How To Care For Succulents? Succulents are easy to care for indoors because they are low -maintenance that is great to have around the house.
They come in so many different types of varieties so there are many to choose from.
These are plants that need a lot of sun, not much water at all, and extremely dry conditions.
This is why they make better indoor plants than outdoor plants.
If you’re wanting to start growing succulents then you’ve come to the right place for help.
Everything that you need to be able to plant and properly grow succulents will be explained in this article.
Keep in mind that these plants grow better in lots of suns.
But they can grow in the shade you just have to remember not to water them as much.
Sundries up water, but the shade doesn’t.
PROPER CONTAINERS TO PLANT IN
How To Care For Succulents.
The succulents will need to be planted in a pot that has drain holes in it.
Or that you can drill holes in the bottom of it.
You need to add just enough water that it starts to drain out of the bottom of it.
Once it starts draining, stop adding water and allow it to drain for about five minutes.
All excess water needs to drain out.
TYPES OF SOIL NEEDED
As dry as succulents like it, soil that drains well is what is needed for these lovely plants.
Your plant should never just be sitting in water. You can make your own by adding some large grains of sand to your soil but it’s much easier to buy the soil especially made for cactus and succulent plants.
FERTILIZER
Succulents are slowpokes! They grow extremely slow.
You can give them a little push by adding fertilizer just before growing time.
Which is usually in the spring. This will help some.
It will grow a little faster but don’t expect a miracle growth. It will still be a slow growth process.
SUCCULENT WRINKLES
There are times you might see that your plant has wrinkles in the leaves.
This problem is due to either lack of water or too much of it.
When was the last time it was given water? In the last couple of weeks?
If so, then it has too much water. Longer than a couple of weeks?
Then it needs some water. How to care for succulents?
If you don’t remember the last time you watered it.
Stick your finger in the soil. Is it moist or extremely dry? Adjust it accordingly.
SUNLIGHT
This plant has many different varieties to it, most of those need lots of direct sunlight.
There are a few that do not need as much sun but for the most part, half a day of direct sunlight is needed.
If you keep the temperatures in your how really warm.
And keep your plant in direct sunlight like on a windowsill.
Then it will need to be watered more than a succulent that is kept in lower temperatures.
Without a lot of sun.
If your plant starts leaning to one side and growing taller.
This means it is not getting enough sun and it’s searching for that warmth and direct sunlight.
If this happens you need to know that even when you move it to the direct sun.
It will not return back to a normal size unless you propagate it.
PROPAGATING YOUR PLANT
These are so easy to propagate.
Simply cut the top off of your plant and then you need to remove a little of the leaves at the bottom near the stem (keep these leaves).
Allow the leaves and the stem to dry for two days. Plant the top of the succulent and the leaves in soil, water them and watch them start to grow.
Now, remember, these are extremely slow-growing plants.
Give it a lot of time and you’ll see the tiny succulents starting to grow.
WINTERTIME CARE
Basically, caring for your plant in the winter is no different than in the summer.
You need to water it less. Since the temperatures are lower.
The evaporation rate for the water is a lot slower. So it holds more water, needing to be watered less.
Make sure that you keep your succulent in the window where it gets plenty of sunlight.
That’s all there is to it.
OUTDOOR SUCCULENTS
Can these plants be grown outside? The answer to this question rides on the answer to where you live.
Do you live where it stays warm almost all year and has an abundance of sunlight?
Does your area not get any frost in the winter?
You also can’t live in a climate where it rains a lot. Is this what it’s like where you live?
Then yes, enjoy planting your succulents outside. Although I don’t know many areas that don’t get at least some frost during the winter, Florida maybe?
There are a couple of succulents that can live in the colder weather areas.
These succulents look different from the ones you have inside.
Their leaves are not very meaty (or fleshy) however they can grow in pretty cold temperatures.
Do not try to grow regular succulents in colder temperatures because they will freeze and die.
OVERALL
Succulents make a great starter plant for those who are just starting to grow their own plants.
You can actually forget about them for a couple of weeks and they will be perfectly fine.
What you do need to remember is that these plants are extremely sensitive to being overwatered.
Having too little sunlight, and definitely to being cold.
It doesn’t take much to keep this little plant happy.
Extraordinarily little water, warm temperatures, and lots and lots of direct sunlight.
When you keep a succulent happy they will grow continuously for years to come.
And they keep their beauty for many years also.
Hopefully, through this article, you have learned how to plant and grow your succulent properly.
Where they stay completely healthy, happy, and beautiful all year round!
All you have to remember is just a little water, warm temperatures, and plenty of that direct, golden sunlight! Happy Planting!
