To plant succulents successfully, remove as much soil as you can from the nursery pot and get rid of it. Succulents are almost always planted in overly dense, water-retentive soil at nurseries. The better the roots of your succulent will be, the more of this nursery dirt you can get rid of.
It’s possible that you won’t be able to completely remove the soil without endangering the roots, and that’s great. Simply remove what you can while being gentle with your succulent.
I normally advise against washing off the roots of your succulents because it may be harmful to them and result in issues in the future. In the video below below, I go over this in greater detail:
You should try to keep the roots whole if you’re planting your succulent all by itself, like I am here. On the other hand, you might want to break off some of the roots if you’re assembling an arrangement with numerous succulents.
Nothing major will result from removing a few roots.
In either case, your succulent will thrive. And now is a good time to get rid of the babies if you’re fortunate enough to have any linked to your primary plant.
Size
Choose a pot that is just big enough for the plant to grow in, but not too big. The circumference of the appropriate pot is 5–10% greater than the size of the plant. Choose pots with a maximum excess space around the sides of an inch or two. The delicate roots will spread if the pot is too big before the plant has a chance to develop. There won’t be any room for the roots to spread in a pot that is too tiny.
Style
The ideal pot should not only complement your style and decor but also the physical properties of the plant. Tall pots look excellent with upright-growing succulents, like aloe. Low-growing cultivars, like Echeveria, look fantastic in little pots. Not to mention spillers with trailing growth tendencies like String of Pearls. Spillers in shallow pots or hanging plants look fantastic and grow well.
Material
There are many different types of materials for pots. The most prevalent materials are wood, terracotta, metal, ceramic, and resin. Terracotta or ceramic pots work best for succulent plants. Both of these materials allow for proper air and water circulation because they are both breathable. Just keep in mind that both ceramic and terracotta are weighty, especially after adding soil and plants.
Pick resin or plastic pots for larger plants, especially ones you plan to move around. Your back will thank you for using those lighter pots as you move or reposition plants.
Drainage
Before you plant and cultivate succulents, the most important thing to understand is that they don’t like a lot of water. Even before you develop a watering schedule, this is relevant. Without adequate drainage, water that accumulates at the bottom of a container without anywhere to go may cause root rot in your succulent.
The ideal pots for succulents, regardless of design, are planters with drainage holes in the bottom. Since many succulent planters lack drainage holes, you can use any of them as long as you keep in mind to water succulents sparingly and keep an eye on them frequently.
Can you use ordinary dirt to pot succulents?
I’ll address some of the most prevalent queries concerning succulent soil in this section. Ask your question in the comments section below if you can’t find it here.
Can you use regular potting soil for succulents?
For succulents, you could probably use ordinary potting soil. It might work quite well, especially if you frequently forget to water your plants or if they are small. However, make sure the soil thoroughly dries out in between waterings to prevent them from rotting.
What happens if you plant succulents in regular potting soil?
Succulents planted in normal potting soil run the danger of being overwatered. Your succulents may quickly decay if the soil absorbs too much moisture.
What is the difference between potting soil and succulent soil?
The components and consistency of succulent soil and regular potting soil are different. Succulent dirt is permeable and created to drain very rapidly, unlike regular potting soil, which is composed of organic ingredients that hold onto moisture.
Making my own potting soil helps me save a ton of money, plus my succulents thrive in it. Your succulents will flourish now that you are aware of the ideal soil to use and have my formula for creating your own.
Can any pot be used to grow succulents?
I’ve been preparing my gardening equipment in preparation for spring. Now is the perfect time to create your first succulent container garden, if you’ve been thinking about it. Here, I’ll show you how to start your very own succulent container garden and provide you lots of other helpful potting advice.
It doesn’t take much planning to grow a succulent container garden, but you should take the following factors into account before you start planting:
Either utilize a single succulent plant or group a number of different plants together. Everything is dependent upon your goals. Your choice of pot should be based on the size of the plant or plants you are utilizing, and vice versa.
Does the pot’s size matter? Yes. Succulents don’t need particularly deep pots or a lot of soil to flourish because their roots are shallow. Succulents actually favor a somewhat shallow pot or just enough dirt to help the roots and the plant to spread out.
