Depending on the type, succulents need six hours of sunlight each day because they are light-loving plants. You might need to gradually expose newly planted succulents to full sun exposure or give shade with a translucent screen because they can burn in direct sunshine.
Can succulents endure direct sunlight?
Due to their drought tolerance and water-storing properties, which enable them to tolerate high heat and very harsh sun exposure, succulents have become well-known. This is true for the majority of succulent plants, however some cannot survive direct sunlight without protection, and if exposed to excessive heat, they may suffer sun damage.  
The best 10 succulents and cacti that will thrive in full sun are listed below. Some of these plants can withstand full sun exposure better than others.
 
What succulents can withstand direct sunlight?
Greetings from the Succulent Series. We’ll show you which succulents grow best in full sun, partly shade, and full shade in a special three-week series. This week, we examine the resilient yet attractive species that can thrive in direct sunlight.
Join us for a very hands-on tour of succulents that grow in full sunlight. We demonstrate which succulents will flourish and how to arrange them in a large pot or in your garden so that they look attractive.
Decide where you want to plant your succulents in step one. Although any area in your garden that receives lots of sunlight would work, we chose a sizable wooden planter.
Step two: Depending on the size of your area, choose some boulders. The succulents are wonderfully anchored by them, and they also add height, texture, and aesthetic appeal. One was all we had in our exhibit.
Choose your succulents in the third step. We mixed a variety of
- Cotyledons,
- Graptopetalum
- Pachyphytum
- Copperstone Sedum
- The Lampranthus-Vygies
- tiny aloes
- A. P. Parry
- Agave Echeveria
- Plant known as the panda, Kalanchoe
Step four is to cover the space with soil. To get an excellent aerated soil for your succulents, supplement with high-quality cactus and succulent mix.
Five: Set your boulders in place. It makes sense to utilize stones that are pretty large in a larger garden bed, but the size you choose is entirely up to you. Cover the base of the rock with earth to make it appear as though it has always been there rather than brand new.
Sixth, surround the stones with your chosen plants to form eye-catching plant clusters. Keep in mind to use plants of various hues, heights, textures, and sizes to add aesthetic appeal.
Considering each plant’s growth is important. Some plants will expand in height (cotyledons), width (echeveria agavoides, aloes), and length (long stalks), all of which require pruning (graptopetalum, sedum, pachyphytum).
Step 7: Add gravel or stones to the area to give it a finished appearance. It is both useful and aesthetic because a thick coating of gravel stifles weed growth as well.
Care tips
Give everything a little watering to help the chosen succulents establish after you have planted them and done with the pebbles. Like all succulents, they don’t require a lot of water.
The bottom outer leaves of some succulents, like Echeverias, may wither and die. If this occurs, gently take them out. The plant is content as long as its inner leaves are developing normally.
There are other choices…
Be aware that other succulents will also thrive in hot, sunny locations besides the ones mentioned above. These will work nicely, too:
- the kalanchoe luciae
- many cotyledons
- sempervivums
- variations of senecium
- jade plant, crassula ovata
- campfire with crassula
- hybrid gibbifloras of Echeveria (most succulents with tender soft fleshy leaves are NOT sun-hardy, but the Agavoides and Gibbifloras are)
- most aloes
- burnt euphorbia sticks (needs a large area to grow, as they grow tall)
- Eugenia milii
- Theo Zwartkop
- many agaves (not Attenuata)
- various sedums
- Graptoveria (especially Fred Ives)
What’s the key?
Having fun is the key. Everybody has a distinct approach to gardening; some choose to use only rocks and very few plants. Succulents have the advantage of being incredibly tolerant; they tolerate neglect and eventually develop into stunning, low-maintenance settings.
Do succulents prefer intense sunlight?
On the east side of my home, where my succulent collection is located, it receives direct sunlight from dawn till around 1:00 in the afternoon. There is a lot of sunlight here!
I’ve discovered that in order to keep the roots cold and the foliage lush, I need to water my plants every other day when the temperature is above 90.
The succulent leaves still get heated despite this constant watering, and I’ve had some, but rather severely. It can be unpleasant when the bright light and hot temperatures combine.
Most succulents will tolerate full sun for the majority of the day if you progressively expose them to it (raising an hour or so every few days).
To shield them from the direct sun, I recently put some shade fabric. Even though it’s still well above 90 degrees outside, the space around the succulents is significantly cooler thanks to the shade cloth.
Additionally, without direct sunlight, the plants’ leaves don’t get as hot and are less prone to burn or exhibit signs of excessive heat.
