No indoor garden is complete without succulents. These miniature plants are a favorite of many gardeners and homeowners alike. They are easy to care for, often compact to display, and come in all shapes, sizes, and colors to complement decor.
Given how vigorous and resourceful these plants are, it’s no wonder they’re so popular. The problem is, mistakes can always be made, and that applies to succulents as much as anything else.
Remove one and your succulents will soon wilt and look even worse with wear. You may ask yourself – where did I go wrong? This is where we can help.
We’ve rounded up 7 mistakes to avoid when growing succulents, so you can see why your potted friend is unhappy. A simple change may be all you need for succulent plants to thrive again.
1. Over-watering
The biggest mistake when it comes to succulents is over watering. Succulents are often small, and this is true, so water will quickly drain out of the soil. However, this type of plant tends to retain water well – which is why the leaves look so plump – so the soil doesn’t need to be constantly wet. If the roots are exposed to prolonged moisture, this will only stimulate root rot, which will eventually kill the succulents.
Aim to water succulents once a week in the summer and once a month in the winter. The top of the soil should feel bone dry and crumble between your fingers when it’s time to water.
At the same time, do not immerse the succulent under water either. While these are hardy plants, a mist of water will not be enough for them to survive. Water it slowly and deeply with a designated small watering can, such as the HB Design Co Indoor Watering Can with Long Spout ($24.99, Amazon). In fact, we recommend against spraying these plants completely—this will only encourage rot and disease. Succulents prefer a dry climate.
2. Using the wrong soil
There is a right and wrong kind of soil to grow succulents in – it’s important that you use the right kind. It will provide the necessary nutrients and conditions your plant needs to grow. Succulents prefer soil that drains quickly, otherwise the roots get overly exposed to moisture, which will cause the plant to rot.
Because of this, generic soil from your yard won’t work and potting soil won’t work in common soil—both hold moisture well. Instead, look for a dedicated potting soil, such as Miracle-Gro Succulent Potting Mix ($14.49, Amazon). These soils tend to be loose and loose, which makes them ideal for succulents. If you want to make your own, combine 1 part coarse sand with 2 parts potting soil and 1 part perlite or pumice.
3. Using the wrong container
Even the container you grow your succulents in can affect their condition. First, we recommend always using a container with at least one drainage hole. This is necessary, otherwise excess water will not be able to flow out and will remain stored next to the roots. This encourages root rot. A fungal disease that is difficult to recover from and can kill succulents if left untreated. You can place a planter saucer under your pot to collect the water, though be sure to empty it out once the drain has finished.
We always recommend terra cotta pots over plastic as well. Not only do these things look better, but they are naturally more porous and breathable, which means they allow the soil to dry out more effectively. This type of container regulates soil temperature better, too, plus it’s naturally sturdier than plastic.
4. Not enough or too much sunlight
Your succulent plants need sunlight, just like most plants, except for this one 7 plants that can live without sunlight. So, a windowless basement or a shady bathroom won’t bode well for your freshness. Then again, you can have too much of a good thing. So direct sunlight around the clock wouldn’t be ideal either, especially if you’re growing young succulents.
Aim to give succulents a mixture of direct sunlight and partial shade. Roughly six hours of sunlight is good evidence; Morning sun is ideal for less mature plants because they are less dense. So, if you have an extra east-facing window sill, this might be a good spot. Try introducing new light conditions gradually to see how your succulent plants respond. For example, start with two hours of direct sun and slowly increase it over the course of a few weeks. Do not overexpose succulents in the sun, otherwise the leaves may burn.
Of course, every succulent is different — some varieties prefer more or less direct sunlight than others — so you may have to research specific requirements and experiment to find the optimal balance.
5. Forget about feeding
While the succulent may be young, it still needs to be fed. Your soil provides the basics, but a helping hand from some fertilizer can really make it thrive. Don’t use any fertilizer though, buy a dedicated succulent fertilizer, such as Miracle-Gro Succulent Plant Food ($12.94, Amazon). This will provide a good balance of the nutrients required for optimal growth. Alternatively, you can use compost tea.
Follow directions shown for dilution and dosage. We recommend feeding succulent plants during the spring and summer months, once the dormancy period is over. Once a month can make a big difference, or even twice a year.
6. Squeeze a lot together
Succulent plants look very decorative, there is no doubt about that. For this reason, several varieties are often pressed together into a single container, to give them the best wow factor. It can be sold that way, and sometimes we choose to grow it that way. However, such cramped conditions are not a good thing for succulents. This limits the space for them to grow, and forces them to compete with each other for water and nutrients in the soil.
If your succulents struggle under these conditions, separate them and give each one its own container and space. If you need instructions, check it out How to re-plant succulents. Under the right conditions, the plants can grow, mature, and possibly even produce offshoots, so you’ll have a constant supply of succulents.
7. Place it near a heat source
Succulent plants generally prefer a dry climate, but that doesn’t mean they’ll thrive next to a radiator or stove. Such hot conditions will quickly dehydrate the plant and leave it in a deteriorating state. Likewise, never leave succulents near an open window or near an air conditioner. While they are very tolerant of fluctuating temperatures, they are not great for succulents. Instead, aim for a consistent temperature of 40-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Again, the “sweet spot” temperature will vary depending on the variety of succulents. Depending on your region, you may want to research preferences beforehand and choose a succulent plant based on that to give it the best chance of blooming.
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