Succulents are a great addition to any garden. They are easy to maintain and work fabulously in both indoor and outdoor settings. However, there are a few basics that are important to know in terms of the proper care and keeping of succulents.
First, what are succulents? One of the key characteristics of these plants is that they thrive in dry environments. They don’t need a lot of moisture or humidity to stay alive. This is because they store water inside of their leaves, so they aren’t dependent on frequent contact with other water sources to stay alive.
This isn’t to say that they don’t need any water. But you can go away on a family vacation for a week without worrying about them. So they are easy to keep. No need to be an expert.
However, they still need some basic care to stay alive. Let’s go over some of the essentials for keeping your succulent plants thriving and healthy.
Make sure that succulents get enough light
These are plants that require a minimum amount of sunlight to remain healthy. This means they need to live in a place where they get six hours of sun every single day.
This is easy enough to achieve for the average outdoor plant. However, succulents are popular indoors as well. When keeping one indoors, one should be mindful of placement.
Choose a location within some vicinity of a window. Otherwise, your plants may start to suffer in time without the basic allotment of sunshine.
Having said that, make sure to inspect your plants regularly. If one is in the path of too much direct sunlight, it may start to suffer. Look at your plant to see if there are any areas that show signs of burning. That is a clear indication that your plant is receiving too much sun.
Read: Problems with houseplants? 5 tips to bring them back to health.
Don’t forget to fertilize
It’s true that these plants can require less fertilizer than other plants, especially when potted. But you probably shouldn’t skip this step altogether. Indoor plants do best when fertilizer is part of the total care plan. Outdoor plants don’t need this step as they get their nutrients from the soil.
Use a low-balanced, soluble fertilizer. Create a fertilizer mixture with ¼ fertilizer per water blend. You’ll want to wet the plant with this mixture until water begins to drain out of the bottom.
Be sure to fertilize in the warmer months when plants aren’t in their dormant state. Doing otherwise can cause more harm than good.
It’s recommended to fertilize a few times a year. While you don’t want to overdo it, this should be helpful for total plant health.
Make sure your soil can drain
Since succulents do not require a lot of water, it’s essential to provide proper drainage. Otherwise, the backlog of water can be harmful.
How can you tell if you are overwatering your succulent? The leaves will start to drop off very easily and the stems will rot. Maybe the leaves will be soft and mushy. Or they might even turn black.
If your plants are in a pot, you can make sure the pots have holes for drainage. This is definitely important to protect your plants and their roots from excess water.
You can also invest in well draining soil. This type of soil promotes evaporation, which inherently helps from overwatering. This soil is a great choice for indoor plants where a drainage hole is not ideal.
You still need to water
It’s easy to forget to water succulents. They have the reputation of being desert plants. However, that doesn’t mean that they don’t need any moisture.
Here are the signs that your plant may not be getting the water it needs. The most obvious sign is the leaves start to shrivel or dry out. At the beginning, they won’t look as plump as normal. As dehydration persists, they will become increasingly crispy.
Make sure to regularly inspect that bottom of the plant, closest to the root area. This is the area where dehydration first occurs. As plants start to lose their stored water, the bottom area will dry first, followed by the rest of the plant.
In general, water succulents about every other week. The best way to gage watering it to regularly look at the soil. You don’t want to water while the soil is still moist. Wait until the soil becomes dry and crumbly. However, waiting past that point may cause the plant harm.
Keep pests away
Like any other plant, succulents are vulnerable to pests. Aphids and mealybugs are the main sources of trouble. So what does pest prevention look like for these plants?
Insecticide is an easy tool for keeping your new plants pest free. It’s a good idea to spray all new plants as soon as you bring them home. If you notice small specks on your plants, or fuzzy bumps, you have a clue to an infestation.
Immediately keep infected plants separate from others. Make sure that they aren’t exposed to too much moisture as this can keep them prone to infections. You may also want to spray alcohol onto the leaves which can help destroy any bugs or eggs.
Once you clear up an infestation, keep a watchful eye on your plant. That way, you can stop a recurrence in its early stages.
Read: How to bring houseplants in after summer–without bringing in pests.
Stop by Stockslagers for all of your succulents
Succulents come in a wide array of colors and varieties. But whether you want short, tall, thin, wide, indoor, or outdoor, the perfect option for you is waiting. Come into Stockslagers. We are stocked with a multitude of easy care options so that you can add succulents to your garden or home today.
