Succulents are all the rage these days and it’s easy to see why. These beautiful plants come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors and are incredibly easy to care for. Whether you’re an experienced plant parent or new to the world of gardening, succulents are a great choice for adding some green to your home.
In this blog post, we’ll be sharing our top tips for caring for succulents. From watering and sunlight exposure to soil and fertilization, we’ll cover everything you need to know to keep your succulents happy and healthy.
Succulents are native to warm and dry climates with a lot of sun. To successfully grow a succulent in your house, you’ll need to mimic its natural habitat the best you can. One way to do this is to make sure your succulent doesn’t get watered very often. In fact, it thrives when you don’t water it for weeks at a time. Watering succulents too often will cause the plant to be overwatered and this will kill it.
Succulents also love light and need about six hours of sun per day, depending on the type of succulent. If you’re growing your succulent indoors, place it near a sunny window or under a grow light. If your succulent is new to your home, gradually introduce it to direct sunlight to prevent sunburn.
When it comes to soil, succulents need well-draining soil to thrive. Regular potting soil holds too much moisture and can lead to root rot. To create the perfect soil for your succulent, mix together cactus soil with sand, perlite or pumice. This will allow water to drain quickly and prevent overwatering.
While succulents don’t require frequent fertilization, they can benefit from an occasional boost during their growing season. Use a balanced fertilizer diluted to half strength or a specialized cactus and succulent fertilizer according to the package instructions.
One of the best things about succulents is how easy they are to propagate! You can grow new plants from leaves, stem cuttings or division. This means that once you have one succulent, you can easily grow more and expand your collection.
During the winter months, succulents enter a period of dormancy and require less care than during their growing season. Reduce watering and move plants to a bright but cooler location if possible.
Many succulents can also be grown outside in warm climates or during the summer months in cooler climates. Choose a location with well-draining soil and plenty of sunlight. Protect plants from extreme temperatures and bring them indoors during the winter if necessary.
In this blog post, we’ll dive deeper into each of these topics and share our best tips for caring for succulents. Whether you’re new to the world of succulents or an experienced plant parent, we hope this guide will help you keep your plants happy and healthy.
1. Watering a Succulent
Succulents are desert plants that have adapted to survive in dry environments with little water. They store water in their leaves and stems, allowing them to go long periods without watering.
To keep your succulent happy and healthy, it’s important to mimic its natural environment by allowing the soil to dry out completely between waterings. During the summer months, you may need to water your succulent once every two weeks, while in the winter, once a month may be sufficient.
2. Sunlight Exposure
Succulents love to soak up the sun! These desert plants thrive in bright, sunny locations and need at least six hours of sunlight per day. If you’re growing your succulent indoors, place it near a sunny window or under a grow light. If your succulent is new to your home, gradually introduce it to direct sunlight to prevent sunburn.
If your succulent isn’t getting enough light, it may start to stretch out and become leggy. If this happens, move it to a sunnier location or supplement with artificial light. Rotating your succulent regularly will also help it grow evenly and prevent it from leaning towards the light.
3. The Ideal Soil for Your Succulent
Succulents need well-draining soil to thrive. Regular potting soil holds too much moisture and can lead to root rot. To create the perfect soil for your succulent, mix together cactus soil with sand, perlite or pumice. This will allow water to drain quickly and prevent overwatering.
When planting your succulent, choose a container with drainage holes to allow excess water to escape. If your container doesn’t have drainage holes, add a layer of rocks or gravel to the bottom to improve drainage.
4. Fertilizing a Succulent
While succulents don’t require frequent fertilization, they can benefit from an occasional boost during their growing season. Use a balanced fertilizer diluted to half strength or a specialized cactus and succulent fertilizer according to the package instructions.
Fertilize your succulent once a month during the spring and summer months when it is actively growing. Avoid fertilizing during the winter months when the plant is dormant.
5. Propagating a Succulent
One of the best things about succulents is how easy they are to propagate! You can grow new plants from leaves, stem cuttings or division. To propagate from a leaf, gently twist it off the parent plant and let it dry for a few days until a callus forms on the end. Then place the leaf on top of well-draining soil and mist occasionally until roots form.
For stem cuttings, use a sharp, clean knife or scissors to cut a stem from the parent plant. Let the cutting dry for a few days until a callus forms on the end, then plant it in well-draining soil. Water sparingly until roots form and new growth appears.
6. Succulent Care in the Winter
During the winter months, succulents enter a period of dormancy and require less care than during their growing season. Reduce watering and move plants to a bright but cooler location if possible.
Succulents can tolerate cooler temperatures, but they should be protected from frost. If you live in a cold climate, bring your succulents indoors for the winter or move them to a sheltered location.
7. Growing Succulents Outside
Many succulents can be grown outside in warm climates or during the summer months in cooler climates. Choose a location with well-draining soil and plenty of sunlight. Protect plants from extreme temperatures and bring them indoors during the winter if necessary.
Succulents can add color and texture to your garden and are great for xeriscaping. They can also be grown in containers and moved indoors during the winter months.
In conclusion, succulents are beautiful and easy-to-care-for plants that can add color and texture to your home or garden. By following our tips for watering, sunlight exposure, soil, fertilization, propagation and winter care, you can keep your succulents happy and healthy.
Whether you’re an experienced plant parent or new to the world of gardening, succulents are a great choice for adding some green to your life.