Haworthias, for example, prefer bright indirect sunlight all day long. On the other hand, the majority of cacti can withstand full sun during the day without any shade. This is why it’s crucial to be aware of the varieties of succulents you own.
The phenomenon known as “blushing,” which occurs when some succulents are exposed to bright sunshine, causes the leaves to occasionally turn a deep red, as with this Aloe ‘Crosby’s Prolific’.
Simply placing your succulents in a location that receives bright shade for the majority of the day is an excellent alternative. They should ideally be in a spot that receives a few hours of early sun but is otherwise shaded for the majority of the day.
Direct sunlight during this time can be an issue because afternoon temperatures are typically higher. On the other hand, morning sun is cooler and less prone to result in sunburn.
For many succulents, extreme heat can be exceedingly difficult. Succulents are often thought of as desert plants, however not all of them thrive in a very hot desert environment.
For more advice on how to keep succulents looking fantastic during a heat wave, see the video below:
How frequently ought one to water succulents?
During the months that are not winter, when the temperature is above 40 degrees, you should water your succulents every other week. You should only water your succulent once a month in the winter (when the temperature falls below 40 degrees), as it goes dormant at this period.
A few situations constitute an exception to this rule. Because their tiny leaves can’t hold as much water as other varieties with larger leaves, some varieties of succulents need to be watered more frequently. In the non-winter months, feel free to give these small leaf succulents a water if they appear to be thirsty. When they are thirsty, succulents generally exhibit a wrinkled appearance. But always keep in mind that being underwater is preferable to being overwater.
Do succulents survive the summer outdoors?
Since there is more sunshine outside during the summer, your succulents can get burned by excessive heat or sunlight. Furthermore, it is undeniable that succulents grown outside are frequently more frugal than those grown indoors. Outdoors, of course, there is more sunlight and greater ventilation, which provides the perfect environment for these plants to develop.
Your succulents should be moved to a completely covered area, then slowly moved into a location with more light. While larger succulents with sturdy roots may endure prolonged sun exposure, it is best to keep newly planted greens in a shaded area for longer. Keep young succulents in the sun for a few hours every week.
Additionally, they thrive best in the morning sun, particularly on hot days. Bring all of your indoor succulents outside for the season, but keep an eye out for any color changes or bleaching that could indicate sunburn.
Reposition them back to a shaded area if you notice any of these symptoms. Move your plants to a more sunny location where they will receive enough sunlight if you see that they are stretching out toward the sun.
Can succulents burn in the sun?
Now that summer is in full swing, your succulent plant’s health is really in danger from sunburn.
Succulents, which are renowned for their love of sunlight and minimal water, can get sunburnt much like people do. As our skin’s natural defenses work to shield itself from the harmful UV solar rays, tanning takes time.
Your skin turns red as a result of your skin’s reaction to being overburdened. With succulents, the situation is much the same. If your succulents exhibit yellowish or brown discolouration, they have been sunburned.
Do succulents require daily watering?
Only water succulents when the soil has totally dried up. There isn’t a standard watering schedule that applies to all succulents in all environments.
Many indoor succulent growers discover that watering their plants every 14 to 21 days keeps them healthy. Use this timeline as a guide and make adjustments if necessary.
The earliest symptoms of underwatering on the leaves are the greatest time to water your succulents. To see what that looks like, have a look at the cheat sheet above.
The best course of action is to wait for a signal from your succulent before watering because most succulents are particularly susceptible to rot with regular watering.
And keep in mind how crucial it is to monitor your watering routine. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve assumed that I haven’t watered in a while, just to discover that it was only a few days ago thanks to my notes in the Succulent Tracker app (Apple | Android).
In this video, learn about a several factors that could influence how frequently you water your succulents:
Should I grow succulents indoors or outdoors?
Where you reside and the climate there can have a big impact. Keep in mind that succulents prefer dry, hot, and arid locations; they do not require a lot of moisture and probably won’t flourish as well there. The brevity of the response is, however, both. They can be cultivated both inside and outside.
How should I arrange succulents?
Succulents thrive in hot, arid conditions and don’t mind a little neglect due to their unique capacity to store water. They are therefore ideally suited to growing indoors and are the perfect choice for anyone looking for low-maintenance houseplants. Follow these instructions for successful plant care if you’re choosing succulents for the first time.
Select a succulent that will thrive in your indoor environment.
The majority of succulents need direct sunshine, however if your home only has a shady area, choose low light-tolerant plants like mother-in-tongue. law’s A trailing variety, like string of bananas, is an excellent option if you intend to grow your succulent in a hanging planter. To learn about your succulents’ requirements for sunlight, size, and spread, always read the plant labels.
