Have you seen a see-through leaf, or even one that starts to get soft on a succulent? Or maybe you just had the feeling that the plant need some water, your intuition tells you so. So out comes the hose or pitcher, and in goes the water, and nothing happens…then the plant gets mushy…and then black…and gone.
Not a mystery, realy. Most of the time it’s simply because the plant was already dormant (and thus unable to take up more water), and you attempted to rouse it by giving it too much water. Succulents goes dormant to survive harsh conditions. Knowing when they are no longer growing is key, because that’s when we need to stop watering them so they don’t rot.
How to Water Succulents in Dormancy
As the chart above shows, the best indicator of when rest begins is a combination of cooler nights and stopped growth. Most will observe one soft leaf and freak out. That’s where most people goes wrong. A slightly wrinkled leaf mean the plant is using its own stored reserves. This is not bad; in fact, it is healthy and normal as the plant goes into dormancy. The system is doing what it should of doing.
If a couple of weeks go by and no more fresh leaves are being pushed out from the center of rosette, especially as those cooler nights drop into the forty-five to fifty-five-degree range, then you have your answer. The party is over. It is time to really cut back on water.
So knowing whether something is winter dormant or summer dormant makes all the difference in how you’ll water it. Plants like a Jade plant or your typical Echeveria are winter dormant; they go into shutdown mode as the days shorten and air turns crisp, awaiting springtime.
The advice: Let the soil go bone dry for a couple of weeks to a month, even up to six, says the data. If the pot’s totally empty, give it a light sip. Don’t water just before a cold night. That’s a recipe for rot. Wet and cold equals rot faster then anything in the gardening world. It is a simple equation that kills more houseplant than any amount of neglect ever will.
But summer dormers run on another clock entirely. Hot weather (over ninety degrees) makes plants such as Lithops and Aeoniums curl their leaves and hush up. You barely water them at all during this period. And yes, these guys will extend the interval between drinks to as long as fifty (fifty!) or even sixty days, according to the infographic.
Extreme? Yes. But there’s no alternative: since the plants’ roots is dormant, they’re unable to absorb water. Watering a plant that’s turned off its intake system is merely creating a swamp in the pot. Let the soil breathe.
A helpful water-reduction pyramid is shown on visual guide as well. No, you don’t just stop watering all at once after soaking every day. That would shock them! You taper off. As the signs appears that it is time to go dormant, you wait longer between waterings. And you reduce gradually, which helps mimic how they dry out naturaly in nature.
Then when spring comes and the nights begin to warm again, watch for signs of new growth. That’s your green light to gradually increase the watering again. New leaves are the green light. Till then, wait.
That’s the toughest aspect of succulent growing; patience. But it is also the most rewarding.
The soil mix for a dormant houseplant matter more than many realize. Fast-draining and gritty are two words that makes a good dormancy-friend. When you forget to water, this kind of mix still lets air reach the roots. Even with the infrequent soak that you remember, the mix dries right out again. Should you use heavy, moisture-retentive potting soil? You’re asking for trouble.
The chart says the same: keep the soil at ninety-two percent dry before soaking it anytime during rest-season. High bar, but makes those roots be honest. Examine the pot’s bottom. Feel its weight. Rely more on your own senses than a calendar.
In the end, succulents are not needy pets but survivors. They do just fine when neglected in the proper season. This means if you read the temperature-change and growth-halt clues, you’re in sync with their biology. You’re not fighting the plant but working with it.
When your succulent starts to look a bit wrinkled, breathe. Read the weather. Examine the growth. If it’s stalled, let it rest. All that waiting will be worth it when spring comes for a fresh burst of color. I promise they’ll thank you.