Discover a dozen succulents that can withstand drought and require little upkeep.
Amount of Light
More water is required by succulents that receive 10 or more hours of direct sunlight than by those that receive less. Because they receive more sunlight and are exposed to harsher environments, outdoor plants typically require more water than those kept indoors.
Humidity
Plants in high-humidity and cooler regions will require less regular watering since they can retain moisture for a longer amount of time than plants in hot, dry conditions. In Phoenix, are your succulents in direct sunlight on a patio? Consider watering every day. On a terrace in San Francisco, are they partially in the sun? You might just need to water once every two or three weeks.
Which succulents require more water—and why?
More water is required by some succulent species than others. When they require more water, the majority will start to wrinkle and start to drop leaves. However, you shouldn’t give your succulents too much water. Simply look at the soil’s surface to see if it needs to be watered if it is entirely dry. Make careful to wet the soil completely, and then give it time to dry. Wait until the soil is completely dry before watering it again.
Underwater is always preferable to overwater. Therefore, for those who are just starting out, we advise watering once every two weeks at first, then watching how your succulents respond and adjusting the watering schedule as necessary. It may seem difficult to figure out whether your succulents are overwatered or underwater, but it is possible.
How frequently do most succulents require watering?
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.
A succulent need how much water each week?
Indoor succulent plants probably need to be watered once a week. They require ample time for the soil to dry out in between waterings so that the water may be stored in the leaves. Use the following methods and advice while watering succulent plants inside.
- Use an irrigation system with a little pour spout.
- Fill the succulent plant’s center with water until it is completely submerged.
- Allow water to completely drain out of the pot through the perforations. Make careful to empty any water that seeps through the soil if there is a saucer underneath the plant.
- Since there won’t be enough heat and fresh airflow for the leaves to dry when planted indoors, avoid soaking the leaves to prevent rot from the top down.
- Dry the soil completely in between waterings.
How frequently ought jade to be watered?
Because jade plants are succulents (they store water in their leaves), they do better when their top 1 to 2 inches of soil are allowed to dry out between waterings. Watering once every two to three weeks will probably be necessary indoors, but make sure to check often! The plants are receiving too much water, therefore reduce the frequency and amount of watering if you notice blisters appearing on the leaves.
If you’ve put your jade plants outside for the summer, bring them inside if it’s predicted to rain continuously for more than a few days straight to prevent them from becoming waterlogged. You can do this beneath the porch or in the garage. Jade plants will develop more slowly in the winter and may require less frequent watering.
What amount of water does a succulent need?
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:
If my succulent lacks water, how can I tell?
Succulents are better off dry than wet, but that doesn’t mean you can ignore the need to water them. In fact, the plant needs water to survive, and much like people, it will exhibit dehydration symptoms. Your succulent clearly needs extra water if its leaves are wrinkled and shriveled.
The cells attempt to bring in more water to make up for the water that has been lost as they release their stored moisture to the rest of the plant. The cells shrink as they run out of water and the plant is forced to rely on its limited reserves, which causes the once-firm and full leaves to collapse and shrivel.
Do succulents need to be in the sun directly?
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.
A succulent can survive without water for how long?
In general, succulents that are grown indoors or outdoors during the cooler months will need less water. They can go without water for one to three months.
Indoor succulents will be less exposed to the weather outside because the soil dries out more quickly outside than it does indoors due to the wind and sunlight.
The soil remains moist for extended periods of time in milder climes, typically fall and winter.
To avoid overwatering indoor plants during the cooler months, read more about our toothpick test here.
To avoid root rot, it’s crucial to examine the soil before watering indoor succulent plants and to make sure it is completely dry between waterings.
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.
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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.
Why keep dying my succulent plants?
Overwatering and poorly draining soils are the main causes of succulent deaths. Succulents need the soil to dry out between waterings because they are drought-tolerant plants. Succulents get root rot in wet soil, which turns their leaves brown, black, or yellow and gives them a withering appearance.
While overwatering is the most frequent cause of dying succulents, there are several other potential causes as well:
Succulent plants typically die back when they are kept in environments that are drastically different from their native habitat.
Replicating some of the minimal rainfall, full or partial sun exposure, and stony, well-draining soil conditions will help revive dying succulents.
What if I gave my succulent too much water?
Even though you believe you have overwatered the plant, it is still best to check to make sure this is the real problem. Let’s examine the following to confirm that overwatering is the primary issue.
How does the soil appear, first?
It is damp and filled with water. Instead of individual soil grains, you will receive clumps of soil.
What are the initial indications of overwatering?
A succulent may frequently exhibit certain warning signals before to drowning from excess water so that you can save it before things get worse. Take action right now to save your succulent if you see any of the following symptoms in your plant.  
- Discoloration and a change in the form of the leaves are the first indications of overwatering that you should look out for. The leaves will begin to turn yellow or pale (beginning at the bottom), soft, and squishy, as you can see.
- The second warning sign to watch out for is if your succulent starts to lose its leaves very easily, even with a small touch or sway as it fills up with water.
- You’ll notice that the leaves start to turn brown or black if overwatering persists. When this starts to occur, your succulent is either rotting or infected with a fungal illness brought on by too much water.
Discoloration and a change in the shape of the leaves are the first indications of overwatering that you should look out for.
3. Describe the appearance of a wilting succulent.
A decaying succulent will have stems that are either brown or black and squishy, as well as black leaves that begin at the base of the plant. All of these are signs that your succulent is already decaying from the roots up as a result of too much water, and if you don’t act quickly, the plant will soon turn into a mushy mess.
The lower leaves of a decomposing succulent will appear to be black. Image source: succulents101
Are succulents able to endure shade?
Your aim is to provide as much sun as they can bear without burning because light improves the development, form, color, and blossoms of succulents (and other plants, for that matter).
Below in my gallery of outdoor shade succulents, I’ve ID’d each one along with how much shade it wants, abbreviated PS, BS or FS.
Adjust my three types of shade according to your own location. Closer to the water and farther from the desert, succulents can withstand more solar exposure. These are primarily for Zone 9b (inland Southern California), where I have planted a variety of succulents for shade for the past 25 years.
Part shade (PS)
This is sometimes referred to as semi-shade and consists of bright shade for the majority of the day and full sun for a few hours in the early morning or late afternoon. “Dappled light” or “dappled sun” that glimmers through a canopy of leaves can also be considered part shade.
Bright shade (BS)
This is side-facing indirect light that reaches plants when they are placed beneath eaves, shelves, tables, or trees. Bright shade, often known as “filtered light,” is common in greenhouses, nurseries, lath houses, shade structures, as well as under patio umbrellas and sun sails.
Full shade (FS)
If any sunlight reaches plants in full darkness (also known as “deep shade”), it is weak and fleeting. Some succulents, like sansevierias, can survive in complete darkness, but for the most part, they require some sun to grow and look their best.