Give the plants a good draining potting material.
You should repot your succulent as soon as you get it home since nurseries always plant their succulents in soil that is overly rich and holds too much moisture. A coarse potting mix with sufficient drainage and aeration is a good place to start. You can use an African violet mix or unique cactus and succulent mixtures that you can purchase at the nursery. Add perlite or pumice to the cactus or African violet mix (up to 50% of the total potting mix, depending on your particular succulent’s moisture requirements) to further increase drainage and prevent compaction. To make sure the mixture is moist throughout, always moisten it before using.
Decide on a container.
When repotting, use a container that is at least 1 to 2 inches bigger than the nursery container and has a drainage hole. Avoid using glass containers (such mason jars or terrariums) for long-term potting since they prevent roots from breathing and over time may result in root rot. Place your plant inside the container and backfill with extra pre-moistened potting mix after filling the bottom one-third of the container with pre-moistened potting mix.
Put the succulent plant in a pot somewhere sunny.
Try to arrange your succulents close to a south or east-facing window because most succulents need at least six hours of sun each day. Insufficient sunlight may cause your succulents to become spindly or to extend toward the light.
Between waterings, allow the potting mix to dry out.
Overwatering succulents is the most common error people make with them. Watering more deeply but less frequently is preferable. Before the next watering, completely saturate the potting mix (while making sure the water drains out of the drainage hole properly). The plant can finally perish if the potting soil is left moist every day.
Succulents should be fertilized at least once a year.
Fertilizer works best for plants in the spring (when the days lengthen and new growth starts) and again in the late summer. Use a water-soluble, balanced fertilizer (such as 8-8-8 or 10-10-10) that has been diluted to half the strength indicated on the container. Since succulents are semi-dormant in the winter, there is no need to nourish them. Because they are not actively growing, they do not require the nutrient boost.
Can you grow succulents outside?
Succulents are drought-tolerant plants because they can retain water in their large, irregularly shaped leaves. Succulents have a broad variety of eye-catching shapes and textures, which provide any landscape aesthetic interest. Can succulents live outside? is an often asked question. The quick response is “yes”! Growing succulents outdoors is an excellent alternative because they do well there and can withstand some neglect. They also do well in sunny areas with warm, dry weather.
Succulents can be grown in the ground, in pots, or hidden in unexpected planting locations. Take the uncertainty out of caring for these wonderful conversation pieces with stunning foliage by reading our suggestions for growing succulents outside.
Do:
- Water flowing downward till it exits the pot’s drainage hole from above: Succulents respond well to this kind of watering, which is the norm for most houseplants. Run a moderate, constant trickle of room-temperature water over the top layer of the soil in your succulent plant using a watering can or cup that has been filled. Your indication to quit is when water begins to flow from the pot’s drainage hole. Give the plant 15 minutes to absorb the last of the moisture. After that, empty any remaining liquid from the tray into the sink.
- If your succulent’s soil is tightly packed and not appearing to be uniformly absorbing your top watering, you can try the bottom-watering method. The horticulture and owner of the Planthood store in Amsterdam, Monai Nailah McCullough, says that watering succulents from the top can occasionally cause damage to the roots. Watering it from the bottom allows it to slowly and effectively consume enough water. Put your succulent(s) in a shallow dish, plastic container, or tray that is 2 to 3 inches deep with water to bottom water them. Allow them to soak in the water for five to fifteen minutes, or until the top of the soil feels just damp to the touch. Refill as necessary.
We have no control over the accessibility features of the third-party content used to display this advertisement.
Don’t:
- Mist its leaves: Succulents are not among the plant species that benefit from a good misting, although some do. Mirroring a plant’s natural surroundings is essential to ensuring its happiness in captivity. Additionally, because they are native to dry regions with low humidity, succulents are unaccustomed to having wet leaves. Thompson notes that “the water can get trapped and develop fungal concerns.” There is basically no point since they aren’t used to being sprayed.
- Put it in a container with no drainage opening: Drainage holes act as a pathway for water that your plant is unable to absorb. Succulents definitely need it because they are so sensitive to overwatering.
- Use ice cubes: Some plant owners use ice cubes to give their plants a more gentle and controlled soak because they disseminate a tiny amount of water very slowly. Again, though, if the goal is to simulate the succulent’s natural desert habitat, giving them something very cold makes little sense and might even startle them.
- Water it less frequently, but more often: You should give your succulent a deep soak rather than a light misting every few days.