Succulents grow lush and beautiful with a modest feeding of manure tea, diluted fish emulsion, or a balanced fertilizer (15-15-15). Liquid fertilizers that are concentrated should be diluted. Roots could be harmed if this is not done.
Use one Moo Poo tea bag per three gallons of water, steeped overnight, for succulents growing in containers. Pour until it runs out the bottom starting at the plant’s base. Alternately, apply half-diluted fish emulsion.
Although in-ground succulents don’t technically require fertilization, you can encourage lush spring growth by applying Ironite per the instructions on the package, ideally before a winter storm. Apply a balanced granular fertilizer in the spring (if you like to; it is not required).
Can I feed succulents standard plant food?
For instance, let’s imagine you have a smaller succulent and you want to promote healthy growth, using the jade plant I stated previously as an example. How do you go about that?
Succulents may hold a respectable amount of dissolved nutrients in addition to their propensity for holding water. Your succulent can try to grow too quickly if you overfertilize it. This may make your jade plant appear weedy or stringy because they are far more resilient plants. Weak stems and possibly smaller, more flexible leaves are to be expected. You should avoid overfertilizing.
However, you also don’t want to fertilize too little. If your garden’s soil is sandy and well-draining, inadequate fertilization may lead the plant to appear to be in suspended animation. Although it won’t look horrible, it won’t grow any bigger or normally produce flowers in that manner.
In order for it to develop normally and be able to control its own weight and growth as it grows, the objective is to provide it with what it needs—but just barely enough. The majority of succulents can survive without fertilizer, but even a small amount can persuade the plant that its location is ideal for growth.
What Fertilizer To Use
There aren’t many general fertilizers for succulents available, which is partially due to the wide variety available and the difficulty in determining which to use without knowing the unique plant you have. This can be a problem because many garden centers sell trays of plants with the simple label “assorted succulents.”
If you can, identify the sort of plant you have by going to your local succulent club; you can then find out from them what the best fertilizer combination is for your species. A little aloe vera plant will experience it differently than a huge jade plant or cholla cactus.
But don’t worry if you don’t belong to a succulent club or just are unable to determine the species of your plant on your own. For your succulent, you can use a typical, balanced fertilizer, just in a smaller amount. Usually, I use an all-purpose fertilizer concentrate with the ratio 8-8-8. Make a batch at its normal strength, then use it as fertilizer by diluting it by adding 2–3 times as much water. At that strength, once a month is generally plenty.
When You Need A Special Fertilizer
You could be tempted to purchase a specific fertilizer if you’re attempting to promote flowering, which can be extremely attractive, especially in species like the Christmas cactus. Potassium and phosphorous, particularly the phosphorous, are the components that tend to motivate the plant to bloom while nitrogen promotes the growth of the plant itself.
There are many fertilizers sold as “cactus fertilizers,” both organic and inorganic mixtures that are heavy in everything else and low in nitrogen. But as most of these are intended to be applied straight from the bottle and more frequently than other fertilizers, they have already been greatly diluted. When you’re buying, exercise caution!
Espoma Organic Cactus Food, a concentrated liquid fertilizer, is an exception to this restriction. It dilutes to a 1-2-2 fertilizer when mixed with water. It doesn’t pose a difficulty to fertilize with it once a week to twice a month, and it works fairly effectively to encourage growth and blooming.
Schultz Cactus Plus, another concentrate that dilutions down in water to a 2-7-7 range, is another liquid fertilizer that is marginally more effective. This is particularly effective at encouraging blooming, especially in Christmas cacti and other species with profuse flowers. This is something that is used monthly and only needs a few drops of this with your water to work.
These succulent fertilizers won’t do anything for your plant unless you’re attempting to encourage flowering, and non-flowering succulent species won’t require the extra-high quantities of flowering nutrients. In certain cases, selecting a balanced fertilizer and manually diluting it will suffice.
Other Fertilizer Options
Compost tea is a wonderful choice if you want to give a non-fertilizer alternative a try. You may either buy compost teabags like those made by Malibu Compost or make your own using compost from your own compost pile. Compost teas that have already been concentrated are also offered. Compost tea not only feeds the plant, but it also feeds the beneficial soil bacteria that keep your succulent free of pests and soil issues.
You can use practically any balanced NPK fertilizer for them if you’d prefer a granular slow-release fertilizer to a liquid fertilizer. However, before spreading it around the plants, reduce the recommended amount by half because they actually don’t require so much fertilizer to survive.
Choosing chemical fertilizers over organic ones may be better for those who grow their succulents indoors. Many organic products have a distinct scent that may not be desirable inside. Therefore, if you raise succulents indoors, you might want to think about using a product similar to a well-known commercial brand, such Miracle-succulent Gro’s formula. The smell isn’t as strong in your home!
How To Fertilize Your Succulents
You need to be mindful of how you’re fertilizing your plants. Some succulents may not be used to being wet because they only experience rain in brief bursts. Other types include those that live in jungles and encounter water more as a mist than as regular rainfall. However, you should never apply fertilizer directly to the plant.
