Have You Ever Killed a Succulent?
Have you ever killed, as I have all killed my share of, these amazing, room transforming, space oxygenating, defined as “impossible to kill” house plants. You are not alone! Unfortunately, the easiest and most definite way to kill a succulent is to over or under water it.
Succulents come with a hefty reputation to be ultra-low maintenance because of their drought tolerance.
Even though this is a true enough statement, they do need water to survive and they perform best when watered regularly, but never excessively.
What Your Succulent Is Telling You
Dry, shriveled leaves at the base of your plant is a natural process; your succulent is getting ready to replace old leaves with new ones, so don’t be alarmed. Simple take off the dry leaves and discard.
Soggy, yellow leaves bottom or top of the plant indicate over watering. Brown, dry leaves from the middle or top of your plant indicate a dire lack of moisture.
Cactus and succulents store all useable water in their stems and leaves, observing these regularly will give you clues as to whether they are receiving to right amount of water.
What You Need to Water Properly
Watering potted succulents requires a watering can, watering squeeze bottle or water syringe and a pot with a drainage hole. But this is not all. You have heard me say “It’s all about the dirt.” and I mean it.
It’s All About the Dirt
Cactus mix, also known as succulent soil, is made to be fast draining so that the roots of your low water plants don’t sit in drenched soil. Succulent’s roots are sensitive to moisture which is why overwatering could quickly lead to root rot. Regular potting soils retain moisture far longer than cactus mixes.
It would be my recommendation to use a good cactus mix containing particles such as pumice, small twigs and sand. These particles are what help excess water move through the soil quickly and out the drainage hole.
How Often Should You Water?
Unfortunately, there is no exact measure for how often to water succulents because many things come into play including climate, whether your succulent is indoor or outdoor, and what kind of pot and soil you are using.
There is, however, a good rule of thumb: water succulents ONLY when the top soil is dry and water thoroughly until you see water come from the drainage hole.
During summer months I water a little more regularly, but I always check the soil, and in the winter I water less often.
When a week has gone by, I touch the soil with my finger to see how dry it feels. If the dryness is about an inch deep, I know it’s time to add a little water.
A couple of small squeezes from my water bottle is all it takes.
How to Water (The Right Way)
When watering succulents, you have to water the soil, NOT the leaves. After the plant sits for a few minutes, make sure to discard all remaining water from the saucer or tray. Many people do not realize how crucial this step is when learning how to water succulents.
Avoid the use of a spray bottle or spraying the leaves. You always want the leaves to remain as dry as possible for the health of the plant.
Indoor vs. Outdoor Care
Indoor succulents can perform wonderfully outdoors in a bright but not directly sunny location with good airflow.
Avoid putting your indoor succulents in direct sun, especially if temperatures can reach over 85–90 degrees as it can cause scald to the leaves and possible stem.
Final Thoughts
And that’s about it. Now you know what I know about watering and easy care of succulents.
I HOPE THIS HELPS FOR FUTURE SUCCESSFUL SUCCULENT ENDEAVORS.
All the best,
Brenda