You want the size of the pot to match the size of the plant(s) you are using, whether you choose the plant first and the vessel second or choose the pot first and the plants to go in the pot later. The container shouldn’t be too big for the plant, but it should still allow for some growth.
The pot should have a diameter that is 1 to 2 inches larger than the nursery container the plant is currently in.
The decision of what kind of pot to use is largely subjective. Each of them has advantages and disadvantages. Here is a piece I published about selecting the ideal pot that you might find useful: “Choosing The Best Succulent Pot: Advantages and Disadvantages.
Your own preferences will determine a lot of the plant varieties you employ, as well as the color schemes, color combinations, forms, and sizes. Combining succulent plants actually has no right or wrong technique. When placing multiple plants in a single container, I just consider their growing requirements.
Plants with comparable growing requirements should be combined in one container as much as feasible. If a plant’s growing requirements are unknown to you and the label does not include basic instructions, you can easily research the requirements online.
The plant’s fundamental requirements for growth include:
Put plants that require the same amount of light together. Put plants with similar lighting requirements in the same container, whether you’re putting them indoors or out. Plants that require the sun together, those that require partial shade together, those that require low light together, etc. This will make it simpler to locate the ideal location for your container plants and to move them around as necessary to meet their lighting requirements.
Fortunately, the most of succulents have very comparable watering requirements, so I don’t stress too much about watering requirements when combining plants. However, you should be aware that different succulent plants require extremely varied amounts of water, therefore it is advisable to place them in different containers. For example, Lithops (Living Stones) have extremely different watering requirements from other succulents and won’t grow well if planted next to them or irrigated at the same time.
Learn about the hardiness zones of the plants and the ideal setting for that specific plant. Avoid combining plants that are cold-hardy with those that are not, or tropical cacti with desert cacti. It will be simpler for you to care for the plants in different seasons if you group plants with similar growing requirements together.
Finding these three items may seem like a lot of work, but most of the time, a fast internet search is all that is required to learn about a specific plant. Or, if you buy the plants from a garden center, they typically have a tag or label that describes their fundamental growing requirements. Additionally, you can enquire in the garden center about the requirements for the plant’s growth.
Do succulents require a hole in their plant pots?
It is feasible to utilize a container without drainage holes, but it shouldn’t be kept in a location where it could get wet or drown. In these kinds of containers, watering needs to be regularly managed as well. Because succulents’ roots are shallow, a shallow bowl or pot is ideal. 2.
What depth ought my succulent pot to have?
Succulents should be planted in pots that are about 10% broader than the plants themselves. Choose the shallow pot whenever the choice is between a deep or shallow pot. The pot’s depth should be 10% greater than the plant’s depth.
Let’s clarify using instances from real life:
- Grab a 2.5 (the best option) to 4 inch pot (the exact maximum size) for optimal outcomes if you have a 2 inch succulent.
- Grab a 4.5 (the best option) to 6 inch pot (the exact maximum size) for optimal results if you have a 4 inch succulent.
Do succulents require sunlight?
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.
How frequently do succulents need to be watered?
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.
Before repotting succulents, should you water them?
Repotting a succulent is necessary if its roots are cramming the container or if it needs to grow larger for any other reason.
Early spring or early fall, just before their growing season begins, are the ideal times of year for repotting succulents.
Since they can only remain in a pot for two years before beginning to exhibit signs of potted fatigue, which can eventually result in root rot and other issues, repotting should always be done at least every two years.
Before being repotted, succulents need to be watered for a few days to allow them to dry out.
This is due to the fact that when you water them, they do absorb moisture, and that should give your succulents’ roots enough time to absorb all possible moisture before being replanted.
Additionally, it is important to do this to give them time to become used to their new pot and soil, which is a little bit drier than their previous environment.
Your succulents must dry out for a few days before you may clear the old soil from the roots with water while repotting them.
Do pots need holes for drainage?
Plant roots don’t prefer to stay in water, with the exception of a few aquatic species. They must exchange carbon dioxide and oxygen with the surrounding air, because too much water seals up the soil’s air spaces. Without drainage holes, plants in containers are more likely to become overwatered. The soil at the bottom of the pot may be drenched with water even if the soil surface appears to be dry.
