How to Care for Succulents

by Succulent Market AdminAug 6, 2020

How to Care for Succulents

A common dilemma for plant parent newbies is “how do I care for my new succulent”? The answer to that question is easy, you don’t need to do very much! Despite this, if you want to take care of your new plant babies in the best way possible it is best to follow these 6 steps.

 

1.Water Your Succulent Correctly

The most important thing to do when caring for your new succulents is to properly water your succulent. Check to see if there is any moisture or water in the soil of your succulent. If there is any moisture or wetness whatsoever, Do Not Water! If the soil of your succulent is COMPLETELY DRY it is time to water. When watering your succulent drench the soil. Allow excess water to drain out of the drainage holes located at the bottom of your pot. If your pot does not have drainage holes, no problem! Just soak the soil enough so that the soil is damp to the touch, but make sure that extra water does not accumulate or flood the bottom of your pot as this will cause your succulent to rot. After watering your succulent, wait until the soil is completely dry before watering again. When watering do not 1. Mist or spray your succulent  2. Utilize self-watering bulbs or devices. These two methods are not ideal for succulent care.

 

2.Find the Correct Lighting for Your Succulent

Correctly placing your succulent in the correct lighting environment is essential to the growth and well-being of your succulent. Some succulents prefer a lot of sun, while some succulents prefer a more shaded environment. As a general rule of thumb, high light varieties like Echeveria, Crassula, Aeonium, Kalanchoe, and Sedum varieties require around 50% shade, and Haworthia, Aloe, and other low light varieties require around 80% shade. This means that high light varieties are perfect for the windowsill or outside. It is important to note that when moving a high light succulent outside into direct sunlight you must use shade cloth or growers cloth to cover the succulent for half the day before exposing these varieties to direct sunlight for the entire day. Low light varieties of succulents like Haworthias and Aloes are ideal for the home or indoors because they require more shade. Haworthias, Aloes, and other low light varieties will not succeed outside in direct sunlight because the tips of their leaves will burn and die. For your convenience check out this lighting chart that will show you the amount of light your succulent needs to thrive!

 

3.Do Not Expose Your Succulents to Extreme Temperatures

Succulents cannot be exposed to extreme temperatures. Most succulent varieties will die at any temperature below 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Many succulents thrive in warm climates, but often times succulents will not do well in temperatures that regularly surpass 100 degrees Fahrenheit consistently.

 

4.Choose a Pot With Drainage Holes

Pots with drainage holes are ideal for proper succulent care. It is challenging to drench a succulent without having excess water build-up at the bottom of the pot. As a result, pots without drainage holes often-times hold excess water, which can cause the succulent to rot.

 

5.Use the Correct Succulent Potting Mix

Succulents require a potting mix that drains well. This is so that succulent can hold the moisture that they require in their soil while excess water drains out. You can find the best cactus and succulent soil here

 

6.Use the Correct Succulent Fertilizer

It is not necessary, but to ensure your succulents and cactus are as healthy as possible utilize a half strength general fertilizer once a month.