People kill succulents with love. Those fat juicy leaves, they figure. The poor thing must be thirsty; let me just give her a little sip. And then another. Soon, the roots is drowning under the best of intentions.
Succulent care isn’t really about how often you water, as the chart above explains, but when; and that “when” is very specific: Wait until soil dries right out. That’s what most people do wrong. Rather than reading the condition of the pot (above), they stick to a timetable on the wall. A lithops will go up to three weeks without a drink; a jade may want a week or two between sips. The trick is to trust your finger different than the calendar. When the soil is dry, water. When it feels even remotely moist? Walk away. Simple rule, hard one to follow, but it does take some patience.
Basic Tips for Caring for Succulents
The second half of the equation are light. Because succulents are from harsh sunny habitats, they want plenty of light. They will get pale and stretched-out (called etiolated) if not provide with enough light. In fact, most succulent plants require at least six hours of bright light each day, as the visual guide points out. Usually, the best location is a south-facing window. Is your plant growing in one direction? Then it’s trying to reach toward the light. Weekly rotation of the pot will help the plant grows evenly. It’s a tiny habit, but it makes a big difference in how your plant looks. The length of exposure isn’t all that matters; the intensity of the light matter too. Delicate foliage may burn in direct full sun in high summer, when a sheer curtain filtered across the window may be necessary.
But most indoor gardeners falter at this point: What kind of soil? Regular potting mix holds water like a sponge. Big no-no. Succulents requires gritty, fast-draining soil. Imagine a soil that’s mostly minerals, not much organic matter. The closer you get to all minerals (see the breakdown in the infographic) the better it will be for succulent varieties that are especially drought-tolerant. For homemade recipes, use equal parts coarse sand, perlite and a small amount of regular soil. Remember: The idea is airflow around the roots. If the water sits on top of the soil, your mix is too dense. Root rot is another big killer of houseplants, so good drainage help. And yes: terra cotta pots also help. Because the clay is porous, the soil dries more quickly and has the chance to “breathe” compared to plastic ones. A slight edge, but an edge nonetheless, and it adds up.
Remember these care routines: plants are living things, not still objects. They adapt to the conditions around them. And those conditions changes with the season. Many succulent species “wake up” in the spring and summer, which means giving them a little more water (and perhaps adding some weak fertilizer). As the days grow shorter in fall and winter, however, most succulents go dormant. They do not grow anymore, which also means they needs much less water. In fact, it’s important to keep them dry while they are dormant. A dormant plant is damaged if overwatered. The chart says to provide winter care by keeping the plant bright, cool and mostly dry. Oddly, this includes withholding water. Mimicking their dry-season lives in nature is key.
The other one? Mist. Yes, succulent plants don’t like humid conditions. Their leaves are meant to hold water, not pick up moisture from atmosphere. Besides, misting is an invitation to rot and fungus. Water deeply, but less often. Instead of sticking to a calendar schedule, wait for the soil to dry out completely before watering. When you do water, be sure to soak through the pot so water trickles from the drainage hole. That’s how the plant signals: ‘I’m thirsty!’ Wait until the soil feels dry between waterings, this will promote good root development as well. Don’t leave the soil constantly wet with moisture. I know this sounds counter-intuitive. But the visual guide reminds us that succulents want to grow in the wild, where air circulation occur. They don’t like being cooped up in a closed container like a terrarium or a sealed glass bowl.
So in short, succulent care is all about not doing too much. Succulents reward neglect more than attention. Here’s what you need to know: Water sparingly, give them some grit in their diet, expose them to plenty of light. Keep reading: Start with the basics: give them bright light, good drainage (gritty soil), and do not water them daily. Feel the soil first, every time. Give them a half turn. Rotate the pot regularly. Adapt based off season. Follow this basic formula and your succulents will thank you. And you’ll be amazed how little maintenance they really require. In fact, they prefer being ignored…they reward you for neglecting them! Take a deep breath, stand back and let them be. The fat and happy foliage you desire waits on the other end of your patience. A neglected plant is oftentimes a healthy plant, and dry soil are happy soil.