The majority of fertilizer mixtures, especially the liquids, can have adverse effects when applied to the leaves or flowers of succulents because the nutrients aren’t absorbed in that method. Always feed your succulents at ground level, ideally all around the perimeter of the plant over the root mass. Using a garden sprayer, apply straight to the soil, being careful not to spray any onto the succulents. A backpack sprayer can also be used for this.
It is a good idea to use something like an indoor watering can for plants that are more closely spaced apart. The watering can’s thin nozzle makes it simple to prevent your plants from being splashed in the face and makes it simple to apply fertilizer where it will be most beneficial: at the plant’s roots.
You should discontinue routine fertilizer during the cold season if you live somewhere with a chilly winter. In colder climates, many succulents frequently enter a dormant state. Winter and fall are not the times to fertilize them because the plant will not benefit from it.
When spring arrives, it’s time to start fertilizing once more. Spring is also a great time to divide and repot any congested plants because it allows them time to settle in before the heat. If you decide to repot your plants in the spring, fertilize them afterward to help them wake up and begin to thrive once more.
In some regions, particularly those that don’t experience strong freezes like some sections of California, there are succulents that can grow over the winter. Although they can be fertilized all year round, these tend to grow most during the winter. It is preferable to fertilize those plants in the fall or early winter, and then monitor their growth to see whether they require more fertilization in the spring.
Can I feed succulents with plant food spikes?
More than 25 different plant families include succulents. Even though they bring variety to each space in your house, different succulent species may require different maintenance.
Most succulent varieties only need a little bit of watering and sandy, loose potting soil. Due to their hardiness, succulents can keep nutrients for long periods of time; nevertheless, depending on the kind, they can still benefit from fertilizer spikes a few times a year.
How can I speed up the growth of my succulents?
Succulents require water to grow and thrive even if they are well adapted to dry areas. Without adequate watering, succulents begin to wilt and may even turn dry and crispy.
Succulent leaves should, in general, be plump when well-watered and will lose their plumpness when dry. A succulent will also begin to droop and wilt if it is not given enough water.
There isn’t a set routine for watering succulents. Everything will rely on the season, the kind of succulent you have, the container it is in, the soil, and a lot more factors.
For instance, succulents that are potted in huge containers will use less water because the water evaporates much more slowly in those containers. It will evaporate much more slowly in a deep pot.
A succulent typically needs watering once every 10 to 14 days in the summer and once every 3 to 4 weeks in the winter. But this is only a ballpark figure that will vary depending on a number of variables. A soil meter like this one, which indicates whether the soil is moist or dry, is an useful tool to aid with watering schedules.
During the growing season (often early spring to autumn), watering should be increased, and during the fall and winter, it should be lessened. Check your care instructions for your specific succulent, though, to be sure.
Reason 2: Dormancy period
Your succulents may not be in an active growth phase right now if they aren’t expanding. or that they have reached a state of dormancy. Early autumn, when temperatures begin to fall, is when succulents begin their dormant season. However, certain succulents can grow in the fall and winter (Christmas cactus and more).
It is crucial to remember that from early fall through the winter, you should gradually reduce the amount of water you give your succulent plants. Succulents require very little water in the winter because they hardly grow at all.
If you water succulents too much in the winter, they may even explode. Water expands in subfreezing conditions, which explains this. Moreover, your plants’ cells may break from too much water.
Naturally, some succulents are more frost-resistant than others. However, most succulent species find it stressful when temperatures drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius). If your succulent is sensitive to cold, make sure to keep it indoors and check the care instructions for that variety.
You can leave your succulents outside over the winter if the temperature doesn’t drop too low. The majority of succulents can tolerate brief periods of frost or below-freezing temperatures.
Covering your succulents with a horticultural frost sheet like this is an excellent method to keep them free of frost throughout the winter outdoors. Hold the fabric firmly in place from all sides. Clothes should ideally protect from heavy rain and not be made of plastic (which prevents air exchange) (to prevent waterlogged soil and therefore rotting).
Reason 3: Pests and diseases
If your succulent isn’t expanding, a disease or pest infestation may be to blame. As a succulent planter, be sure to establish a routine of regularly inspecting your plants, their soil, and roots.
Verify your plant for insects and bugs. Succulents can be attacked by a variety of pests that siphon their juices, halting growth and eventually killing the plant. Some bugs target new growth specifically. Pests may harm stems or roots, which could have catastrophic consequences.
Consider spider mites, which are tiny red bugs that feed on plant sap. Look for small webs and scars on the plant, which may be signs of spider mites.
Thrips can eat sap from succulents when they assault them. Particularly nymphs, they are incredibly difficult to spot. However, it is possible to see mature thrips flying around the plant.
Mealybugs will create a cotton-like coating on your succulents to help them hide. Mealybugs, which have a significant impact on succulent growth, should be looked for around the plant’s base and roots.
Diseases that affect succulents will also stop them from growing, if at all. Please look for any corking, leaf scarring, dark or black spots (fungal infection), stem or root rot, or mold. For instance, nematodes (worms) can cause succulents’ tissue to bulge and its growth to become twisted.
