Recently, I’ve received several inquiries from folks wondering how much room should exist between the succulents in their arrangement. The reply is, “It depends.” Succulents are perfectly capable of being planted quite near to one another.
Succulents grow more slowly when planted closely together, helping the arrangement to better maintain its original layout. When they are close together, watering them can be more difficult. But this is a really fantastic approach to plant your succulents, particularly if you’re creating the arrangement as a present or for an event.
A nice illustration of succulents that are firmly packed together is this clam shell planter at Waterwise Botanicals.
Succulents are generally slow growers, but if you give them a bit extra room to spread out, they’ll grow a little faster and eventually fill the space. If you want your plants to grow larger or reproduce more readily on their own, this is a fantastic alternative. I suggest using this slightly dispersed strategy if you are just getting started with succulents.
It is simpler to water the succulents correctly when there is room between the plants. The soil will dry up more quickly due to the improved air flow. We are aware that succulents thrive in rapidly draining soil!
Remember that you don’t want the succulents to be too close together or in a pot that is much bigger than they are.
Succulents will prioritize generating roots over growing larger if they are given too much room. A good distance between plants, in my opinion, is between 1/2 and 1.
Are succulents rooted deeply?
Strong roots support the plant’s position and shield it from adverse environmental factors. Additionally, they preserve it within the soil. In addition, roots supply succulents with vital minerals and water. Your plants are more likely to perish quickly if their roots are unhealthy.
Succulents have shallow roots, therefore placing them in a deep plant container will stop them from expanding. Additionally, every time you water them, the water will collect at the bottom, causing the roots to rot from an excess of moisture. To avoid water collecting at the bottom and to maintain the health of your succulents, keep them in a shallow pot.
How deeply should succulents be planted?
You can add additives to up to three-fourths of your succulent plant soil. Pumice has been used alone in some tests with successful outcomes, however this is in the Philippines, where regular watering is required. Those of us who live in less ideal climates might need to try new things.
Along with coconut coir, pumice, perlite, and Turface, coarse sand is frequently employed (a volcanic product sold as a soil conditioner). For this project, use Turface, and purchase the medium-sized stones. For outdoor succulent beds, expanded shale is used to improve the soil.
Additionally, pumice is a component of the intriguing product Dry Stall Horse Bedding. Some people use this directly into the ground when making a bed for a succulent garden. This product should not be confused with another one named Stall Dry.
Although river rock is occasionally added to the soil, it is more frequently used as a top dressing or decorative element in your garden beds. As an amendment or mulch, horticultural grit or a variant is utilized, just as aquarium gravel.
Consider the layout and have a plan when setting up a succulent garden bed, but be flexible once you start planting. While some sources advise preparing the soil three inches (8 cm) deep, others advise doing so at least six to eight inches (15 to 20 cm) down. When adding outdoor succulent soil to your bed, the deeper, the better.
Create hills and slopes where you can plant various specimens. Elevated planting not only provides your garden bed a unique aspect, but it also elevates the roots of your cacti and succulents even more.
Do succulents require root space?
When should you repotted succulent plants, and how? Most succulents and cacti don’t require frequent repotting.
Even in pots and containers that appear to be too tiny for them or in containers that they have outgrown, they can flourish.
When they fall out of the pots and containers, some truly look fantastic. You must eventually repot your plants for a number of reasons.
The following are the top 5 reasons to repot your plants:
- when you recently bought the plant. Usually, when I purchase a new plant, I repot it. Succulent repotting is described here. Repotting new plants is a wonderful idea to put them in better pots and potting soil. Repotting fresh plants offers you the chance to closely examine the plants for issues like root rot or pests.
- should place the plant in a better potting mixture. Repotting is also a good opportunity to give the plants new potting soil. Periodically, your plants should be repotted to replace the old potting soil with new potting soil so they may acquire the nutrients they require to flourish.
- to allow for larger plants. Your succulents will eventually outgrow the container they are in. They may start to topple over or you may notice roots emerging from various places of the plant as they spill out of the container. This demonstrates that the plant needs more space to develop and grow.
