Taking Care of Succulents

Succulents make ideal houseplants for home gardens for two simple reasons: they are beautiful to look at and almost indestructible.

In technical terms, a succulent is any plant with thick, fleshy (succulent) water storage organs. They store water in their leaves, stems, or roots. Throughout their range, they've evolved to withstand arid conditions, from Africa (where many are native) to North America's deserts.

Due to this adaptive mechanism, plants of all shapes and sizes have developed an astonishing variety of leaf forms, including paddle leaves, tight rosettes, and bushy or trailing columns of teardrop leaves. identify a cactus make up a surprisingly large group of species, including some of the most well-known plants, such as agave plants and aloe plants, as well as many relatively unknown species. The cacti are a unique subgroup of succulents, as well as being cared for differently and having their own appearance.

There are many types of succulents, but the rules are pretty similar regardless of the species. Here are some general guidelines for growing top-quality succulents.

Light

A succulent that is kept outside or indoors needs at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. It is possible to tell whether they are getting enough light exposure by looking at their leaves some species will scorch if suddenly exposed to too much direct sunlight, while others turn white or brown as the plant bleaches out and the soft tissues are damaged.

Alternatively, under-exposed succulents will begin to stretch, resulting in an elongated stem and widely spaced leaves in a condition known as etiolation. The solution to this problem is to give the plant a better light source and prune the plants back to their original shape.

Soil

The soil mixture for succulent plants should be fast-draining and specially designed to allow them to thrive. To increase aeration and drainage, modify a regular potting mix with an inorganic agent, such as perlite, if you do not have access to a specialized mix.

For better soil drainage, pot your succulents in a terra cotta or clay planter. By using porous materials, you will be able to wick away moisture from the soil and prevent root rot.

Water

It is critical to water succulents generously during the summer. You should let their potting mix dry out between waterings, but never drown it. As the plants go dormant in the winter, cut back watering to every other month.

A succulent's failure is most often caused by overwatering (and the plant rot that follows). Although an overwatered succulent might appear healthy at first, the cause of death may have already set in underground, with rot spreading upward from the roots.

The leaves of overwatered succulents may turn yellow or white and lose their color when they are overwatered. Even if the plant is beyond repair, you can still remove it from its pot and examine its roots. If the roots are brown and rotted, you will need to cut them off and replant them into a drier potting mix, or you can take a healthy cutting and propagate the parent plant.

Under-watered plants first stop growing, then lose their leaves as a result of poor irrigation. The plant may also develop brown spots on its leaves.

Temperature and Humidity

People are surprised by how cold-tolerant succulents are. The desert, where there is often a marked contrast between night and day, has succulents that thrive in the colder nights, when temperatures reach 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Ideally, succulents prefer temperatures between 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, and temperatures between 50 degrees Fahrenheit and 55 degrees Fahrenheit at night.

There are different types of succulents when it comes to humidity. Although some prefer more humidity than others, as a general rule, they have no issue with humidity levels slightly above or below 80 percent.

Fertilizer

If your succulents are growing during the summer, fertilize them like your other houseplants. During the winter, you shouldn't fertilize at all.