A succulent plant that has root rot (soft, brown roots) will be unable to receive any water, which will eventually cause the plant to die. Look for any eggs or larvae in the roots to check for insect invasion.
The majority of ailments and pests take time to seriously affect a succulent. Not only will they prevent your succulent from growing properly, but they will also cause the entire plant to collapse. Because of this, it’s crucial to periodically inspect your succulents and address any issues as soon as they appear.
Reason 4: Overwatering and rotting roots
Overwatering and underwatering both have the potential to impede your succulent from growing properly. Overwatering will cause plant leaves to become mushy and yellow, and they will eventually fall off as a result.
Additionally, roots that are submerged in water all the time may begin to decay. A succulent with rooted roots is unable to provide its cells with adequate hydration and nourishment. The stem of a succulent can potentially develop rot, which will turn it brown.
It will cause a plant to die if it is not treated right away. Verify the roots of your succulent. It’s time to cut any mushy, brown or black roots and repot the plant if you spot any. Falling and soft (perhaps yellow-colored) leaves are another sign of overwatering.
Don’t water your succulent for a while to allow the soil to dry out if the roots are decaying. Cut all of the affected roots using sterile scissors before repotting in fresh soil. After repotting, give your succulent a week without watering to avoid causing it to droop.
A straightforward soil meter like this can be of great assistance if you frequently struggle to determine when to water your succulents. Placing a stone or several stones on the soil will help you water your succulents much more effectively. It’s not yet time to water your succulent if you look beneath a stone and notice dampness.
Reason 5: Keeping your succulent in an area too cold or hot
If your succulent isn’t growing, you can be keeping it in the incorrect location at the wrong temperature.
The majority of succulents love receiving lots of sunlight, and inadequate sunlight will stunt the growth of your plant. But keeping succulents in glass or enclosed in glass can be harmful. If your plant is housed in a glass container, for example, direct sunlight will result in high impact rays and elevated temperatures.
Another recommendation is to avoid keeping your plant next to hot radiators, especially in the summer and winter. Too hot of a temperature can cause the soil to dry up too rapidly. Air conditioners are comparable.
Succulents require a lot of light in the summer. However, if you put your succulents in an area that is too hot, they could overheat and become burnt.
Generally speaking, your succulents may become overheated at temperatures higher than 86 F (30 C). They may then enter a dormant state as a result of this. Additionally, succulents cannot develop in a dormant condition.
You shouldn’t maintain your succulent plants in extremely chilly temperatures in the winter. This could cause your succulent to freeze, which would make it impossible for you to save it.
Verify the ideal temperature and amount of light for the species of succulents you are growing. To choose where to store your plant, also consider whether it is heat- or frost-sensitive.
Reason 6: Lack of nutrients
The growth of your succulents will be poor to nonexistent if you underfeed them. The plant’s fading, lack of development, and lack of blooming are indications that your succulent is nutritionally deficient.
Succulent fertilization regimens might vary, so be sure to follow the species’ instructions. Additionally, give your succulents regular waterings because they won’t be able to absorb nutrients from dry soil otherwise.
Although fertilization is crucial, be careful not to overdo it. Your succulents will grow too quickly and produce delicate tissues that are susceptible to rot and illnesses if you overfertilize them.
Use only cactus and succulent-specific fertilizers, such as this one. They are frequently weaker than regular fertilizers because they are created especially for these plants. Always fertilize during the growing season and never in the winter.
Reason 7: Succulent is potted in a pot too small
Your succulent’s growth will be constrained if it is housed in a compact pot with little room for expansion. Many growers take advantage of the fact that succulents growing in overcrowded pots take much longer to mature. This is especially true if there is also a lack of feeding and hydration.
Succulents produce several new roots as they expand, which also require room. The roots of your succulent will become firmly packed together if you keep it in a very small pot. Lack of space will cause this succulent to stop growing completely.
If your succulent has twisted growth, roots that protrude from the drainage holes, or packed roots, it has outgrown its container. You should repot your succulent once or twice a season to allow it to grow to its greatest possible size. But pots shouldn’t be overly large; they should only have a little room on the sides.
Reason 8: Lack of light
Succulents will also develop poorly in the absence of light. Succulents require a lot of direct sunlight to flourish (but some varieties may also require some partial shade). This is crucial during the growing season.
You need to give your succulents ever more light once their dormant time in the spring is through if you want them to flourish. In order to protect your succulents from burns, make sure to go carefully. Thick-leaved succulents are frequently more tolerant of intense sunshine.
Reason 9: Succulents are generally slow growers
Most succulent plants develop slowly, while some species grow more slowly than others. For instance, Haworthia and Gasteria are smaller and develop more slowly than other succulents. On the other side, kalanchoe has a substantially higher rate of growth.
Typically, it can take at least 3 to 4 months before your succulent starts to grow. However, if your succulent is still extremely little, this could take even longer.
Most new cuttings and pups develop slowly at first before picking up speed. It will take considerably longer to notice any growth difference when growing succulents from seed. If a succulent is newly propagated from leaf or stem cuttings, it may also take longer for it to flourish.