How To Take Care of Succulents

Knowing how to take care of succulents will ensure your plants survive, but also thrive for many years to come. Whether you have indoor or outdoor succulents planted in pots or directly into the soil, there are many things you can do to keep your plants healthy. From watering your plants correctly and placing them in the right position to using the right potting soil, looking after your beautiful succulents is easier than you might think.

Let There Be Light

Succulents love lots of light and need at least six hours of sunlight a day to stay healthy. Place or plant your succulents in areas where they will receive enough natural daylight, but take care with newly planted succulents as they can scorch if placed in direct sunlight. Once they are established and fully grown, place them in a more sunny position.

Rotate Indoor or Potted Succulents Regularly

While succulents love lots of direct sunlight, it is a good idea to rotate them regularly so that each side of the plant receives enough light. Turning your indoor and outdoor potted succulents 180 degrees once a week should ensure that they receive all the light they need and in all the right places. Succulents also lean towards the sun, so turning them regularly will help to ensure a uniform and straight growth.

Water According to the Seasons

Just like us, your succulents will thrive if they have access to enough water. During the spring and summer months, your succulents will be drinking up as much water as possible, so they have enough moisture to carry them through the fall and winter months. You can test your succulents by placing your finger in the top layer of soil. If the top inch is dry, it’s time to grab your watering can. Just be sure not to over-water as this can kill your plants or cause them to develop mold and rot.

Apply Water Directly to the Soil

When watering your succulents, make sure you soak the soil directly. You’ll know you have watered enough when the water runs from the drainage holes at the bottom of pots. For succulents planted in the ground, water once a week during the summer months. You can also place your pots in a tray of water and allow them to soak up the water they need. Remove them from the tray once the top layer of soil is slightly moist.

Keep Your Succulents Clean

This tip applies mostly to indoor succulents. Over time, your plants will start to pick up a little dust and dirt on their surface, which can inhibit their growth. By wiping leaves gently with a damp cloth or clean paintbrush, you can reach all of those hard to reach spots and keep your succulents thriving and looking their absolute best. You can also spray leaves with a fine mist spray to give them a healthy shine and a little extra moisture.

Choose Containers with Good Drainage

Choosing good containers for your succulents will make your life so much easier and help to keep your succulents growing and looking their absolute best. Succulents don’t do well if they are left to sit in waterlogged soil, so choosing a pot with lots of drainage will ensure excess water drains away after watering or heavy rainfall. Terracotta pots are some of the best containers for succulents as they have plenty of holes and also help to retain heat during the winter months.

Choose the Right Soil For Your Succulents

Choosing the wrong soil for your succulents could cause your succulents to rot and die very quickly. Succulents require good quality soil that drains excess water away, so yard dirt or regular potting soil won’t do. If you are planting succulents in pots, use a special cactus potting soil that contains pumice, perlite or sand. You can also use this type of soil when planting succulents outside in the ground.

Watch Out For Bugs

Just like any other plant, your succulents are at risk of being attacked by bugs and other pests. Gnats and mosquitos are attracted to succulents that have been overwatered or that do not have correct drainage. To remove eggs or larvae, use a spray that contains 70 percent isopropyl alcohol. You should also take care to remove any infected plants away from healthy plants until all bugs have been removed.

Give Your Succulents a Good Fertilizer

Fertilizer can do wonders for your succulents, and the good news is that they don’t need much. A light feeding during the spring and summer months will help to promote growth and give your plants extra nourishment and nutrients. Just take care not to overfertilize as this can cause your succulent to grow too quickly and develop weak areas.

Protect Outdoor Succulents in Winter

While succulents are relatively easy to take care of during the summer months, they do need a little extra TLC during the winter. Even a light frost could kill off a healthy succulent. When the weather starts to get colder, you should bring your potted succulents indoors if you can. If this is not possible, wrap them in horticultural fleece or a hessian blanket to protect their leaves and spines from the elements.