- to encourage growth Repotting in a bigger container will encourage growth. Plants kept in small, confined spaces adjust by growing more slowly. Your plant will have more area to grow if you repotted it into a big pot. You may encourage the plants to grow larger more quickly by giving them more place to expand. Repotting plants can help them get off to a fresh start when their growth appears to be stunted.
- when vegetation becomes rooted-bound When plants outgrow the container they are in, they become root-bound. You can occasionally observe roots emerging from the holes when the plant’s root system becomes twisted. This is an excellent time to repot into a large container, however if you want to control growth, you can choose to cut the roots instead and use the same container.
I planted some of my overgrown plants in the following manner:
This is a “Green Pinwheel” Aeonium Decorum. This plant, which I acquired as a baby plant in a 2-inch pot, has reached this size. Why repot this plant when it appears so content and healthy, you might be asking yourself. I’ve got a few of them. Since I didn’t have any other space at the time, I threw this plant and two Portulacaria Afra (Elephant Bush) stem cuttings into this plastic container at random. They are both now mature and in good health. I intended to split the two and put them in more attractive pots.
The plant’s roots are seen sprouting out of it in all directions when you look closely, which is another reason I wanted to repot it. When I prune and divide this plant into multiple smaller plants and allow them spread out on their own, I believe the plant will flourish even better. I can multiply this plant more in this way.
Here’s how they appeared after being removed from the pot. Both plants have produced quite robust roots, as is evident.
I divided the plant into smaller plantlets with care, making sure to keep part of the roots.
I used a sizable terra-cotta pot and filled it with a combination of perlite and cactus soil.
I planted the cuttings in the pot and gave it a nice water after letting them dry for a day or two. After repotting, some individuals wait a few days before watering. I immediately watered it because I knew it had been quite dry and needed moisture.
Because they couldn’t all fit in this planter, I left some of the cuttings outside. Each one was potted into a smaller container, where it would naturally develop into a larger plant. After all, this entire plant evolved from a much smaller plant than these. I’m gifting these little ones to pals.
I divided and replanted these Portulacaria Afra (Elephant Bush) in several pots, some of which I intend to give away. I am giving these plants more room to thrive and produce additional baby plants by dividing them.
Some of the cuts ended up in this location. I divided them out into several pots and planters to distribute to friends. I gave this one to a friend who was interested in starting a succulent garden.
When the plants are not doing well, repotting is an excellent idea. Here are a few instances:
This overgrown gnome garden, which I planted more than a year ago, has also been pleading for my attention.
By removing or cutting certain unwanted plants, you can occasionally remodel an overgrown planter without disassembling the entire structure. To learn how I did that, please click on Revamp an Overgrown Garden. The planter up top, however, was not one of those instances. I needed to remove these plants from this old potting soil because they were not doing well for some reason.
Sedum Carnicolor, Anacampseros Rufescens (Sand Rose), and Portulacaria Afra are three of the succulent species present (Elephant Bush). The first two plants I indicated are the two that are not doing well and require attention. The Elephant Bush is doing great, as evidenced by the fact that its size has tripled. These elephant bushes are all over my property. I use this plant’s stem cuttings as fillers and stick them around, and they spread like wildfire. I also had Pachyphytum Oviferum (Moonstones), which I had previously transplanted into a different pot, in the same planter.
These Sedum Carnicolor plants were simply looking like they needed to be pruned and have since grown longer. Although some people might not object to the way the stems look, I elected to do so. Although they are somewhat brittle and drop leaves easily, the good news is that the leaves also root and spread readily. Observe how some of the leaves have already begun to grow on their own.
I removed the decaying and dead components. I gave the cuts a few days to dry out and callous over. Here’s what I’m getting at. Before putting the cut stem in soil, it must be entirely dry. I gently placed the stems in the soil after adding cactus soil and perlite to a pot. Due to their extreme dryness and dehydration, they currently appear quite droopy. I gave it a decent drink and left it to rest in a spot that was slightly shaded till the roots got stronger.
In the pot, these Anacampseros Rufescens (Sand Rose) didn’t seem so good either. I cut off any dead leaves or rotting roots and removed the majority of the old dirt. After a few days of drying and healing, I placed the cuttings into a container with perlite and cactus mix. They are so parched that I gave it a nice sip. The plants will need a few weeks to recover and begin growing stronger roots. To prevent burning the plant, I’ll keep it in a bright area out of direct sunlight for the time being.
