Succulent care is comparable to that of other indoor plants. They grow most rapidly in the spring and summer, then less rapidly in the autumn. In the warmer months, feeding succulents three to four times a year is optimal, but you risk overfeeding them with regular houseplant fertilizer. Instead, give them half of the amount that is suggested. You can plant different succulents together in a dish garden if you want to grow a variety of them.
Hydration of succulents
Watering succulent plants as needed is one of the most crucial parts of caring for them indoors. Depending on the style and size of your pot, there are different water requirements that you should meet. Watering succulents just when necessary will work since they love soil that drains efficiently. By touching the dirt at the pot's base, you can determine when they want watering.
The leaves, stems, and roots of succulents serve as water reservoirs. Even months may pass between waterings. Although they are drought-tolerant plants and can endure dry circumstances, indoor plants require frequent watering. It's crucial to avoid depriving a succulent of water for an extended period of time since this could cause shriveling and eventual death.
Succulents require the proper kind of light, which is quite crucial. Although they can live in places with less exposure to light, they prefer direct sunlight. Consider growing a plant that tolerates low light if you have a small space. A banana string is a wonderful option for hanging planters because it has a wide spread and requires little light.
You should strive for a weekly or biweekly watering plan when watering succulents indoors. The sort of succulents you have and the climate where you live will determine how often you should water them. You can water a plant as frequently as once every two weeks if it is growing in a chilly climate.
Cultivating succulents outside
It's important to have well-drained, permeable soil if you wish to grow succulents outside. Because clay soils do not have adequate drainage, your plants may get root rot. Additionally, if your soil needs it, you should add some cactus potting soil. Planting succulents in a container allows you to control their habitat and move them to different locations as needed. This is another technique to cultivate succulents outside.
Although most succulents don't require a lot of water, they still need to be watered frequently. Give your plants a thorough, deep watering when you water them. They might not live if you don't give them enough water to drink. It's crucial to avoid overwatering succulents since they store water within the plant.
Succulents provide wonderful focal points for outdoor gardens. Additionally, they are simple to divide and spread. From stems, leaves, offsets, and young plants, the majority of species can be multiplied. Before planting succulent stems that have been propagated, check sure the callus has formed on the stems. Cuttings can be stored in paper towels or a small container if a pot is not available.
Make sure the soil has a good drainage system and is moist before planting your succulents outdoors. To prevent root rot, make sure to give the succulents enough sunlight and water. For optimum growth, they should be placed one to two inches apart. Select a succulent plant that requires comparable amounts of water and sunlight to keep them healthy.
You should think about bringing them inside if you live somewhere with a harsh winter. Succulents planted in containers can be simply moved indoors when the weather turns chilly. You won't have to be concerned about them drying out or dying this way.
Caring for succulents inside
It's crucial to keep in mind that succulents need a certain amount of light to thrive when caring for them inside. Insufficient light can weaken plants by stifling their growth. Knowing where to put your indoor succulents and what kind of light they require can help you provide the correct quantity of light for them. If you're a beginner, this can involve a little trial and error. The closest window with lots of light is the ideal location. Select a window that faces south or west for the best exposure.
Succulents flourish from both direct sunshine and early sun. Your plants will grow nicely in the morning sunlight because it is softer than the afternoon sun. Succulents lose their vibrant hues and become leggy in the absence of sufficient light. Repositioning them will quickly remedy this. Use an indoor grow light for your plants if you can't find a window that lets in direct sunlight.
Keep in mind that indoor environments are not native to succulents. They require comparable growing conditions indoors because they are accustomed to being in the sunlight. Your succulent should ideally be placed in a window that receives at least six hours of direct sunshine every day. If that isn't possible, you may also put them close to a fluorescent light to provide the plant the light it needs to grow healthily.
It's crucial to keep an eye on the water levels in your succulent. A succulent needs around six hours of sunlight each day; else, it will burn and perish. Increase the quantity of sunlight your succulent receives over time for the best outcomes.
Insects that harm succulents
Keep a keen look out for pest activity on your plants as your first course of action. Your succulents can sustain significant harm from a few pests, so you should make every effort to avoid infestations. Avoiding purchasing a plant that has been impacted by a pest is a smart approach to achieve this. Pests that can harm indoor succulents include spider mites. These little creatures create enormous colonies on the undersides of succulents and feed on their stems and leaves. They mostly eat by making holes in the topmost layer of fleshy leaves and sucking out the succulent's liquids. Warm, humid surroundings are preferred by these insects.
Mice are yet another nuisance to be aware of. Succulents are a favorite food of mice and other rodents. Mice often destroy plants by munching on the leaves. Additionally, the plants will start to seem dry or wilting. Luckily, most pest infestations do not cause succulent plants to perish.
Another typical pest is mealybugs. They have the ability to spread to neighboring plants and feed on succulent leaves. Removing the sick succulent from its pot is necessary if you find an infection. After that, mist the plant with a rubbing alcohol and water solution. After that, repot the plant in brand-new potting soil. Even if they are not a serious issue, ants might be a harbinger of other pests that may damage your succulent.
Place the plants in quarantine if you find an infestation to prevent the disease from spreading. Additionally, look for red spider mites on healthy plants. Because these insects are drawn to extreme aridity, it is recommended to routinely water and mist succulent plants.
Planting new succulents
Your succulent should be taken out of its current pot before you repot it. Then remove the old soil and replace it with new soil. Make sure the fresh soil has sufficient of nutrients and is well-drained. The new pot should, at the very least, be a few inches bigger than the old one. Use metal tweezers to pry smaller succulents away from their mother plant so that you can repot them.
Remove the entire root system from a succulent before repotting it. The succulent might need a new or smaller container if it has outgrown its current one. The root system must be carefully removed in order to prevent damage. Don't worry if you damage the roots; the plant will eventually heal itself. Healthy roots are light brown or yellow, while rotting or dead roots are black and sticky. Any roots that are longer than necessary can be cut.
If you decide to repot your succulents, make sure the soil is new and healthy whether you do it inside or outside. Make sure the succulent receives enough moisture and light. If it doesn't get enough, it could extend upward and appear spindly. To thrive, succulents require at least six hours of sunlight daily. Additionally, you should allow them adequate time between waterings to dry. The most common error is overwatering, therefore to avoid this, only water your succulents once a week.
Also crucial to remember is how much faster succulents develop than their adult cousins. This is so that they can eventually fill the entire pot with roots, which will take about a year to mature. A new pot should be used for mature plants every two to three years because they don't grow as quickly.