, Scotland Grows and Country Smallholding, and she is also the host of a podcast called The Scottish Garden Podcast.