With a little bit of knowledge, taking care of succulents can be simple. The advice in this post should help you keep your succulents thriving and healthy for a long time!
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Are your succulents not looking their best? Don’t worry, taking care of them doesn’t have to be complicated.
Reformulated: Taking proper care of your succulents doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. By following these five simple steps, you can ensure that your plants stay healthy and look attractive all year round with minimal effort.
The video demonstrates the process I use to ensure my indoor succulents stay healthy and look their best. Detailed instructions on this procedure can be found in the sections that follow.
Table of Contents
Water More, But Less Often
It is an essential piece of advice for succulent care: do not overwater your plants! Too much water is detrimental to succulents and can even lead to their demise. I have experienced this firsthand with a few of my succulents – it’s a lesson I won’t forget! Therefore, it is important to keep this in mind to ensure your succulent’s health and longevity.
When it comes to watering succulents, it’s best to soak the soil, allow it to dry out completely, and then start the process again. If you need more information about this method, be sure to check out this post or my ebook about watering for more details.
I have found that the more succulent leaves a plant has, the less water it requires. For example, my Pachyveria Royal Flush needs significantly less water than my Aeonium ‘Zwartkop’.
I really appreciate the Aeonium Zwartkop because it’s a great reminder for when I need to water it; the leaves droop when it’s thirsty, and with a little bit of water, it perks up again in no time!
Well Draining Soil
The basic concept is to combine a light and airy substance with standard soil in order to increase drainage. I usually mix in perlite at a one-to-one ratio. However, one of the most effective soil mixes I’ve ever used came from a can of succulents I bought for a gardening class instructed by Cynthia Bee.
She has had success mixing vermiculite and coconut coir for her succulents, as it provides excellent drainage. The most important factor when caring for succulents is ensuring that the soil is well draining so that the roots can completely dry out between waterings.
Revised sentence: For further information regarding the soil mixture I currently use for succulent container gardens, please refer to my post about well-draining soil. Additionally, you can purchase the soil I use for such gardens here.
Lots of Sunlight
Succulents need plenty of sunshine to remain healthy, but must be protected from direct sunlight in the summertime when outdoors, as they can easily get sunburned.
Rather than leave your plants directly in the sun, try to provide them with some shade and a cool environment. If they are outdoors, make sure they get some morning sunlight and shade in the afternoon. For indoor plants, place them somewhere they will get bright light for the majority of the day. While sunburn is less common inside, it is still possible and should be avoided.
Generally, a south-facing window sill will allow for enough sunlight to reach a plant, but if the leaves show signs of sunburn (dark spots or discoloration), it’s best to move it to an area with less direct sunlight.
If your succulent is not getting enough light, it may start to ‘stretch’ out, growing tall and having wide gaps between its leaves. If you see this happening, try to reposition your plant to an area with more light.
This is an example of a succulent that is reaching for more light. Notice the gaps between the leaves?
Propagate!
I’m a big fan of succulents because propagating them is so simple. All you have to do is clip off some of the leaves and plant them in moist soil. If you need more guidance on how to propagate succulents, check out my eBook or this blog post.
Rephrasing: It is enjoyable to watch small plants sprout and grow when propagating. Furthermore, it is exciting to have a surplus of succulents that can be shared with others. People tend to be curious when it comes to the propagation process, and you may even discover individuals who would like to give it a go.
Experiment
I have been spending some time on this succulent and cactus forum, and I’m amazed at how much great info there is and how willing people are to help out. After reading all the posts, it seems that the key to healthy succulents is to experiment with watering, soil, and sunlight.
The way succulents respond to their environment can vary greatly from place to place. Although it is not uncommon to find conflicting advice about how to care for them, what is most important is the climate and surroundings in which they are growing.
There’s much to discover when it comes to succulents! One of the most difficult challenges for many people is proper watering. To help you out, you can get a free watering cheat sheet by clicking here. It will provide you with valuable tips on how to tell if your succulent is getting the right amount of water.