With very strong roots, these Portulacaria Afra (Elephant Bush) have expanded significantly in the past year. Since I didn’t cut anything off, these could be planted straight away and don’t need to be dried before repotting.
Another neglected plant that requires care is this sad-looking Sedeveria ‘Jet Beads’ (Jet Beads Stonecrop).
Stem cuttings were collected from Sedeveria ‘Jet Beads’. Ever since cuttings were removed from it over a year ago, its growth has remained stifled.
Beautifully developing stem cuttings of Sedeveria ‘Jet Beads’. From this other plant, stem cuttings were taken. The two plants’ divergent growth patterns are easily seen. They are getting the same attention, sunlight, etc.
Believe it or not, they come from the same plant as the other Sedeveria “Jet Beads”! I transferred the stem cuttings I cut from this plant into this pot. The mother plant isn’t doing as well, but the cuttings are. This one truly baffles me since typically when I remove cuttings from a plant, the plant will bounce back and send out new growth from the location of the cuttings. But after the cutting, this one was unhappy and temporarily stopped growing. Similar amounts of sunlight and maintenance are given to both plants. Because of this, I’ve decided it’s time to care for the plant and perhaps restore its health.
I just clipped the stems off and allowed them to dry for a few days. The dried stems were then placed in a planter filled with perlite and cactus mix. In a few weeks, hopefully, the plant will have strong new growth and the stems will develop good roots. This plant’s leaves can readily root and spread. A young plant and some of the leaves were already developing roots. I simply buried them in the soil alongside the rest of the plant and let them to develop collectively.
I’m not sure if I should get rid of this stump. Wherever you cut the plant, other plants will frequently grow from the roots, which are still extremely healthy. I might decide to keep this and replant it to see what happens.
The stems were potted as shown below. I’m hoping the plant will start to grow once more.
Finally, I had these two additional plants that were flourishing and outgrowing their tiny pots. I can see they are outgrowing the pot since the plants are growing new roots and sprouting young plants. I wanted to give them space so they could expand and grow. The plants are Crassula perforata and Sedum Aurora, sometimes known as pink jelly beans or pork and beans (String of Buttons). Due to their color and beauty, I adore these two plants, and I would like to see more of them grow.
Due to their size growth and the narrow entrance in the pots, the plants were actually challenging to remove. Eventually, I was able to remove the plants with the least amount of harm. The leaves on these Sedum Auroras (Pink Jelly Beans) are delicate and readily come off when transplanted. It’s good to know that they may quickly root and spread. Normally, I simply place them back in the ground and wait for them to naturally take root.
Again, I combined perlite and cactus mix. Since I didn’t take any cuttings or introduce any plants with open wounds that needed time to heal, I immediately replanted these plants and they didn’t need to dry out. Because I believed they would look beautiful together and I found this really cute pot for them, I made the decision to group them together for the time being.
I just removed a few cuttings from the Pink Jelly Beans that were already sprouting in another pot since I wanted a few more. Take note of the color contrast between these two. Despite being the same plants, they are cultivated in different illumination. In this enormous fairy garden, the lighter one was flourishing and protected from the sun by other, taller plants. The other, more colorful plants were getting more sun. I gave the cuttings a day or two to dry. Because the stems are so thin, they dry up quite quickly. Along with the other plants, I inserted the dried stem cuttings. Here they are planted side by side.
You have it, then. I don’t repot my plants all that much and pretty much leave them alone. Prior to transferring them again, I like to find a container that they can grow into. Repotting your plants can occasionally benefit them and give them a chance to stretch out and grow more, as you can see from the example above.
Please click on “Choosing the Right Pot for Succulents” to read more about how to choose the best pot for succulents. Please visit my resource page for suggestions on the best pots and potting benches to buy.
About
You’ve come to the correct location if, like me, you enjoy succulents. This website is a repository for the succulent-growing knowledge I’ve accumulated over the years and am still learning. Although I am by no means an expert on succulents and cacti, this website was created as a result of years of hard work, love, and many mistakes and learning opportunities.