How To Care For Succulents

Take Care Of Succulents

Check out the plant care guide on different plants and types of plants for your home, also how to plant a  succulent garden.

How often do you water succulent?

They pull water out of the soil at a remarkable rate as they make new stems, leaves, roots and blooms. You may water them three times a week, depending on conditions like light and temperature. In the winter, succulents go dormant. Growing stops, so you’ll only need to water them once or twice for the entire season.

How do you keep potted succulents alive?

While succulents may not require a lot of attention, they do need a few basics to keep them thriving: Give enough sunlight. Succulents need enough light—at least six hours of full sun per day. … Water properly. … Use the right pot and soil mix. … Don’t forget to fertilize. … Inspect your plants.

Do all succulents need direct sunlight?

In general, succulents do best in bright but indirect sunlight. I’ve found that different species can tolerate different amounts of light, but most of my plants tend to suffer in extended periods of direct sunlight. … If your plants are not getting enough light they may become leggy and stretch toward the light.

Can succulents live indoors?

Because of their special ability to retain water, succulents tend to thrive in warm, dry climates and don’t mind a little neglect. This makes them well adapted to indoor growing and ideal for people desiring low-maintenance houseplants.

What do Overwatered succulents look like?

Here’s what to look for to know that your succulent is overwatered: Soft, mushy, translucent leaves–An overwatered plant will have soft, mushy leaves that may also appear shriveled. … Leaves turn black–If the overwatering continues, the leaves will start to rot and you will see them turn black.

Are succulents easy to care for?

Succulents, plants adapted to survive in harsh environments and long periods with very little water, play by their own rule book, but they’re still pretty easy to care for.

Why is my succulent dying?

The reason for a succulent dying is most often because of root rot due to overwatering and slow draining soils. Succulents are drought resistant plants that require the soil to dry out between watering. Brown, yellow or black mushy leaves indicate the succulent is dying because the soil is too damp.

Can a succulent come back from overwatering?

Yes. If you lost a lot of leaves from overwatering, the plant will eventually recover as long as it is not rotting. When given a chance to dry out, you will soon notice new growth or tiny leaves along the stems. You will also notice new growth from the sides, the top, or even the bottom of the plant.

Do succulents grow in shade?

However, while all succulents do best with some light, a few can withstand partial shade. Growing succulents in the shade isn’t ideal for most varieties, but a prized few will actually flourish in low light situations.

How do you take care of a succulent for beginners?

How to Care for Succulents (And Not Kill Them): 9 Plant-Care Tips Make Sure Your Succulents Get Enough Light. … Rotate Succulents Frequently. … Water According to the Season. … Water the Soil Directly. … Keep Succulents Clean. … Choose a Container with Drainage. … Plant Succulents in the Right Soil. … Get Rid of Bugs.

Should succulents be inside or outside?

Remember that succulents do not want a lot of moisture and will likely not thrive as well in very humid areas as they will in dry, hot and arid climates. However, the short answer to the question is: both. They can be planted indoors and outdoors.

Do succulents clean the air?

They help you breathe – During the process of photosynthesis, plants release oxygen, however, at night most plants respire like humans, releasing carbon dioxide. … They purify the air – Succulents, like snake plant and aloe vera, are excellent at cleansing the air and removing toxins.

Where do you put succulents indoors?

As much light as possible Outdoors they generally need about 6 hours of bright, indirect sunlight each day. However, indoors, you’ll want to place your succulents near a window that gets light all day. If this isn’t an option, place your succulents near the brightest window or brightest area of your home or office.

When should succulents be repotted?

It’s best to repot succulents into fresh soil after you purchase them. Another time you’d want to repot your succulents is when they’ve filled up or outgrown the pot they’re in. Often they’ll be “”root bound”” meaning the roots are filling up the pot and the plant doesn’t have space to grow more roots.

Do succulents need a fan?

Give good air circulation Succulents need fresh air and breezes that keep pests from settling in. Without good air circulation, succulents in cramped conditions are at risk of mealy bugs, spider mites and other pests.