Root rot, a dangerous ailment that can quickly kill your plants, can result from waterlogged soil. Yellow leaves, wilted leaves that don’t recover after watering, and leaf drop are symptoms of root rot. The roots of the plant may be sticky, mushy, or black or brown if you take it out of the container.
To avoid salt buildup in the potting soil, it’s also important to make sure that pots have enough holes. Salts in fertilizers and tap water can damage plants. Some of the salts are excreted by plant roots along with the water, and over time, these salts build up in the soil. Salts are flushed out of the soil when you water deeply and allow the water to escape through the drainage holes in the bottom of the container.
Without drainage holes, salts are never eliminated from the soil; instead, they just keep accumulating, giving your plants an unhealthy environment. If salts do accumulate in your potting soil, you might notice that the plant’s leaves are becoming brown at the tips and margins or that a salt crust has formed on top of the dirt.
To prevent dripping on the furniture or floor, many homeowners store their indoor plants in saucers while they are not in use. This is acceptable, but watch out for water that may collect in the saucer and wick back into the potting soil. Make careful to frequently empty the water from each saucer. Another option is to water your plants in the kitchen sink, move them back to the saucers once they drain, and then do it again.
How To Grow Succulents | Succulent Plant Care Info
Sempervivum, Jovibaraba, and Sedum are winter-hardy plants that can grow in zones 3–9.
Light:
The majority of succulent species require from half a day to a full day of direct sunlight. It is advised to find some afternoon shade in particularly hot places. Succulents planted in excessive shadow will extend outward in search of more sunlight. Enough sunlight will help succulents grow into gorgeous, vibrant plants.
Planting:
Plants should be gently removed from their containers and planted, making that the soil level is maintained at the same depth as it was in the container.
Keep in mind that most of our plants came straight from the cold frames where they were shielded from the harsh sun and drying winds. For the first week, give your plants and garden décor some shade and cover to gradually adapt them. Every few days, extend the length of the day by a few hours. This will make it possible for a smooth transition.
A layer of pebbles or pea gravel sprinkled on the soil surrounding the plant will be beneficial to your succulents. Additionally, it is highly ornamental.
Soil:
Succulents require soil with good drainage. Make sure the place has good drainage and is not in a low region that would remain wet before planting in the garden. You can buy cactus soil for container gardening or add sand, gravel, or volcanic rock to your potting soil for enhanced drainage. You should have a drainage hole in the container you are using for planting, or you can fill the bottom of the container with crushed rock before adding the planting medium. Spreading gravel or tiny pebbles on top of the ground can add a lot of style.
Watering:
After planting, water the area thoroughly and wait a short while before watering again. Wet feet bother succulents, who don’t like them. Water whatever you do thoroughly. They will require less water once they are established.
Fertilizer:
Succulents generally require relatively little fertilizer. During the growing season, they only require monthly watering and a balanced fertilizer.
Flowering:
Each type of sedum blooms at a different period and in a variety of pink, red, and yellow hues.
After the second or third year, Sempervivums will flower. From the middle of the main rosette, which has a cluster of flowers, a flower stalk will emerge. Sempervivum blooms are open, starry, and typically pink. They are carried above the plant on a stem with several blossoms. Fortunately, there are always chicks born earlier from the base that grow in a ring around the mother plant to continue for subsequent years. The monocarpic crown that generates the flower head dies off after flowering. Twist the stalk off gently once the blossom fades, then plant a chick where it was.
Winter maintenance:
Typically, established succulents in the garden do not require winter protection. Snow frequently provides protection for chilly locations. Balsam boughs can be used as a light winter mulch in cold climates without snow cover, but this is typically not necessary.
Shipping:
When your plants are delivered, gently open the package as soon as possible. Once you have unpacked your things, water your plants properly and let them drain well because we ship plants on the dry side. Early-spring shipping succulents could have some dry edges and a lackluster appearance. This is typical, and their color will deepen when exposed to sunlight. Sempervivums change color with the seasons, and each variety has a certain time of year when it is at its most vibrant.
Uses:
Succulents can be used in countless planting scenarios. The most interesting containers and troughs are those with a variety of colors, textures, and behaviors. Succulents make lovely plants for rock gardens. There is always color since there are so many different bloom times.