Succulents are a class of plants that come in a wide range of shapes, colors, and blooms. Their appearance varies depending on the species, but swollen leaves, pads, or stems are a common feature.
Succulents can survive on small amounts of water like dew and mist, which makes them resistant to drought. Therefore, they make excellent houseplants. Despite succulents being low-maintenance, they still need proper care for them to grow.
Here, we show you 7 ways to care for your succulents to keep them thriving:
1. Give Them Sunlight
In general, succulents love being in bright locations. They enjoy the sun, so you need to take them outside or at least leave them by your windows for 4 to 6 hours a day. When your succulents don’t get enough sunlight, you’ll notice elongation, or etiolation, or “leggy” succulents. Their stems get longer but paler and thinner.
2. Rotate Their Location
It’s also a good idea to re-locate or rotate your succulents. It’ll allow the plants to get sunlight on all sides and keep them healthy. Succulents tend to lean towards the sun, so rotating them will help them grow straight.
3. Give Enough Water
Succulents can survive with minimal water, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need enough water. Spraying water or misting isn’t enough for your succulents. On the contrary, it might just lead to harmful mold. When watering succulents, pour water directly onto the soil, making sure it’s soaked and water runs out of the drainage holes.
4. Use The Right Pot
If your succulents are outdoors, you’ll be needing a container with drainage holes. You don’t want waterlogged soil because it could rot the roots. Your container should have a drainage hole to allow excess water to escape.
If you have an indoor succulent, you can use well-draining soil. It’s coarser than regular soil, allowing more air to pass through and encouraging evaporation instead of requiring drainage.
5. Ensure They’re Bug-Free
Succulents are more vulnerable to pests indoors than they are outside. Check your plants often to make sure they don’t have gnats or mealy bugs. These bugs are a sign that your plants are getting too much water or fertilizer.
Mealy bugs and their eggs can be killed by spraying rubbing alcohol on the leaves or soil of your succulent.
6. Fertilize
Fertilizer during summer and spring is a good idea, but not all year round. Succulents can grow too quickly but become weak if they’re given too much fertilizer. To give your succulents a boost, use a diluted, water-soluble all-purpose fertilizer a few times a year.
7. Keep Your Succulents Clean
Your succulents’ growth can be hampered by dust and dirt. Wipe the leaves and spines down gently with a damp cloth, and use a soft paintbrush to reach hard-to-reach areas.
Your succulents may withstand harsh conditions, but they still need some love and care. So, go show your plants some love today. You can look up how to care for rare philodendron sodiroi or growing tips for painted-leaves begonia.