How do I know if my succulent needs more sun?

When succulents are getting the right amount of sun they’ll often “blush” or change colors. This is such a beautiful transformation to see! If they start to get too much sun however the leaves will actually burn. You may begin to notice white or pale patches on the succulent leaves.

How do you bring a dying succulent back to life?

Dig the succulent out of the soil and remove excess soil stuck to the roots, cut off any brown/black roots as these are rotten already. Leave the plant on a mesh or any kind of strainer till the roots have air dried from anywhere two to three days. When the roots are dry completely, plant them back in the pot.

How do I know if my succulent needs water?

The first thing you’ll notice when a succulent needs more water is that the leaves feel rubbery and bend easily (see photo below.) They won’t necessarily change color, like they would when they are over-watered. 2. The second sign your plant is under-watered is shriveled and wrinkled leaves (see photo below.)

Do succulents get bigger?

There are different ways a succulent can grow bigger. Some succulents, like the Haworthia, get big by producing copies of themselves, also called pups. Given enough space, they will spread indefinitely. Some succulents grow into huge plants on their own.

Is succulents good for home?

Succulents, like aloe and snake plants, are particularly good at removing toxins from the air. However, you’ll still benefit from keeping any succulent in your home as they will improve the air quality as well! … Succulents also humidify the air, which improves the air quality in your home even more!

Can you put succulents outside?

But succulents can also make great additions to outdoor gardens. “You can grow succulents outside in almost all climates,” says Marianne Hugo, director at Coastkeeper Garden, a nonprofit conservation garden in Orange County, California.

How long do succulents live?

Some succulents don’t live long but grow offsets to replace themselves. A great example is Chicks and Hens. The main plant only lives around 3-4 years but sends out lots of offsets during its life. What’s The Average Succulent Lifespan? Jade Plant 70-100 years Christmas Cactus 30+ years.

What is a succulent death bloom?

What does a death bloom look like? Death blooms come from the very very center (apex) of succulents like sempervivum, agave and some kalanchoe. If you see a bloom stalk (inflorescence) coming from somewhere else, like in between layers on an echeveria, it is a normal bloom and will not die after blooming.

Do succulents need to be near a window?

Succulents and cacti “are very tolerant of low-light conditions. They don’t have to be near a window to thrive,” he said. … “Succulents should not be set on a radiator or heater or near glass that intensifies the sunlight. Plants that are placed too close to windows can burn in direct sun.”

Why did my succulent died overnight?

Since watering is the usual cause for their decay, you should determine if the plant has been over or under watered. If the stem is mushy or rotting, it’s probably overwatered. If the leaves are puckered, the plant needs more water. Don’t worry if there are dry, dying leaves at the base.

How do you water indoor succulents?

The best way to water succulents is with the “soak and dry” method. Soak the soil completely then let the soil dry out completely before watering again. And make sure the succulents are in a well draining soil in a pot with a drainage hole (more on that in a minute).

How do I know what’s wrong with my succulent?

What’s Wrong With My Succulent?! Leaning Towards The Light. If your plant starts leaning towards the light, or growing in length towards a window, that’s a sure sign that it isn’t getting enough sunlight. … Shrivelled Leaves. … Rotting. … Yellowing Leaves. … Black or Brown Spots. … Dull Colour.

Can you plant succulents in just rocks?

Succulents can grow without soil because they store water in their leaves. This allows them to survive for long periods of time with no access to surface moisture. … For the most part, succulents can grow in rocks without soil and water. The key is to have a rock that allows for easy absorption of water and nutrients.

Can succulents grow indoors in low light?

No succulent will survive with a complete lack of light, though. So, if you live in a basement apartment, have only a north-facing window, or if your space has no windows at all, consider purchasing a small tabletop grow light for your succulent plants, even if they are varieties of succulents that grow in low light.

How much sun do succulents need outside?

