The popular plant in gardening is the succulent. Any decor magazine or Pinterest page will reveal that these various conversation starters are the most popular plants available. There are numerous types, and more are being developed every year. They also come in a rainbow of hues, including pink, purple, turquoise, green, and more! The popularity of succulents is understandable given their low maintenance requirements, ease of cultivation, and astounding variety and beauty. Succulents aren’t going anywhere.
Let your succulents see the sun!
The greatest succulents are those that are exposed to extended days of direct sunlight (6 hours or more of direct light). Succulents can grow in the shade, but their colors won’t be as vibrant. More sunlight is great!
Your succulent is probably not getting enough light and is “reaching for the sun” if it is growing lankily, has a long stem, and many spaces between its leaves. To meet the additional lighting needs of your succulents, you can utilize alternate artificial lights. View the grow lights we offer and suggest over here.
Summer
Watering succulents thoroughly, but infrequently, is your best bet. Between waterings, succulents prefer to dry out and detest having their roots constantly wet. Whether the plants are indoor or outdoor, this is the guideline. Avoid using ineffective misting that could promote bad bacteria. Always give your succulents a nice, long drink by deeply watering and thoroughly moistening the soil.
Winter
Your succulents will hibernate during the winter months of December and January and will hardly ever exhibit any indications of development. Here is where overwatering can really hurt your plants and is also where the majority of losses can happen. Before you water, make sure the soil has very little moisture. When the days start to become longer, around the middle or end of February, you will notice that your plants are once again actively developing, which is your cue to begin watering more frequently.
Year round tips
Watering any plant should generally be done in the morning so that it has time to absorb the moisture before the heat of the day sets in. Use a tiny instrument to break up the soil’s surface if it seems as though water is being repelled by the soil due to the concentration of stones or silt. If the leaves on your plant begin to shrivel, you are not watering frequently or thoroughly enough. Although you might have to pluck a few leaves, you won’t completely lose the plant.
Keep succulents warm in the winter
The majority of these sun-loving plants cannot withstand temperatures below 4 degrees Celsius. When deciding when to set up or plant your non-hardy succulents outside, always consider the overnight temperatures as a reference. Maintaining a stable nighttime temperature of 10 degrees Celsius can help prevent the plants from becoming overly stressed or freezing over night.
Watch the evening temps in the late summer and early fall to determine when to bring the succulents indoors to rest for the winter. Once nighttime temperatures average 5 degrees, bring them inside. Just don’t leave them outside when it’s freezing.
Give succulents the right home!
To prevent your succulent roots from being persistently damp, use a soil mixture that has good drainage. You may buy specialized cactus and succulent potting soil that contains the right combination of nutrients to support the growth of your plants. (Hand over a bag.)
If you’re making your own, we advise using a blend of 40% peat, 20% coir, 20% perlite, and 20% coarse washed sand.
Topdress the exposed soil with small stones, sand, wood, and other organic accents to give it a natural appearance. This helps to prevent water evaporation after irrigation as well as the soil from blowing away or shifting.
Select pots with sufficient drainage, or just water the plants when the soil is dry. Succulents do nicely in shallow clay or concrete bowls, as well as in regular pots with holes in the bottom. However, because they grow slowly, succulents also do well in little glass terrariums! Check out our helpful video guide here if you’re planting in pots without drainage.
Easy on the fertilizer
We like to keep this straightforward. During the growing seasons of June through August, you can either use specialized cactus and succulent fertilizer variations or give your succulents conventional indoor plant fertilizer in their weekly waterings. During the lean months of December through mid-February, avoid using fertilizer. They can stay hydrated and content with just clean tap water.
Are succulents able to survive 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.
How are succulents in outdoor pots cared for?
Although succulent plants can endure dry spells, they need constant watering during the growing season. Water deeply once the soil has dried to about two inches (5 cm) below the surface, then wait a few days before watering again.
Rot is the most frequent issue with succulents. This can be avoided by keeping the stems out of the soil and allowing drying times in between irrigations. Additionally, irrigate the plant from the base to keep the leaves dry.
Keep an eye out for bug problems and use water and horticultural soap spray to eliminate them.
During the maintenance of succulent garden plants, cut off dead stems and offsets. It is simple to start an offset as a brand-new plant. Offsets should be planted in a fresh part of the garden after being cared for in a well-drained potting mix until the roots are substantial and strong.
Season
During the spring and summer, when succulents are actively growing, you’ll need to water them much more frequently. They rapidly extract water from the earth as they grow new stems, leaves, roots, and blossoms. Depending on the weather, such as the light and temperature, you might water them three times every week. Succulent plants go dormant in the winter. You won’t need to water them very much throughout the season because their growth has stopped. Giving a succulent too much water in the winter is one of the simplest ways to destroy it, so avoid using your watering can from November to March. Allow your succulent to rest peacefully in the desert.
Container Size
Because larger containers contain more soil, which retains moisture longer, they require less frequent watering. Small, shallow containers will require more regular watering because the soil dries out more quickly.
What can you do with succulents outside?
Various pots are ideal for succulent growth. If the water level is carefully controlled, those who live entirely indoors can occupy nearly any form of receptacle, from teapots to terrariums. But in the open air, strong rains can soak succulents. Use of containers with drainage holes is essential because to this. The best containers are made of terra cotta because they naturally wick moisture from the soil. In order to ensure the best drainage, succulents should be potted in a light succulent soil mixture.