In general, all succulents do best in sun; many will get leggy and weak without at least six hours of sun daily, and many get more colorful and flower better in eight or more hours of direct sun. Plants with colorful foliage tend to take more intense sun than green or variegated varieties.

Do succulents like small pots?

A Small Pot Can Damage your Succulent Drastically Due to its size, a small pot can hold less soil in it, which means your plant will not get enough nutrients to thrive. Moreover, a small container constricts the roots, which eventually disrupts the growth of a plant.

Can you use regular potting soil for succulents?

Any type of all purpose potting soil for indoor plants will work as the base to make your own succulent soil. Use whatever you have on hand (as long as it’s fresh, sterile potting soil). … Succulents need a well draining potting soil, not one that holds moisture.

What are the benefits of succulent plants?

Here are seven benefits of growing succulents in your house: They Can Brighten A Home in Any Climate. … They Can Help to Purify the Air. … They Improve the Humidity of Your Home. … They Can Add Fresh Oxygen to Your Environment. … They Can Improve Your Focus. … They Can Increase Pain Tolerance. … They Enhance Memory.

Can I leave my succulents outside in winter?

In our experience, the great majority of succulents will happily survive outside over winter without any help down to 0 C. When the temperature drops below 0 succulents are likely to freeze and collapse. Sempervivums, some Agaves and some Sedums should survive deep frosts and snow on the ground without any protection.

Should I leave my succulents out in the rain?

A little rain won’t harm healthy succulents and cacti. In fact, even a lot of rain can be beneficial to your garden. As a general rule, succulents prefer infrequent but deep water. A heavy rain might be just what your plants need to look perky and vibrant after a dry or hot spell.

How do you care for outdoor succulents?

Care of Succulent Garden Plants Succulent plants tolerate periods of dryness but should receive regular water during the growing season. When soil is dry a couple of inches (5 cm.) down, water deeply and then let the soil dry out again between waterings. The most common problem with succulents is rot.

Why is my pink succulent turning green?

Just as succulents stretch out from not getting enough light, they may also lose their vibrant colors. … When grown in the shade or in areas that don’t get bright light all day, such as indoors, they will slowly fade to green. It doesn’t mean they aren’t healthy though.

Is aloe vera a succulent?

Aloe vera is a succulent plant species of the genus Aloe. The plant is stemless or very short-stemmed with thick, greenish, fleshy leaves that fan out from the plant’s central stem. … However, the plant doesn’t appreciate sustained direct sunlight, as this tends to dry out the plant too much and turn its leaves yellow.

Are succulents OK in bathrooms?

Generally, most succulents, especially cacti, cannot survive in a bathroom for too long. That’s because succulents prefer lots of sunlight, dry conditions and low humidity levels. However, some succulents prefer partial to full shade and moderate humidity, so can do well in a bathroom with some indirect filtered light.

Do succulents outgrow their pots?

While succulents are pretty slow growers, they will eventually outgrow the pot they are in and even need some maintenance on a regular basis.

Do you put rocks in the bottom of a planter for succulents?

The main purpose of placing pebbles on the bottom of the potted succulent plant is to enhance drainage. Succulents and cacti naturally grow in sandy soils that drain quickly. Succulent roots should never be left in wet soil. The rocks help move water through the soil to prevent the roots from rotting.

Do succulents like to be crowded?

As a rule, succulent plants do not mind crowding whether the plants are grouped in one container or are alone and fully filled out in the container. Transplanting a plant that has filled its container will generally allow the plant to experience a new spurt of growth.

Can succulents survive in a basement?

Okay, so you heard that succulents are versatile and have been adapted to growing in harsh conditions. Since they grow in deserts and literally anywhere, they can even survive in closets or in the basement.

What kind of grow lights do succulents need?

For stimulating succulents growth, the best color temperature is 6500k. If you want your plant to bloom, a 3000k light is better. Just be careful if your plant is a monocarpic succulent, it may bloom with too much of the light provision. You will not need to turn the lights on all the time.