Succulents in pots that are kept outside won’t require nearly as much watering as those planted in the ground. However, check in with your plants if the weather is extremely hot or dry. The leaves seem shriveled. Does the ground seem to be dusty? If so, a drink is probably in order. While it’s true that most succulents benefit from lots of sunshine, others thrive in shadow or partial exposure. Make sure the succulents in your planter need a similar amount of light, then place them where they will thrive in your yard.
Are succulents sun or shade lovers?
1. Ensure that your succulents receive adequate light. 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 you place succulents in the sun directly?
Succulents generally require at least 4-6 hours of sunshine each day to thrive. They enjoy being in places that are sunny and bright. Lack of sunshine will cause difficulties in succulents such elongation or etiolation, when the plants extend for more light. Weak stems and low growth are the results of this procedure. Lack of light causes succulents to lose their bright coloring and turn pale or back to a drab green tone. Plants that receive enough sunshine will display their whole spectrum of brilliant hues, showing their genuine beauty.
Must I remove the dead leaves from my succulents?
One of the most enjoyable aspects of growing succulents, in our opinion, is getting to remove all the dried leaves from the area around your plant’s base. Most individuals find it to be quite calming and enjoyable since it is so enjoyable and genuinely healing.
Aside from that interesting fact, you should remove any dried leaves and blossoms for the sake of your plant’s health. You can maintain the happiness and health of your plants by carrying out this easy chore.
New growth, New plants, New Blooms
Energy can be recycled back into the plant by removing any spent, dried-up bloom stalks and dry leaves from your succulents. Your plant will be able to produce new growth, blooms, and occasionally new rosettes or pups if you do this. And who doesn’t desire succulents that are bigger and more numerous?
To remove, gently lift the plant’s healthy leaves, and then pull any dried-out leaves from beneath. They ought to be rather simple to remove. If they don’t, you can either leave them to dry out more or, if they are past their prime and unsightly, try to snap them off completely.
Good Air Flow
Humidity, wetness, and/or succulents make for a dangerous and occasionally lethal mix. You may provide your plants sufficient air circulation and make it easier for the soil to dry out by removing these dried leaves from beneath your plants. Removing these dried leaves will assist avoid the growth of rot, mildew, and/or illnesses, especially in humid or very rainy weather. Additionally, air circulation around the plant’s base is made possible by this procedure.
Less Pests
Succulents are susceptible to a wide range of pest attacks, just like most other plants. Getting rid of the dead leaves beneath your plant can also help deter pests. Little insects adore wet areas where they may hide and reproduce. A succulent’s compressed lower leaves are likely to retain moisture around the plant’s base, which will attract pests. Your plant has a higher chance of repelling these pests if you remove these leaves.
Another alluring nesting habitat for bugs, specifically aphids, can be bloom stalks. If you see that your blooms are starting to develop this bug problem, you can either completely remove the bloom stalk or treat the bloom with a mix of diluted rubbing alcohol and water. These bugs frequently spread disease to surrounding plants and flowers if the situation is left untreated. In order to remove bloom stalks from your plant, either gently wriggle the stalk back and forth or, if it hasn’t dried up yet, snap or cut it low.
Do we have any ASMR fans out there??
We made this little movie to demonstrate how to take these leaves off your plants, but since we adore succulents, it also serves as our take on ASMR. Am I correct?
(According to The Urban Dictionary, ASMR’s sole function is to help people unwind. The goal of ASMR videos is to relax the viewer by sending a tingling sensation down their spine or back.
Which is best for succulents, inside or out?
Succulents, however, are hardy plants that may thrive in a variety of conditions, including neglect, little access to water, fast-draining soil, and a steady source of sunshine.
It’s excellent if you live somewhere where the weather is just right for them to thrive outside.
But if you don’t, you’ll need to make some alterations and adjustments.
These bizarre plants have evolved to survive in the worst conditions, including the wettest climates, little to no soil, and the steepest slopes.
A variety of surprises, including vibrant edges, tips, or complete shifts in foliage color, can be found in the sunlight or the chilly outdoors.
When succulents are grown outside, the weather will determine and set off when the plants are dormant or active, depending on the species. On the other hand, when it warms up, that can cause new births, color changes, or blooming.
What time of day is ideal for watering succulent plants?
Because they are exposed to different environments outside, outdoor succulents require slightly different watering requirements than inside plants. Generally speaking, plants need to be watered every seven to ten days during the active growing season. Sense the moisture in the soil. Before watering, the top inch of the soil ought to be touchably dry. Thoroughly water the plants until some of the extra water begins to seep out of the holes. Excess water might not always drain out of the pot depending on the type of container and soil you are using. It ought to be enough as long as you watered deeply.
Water less frequently and more sparingly, typically every three to four weeks, during the dormant season. Although not absolutely bone-dry, the plant must feel dry to the touch. Keep an eye on your plants to observe if they begin to exhibit indicators that they require watering. It’s time to water your plants when their leaves begin to shrink and feel flat to the touch rather than full.
The ideal time to water is in the morning, especially for outside plants. As a result, the plant can dry out during the hot summer months. By watering early in the day, you can ensure that the water reaches the roots of your plants and that they are well hydrated for the afternoon heat. By allowing the plants to dry up before the stronger afternoon sun strikes them, watering in the morning also helps to prevent sunburn on the leaves of your plants.