Succulents are popular plants in both containers and landscapes for a good reason. They are low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, and easy to care for. Even "brown thumb" types can keep a succulent alive.
These plants are also popular because they are so beautiful in their own surreal way. They may come from all over the world, but most look like they come from outer space or deep beneath the sea. Their strong architectural forms, gorgeous colors, and intriguing textures will bring out your inner artist, and their seemingly infinite variety will tempt you to become a collector. Very few people can stop after just one succulent!
Soil
All succulents require excellent soil drainage. This means water should drain quickly through the pot so the roots don't become waterlogged. Succulents can die from being planted in ordinary potting soil. When potting succulents, use bagged soil labeled as being for cacti and succulents. You can easily find it at most nurseries.
If you want to mix your own soil, you will find many recipes in books and online, and you will need to decide which works best for you. Some common recommendations include mixing potting soil 1:1 with perlite. You could also mix ordinary potting soil 1:1 with sharp sand (also called builder's sand). Or you could try 2 parts potting soil, 1 part perlite, and 1 part tiny gravel. If you squeeze a handful of moist soil in your fist and let it go, it shouldn't hold its shape but should fall apart.
Water
Succulents are adapted to survive in harsh, dry conditions by storing water in their flesh. However, that doesn't mean they dislike water when they can get it. They are a little like camels in this way! The key tip for growing succulents is that they do not like being waterlogged. Therefore, you are far more likely to kill your succulent by overwatering it than by underwatering it.
Let the soil in the pot dry slightly between waterings. In general, you would want to give your plants just enough water to keep their leaves plump and no more. It is hard to generalize, but this may mean watering potted plants once a week or so, depending on conditions. A pot on a hot patio may require more water than one kept indoors. A small pot dries out faster than a big pot. Plants need more water in summer than in winter. Touch the soil to determine whether it is dry. Succulents in the ground will need water every two weeks, depending on conditions. Remember, it is better to let them become slightly dehydrated than to overwater them.
When watering, water until the water soaks through and runs out the bottom of the pot. Use fast-draining soil so the pot's bottom doesn't get waterlogged.
Signs of overwatering: Leaves become squishy and change color, becoming paler, even white, or perhaps brown. You will see root rot if you lift the plant out of its pot. To rescue the situation, cut off the healthiest-looking parts and repot them in drier soil.
Signs of underwatering: When stressed for water, succulents draw water from their leaves and stems, resulting in a thin, wrinkled appearance. This is less serious than rot from overwatering. They will plump up again after a good watering. They are amazingly resilient but not indestructible, and if they go too long without water, they will drop all their leaves.
Note: Some succulents go dormant during portions of the year and do not want to be watered during this time.
Light
Succulents evolved in dry climates but should not be confused with tough desert cacti. Generally, full sun outdoors suits Aloes and Agaves, but Echeverias prefer a bit of shade or dappled sunlight. Most succulents appreciate some shade during the hottest part of the day.
You can keep potted succulents indoors, but they don't do well in dim light. Instead, find a sunny window for them and give them "sun vacations" outdoors.
Signs a plant is getting too much light: Leaves may scorch, develop brown, black, or white patches, or look burnt or withered. When bright sunlight stresses green succulents, they may turn deep red or yellow. This can be attractive, but it also signals that you should pay close attention to keep them from getting too stressed. Consider moving the pot to a less sunny location.
Sign a plant is getting too little light: A plant desperate for the sun will reach or lean toward the light. Sometimes it invests significant energy in elongating its stem, as if it were stretching out the window for more light. This is what is called "getting leggy."
Legginess is a sure sign of light starvation. You can trim leggy plants into a more attractive shape, repot them, and move them to a brighter location. Unfortunately, light-deprived plants can also become generally sickly and more susceptible to insect infestation.
If you move a pot to a brighter location, especially from indoors to outdoors, give it time to adjust. Let it spend its first few days outdoors in the shade, then in the dappled sun. Moving it straight into full sun might shock the plant and cause it to burn.
Pests
Succulents are pretty tough, but they can still have insects and other pests. Snails and mealybugs are two common foes.
Containers
Succulents adapt well to many types of containers, from fancy ceramics to funky found art objects. They are shallow-rooted, as a rule, so that they can thrive in containers too shallow for regular plants. The key rule for containers is to include drainage holes. These days, it is trendy to pop succulents into all sorts of containers, like canning jars or antique vases, but if the container doesn't have a drainage hole at the bottom, you're at high risk of overwatering your plants.
The good news is that you can make a drainage hole in almost anything with an electric drill. Specialty drill bits come in different materials, including glass and ceramics. Ask your local hardware store for a bit that matches your container. While at the hardware store, purchase 3-in-1 oil and apply it to ceramic bits to prevent smoking. Metal containers are perhaps the easiest to work with. You can make holes in tin cans and old metal containers with a hammer and nail.
Suppose you skip the drainage hole, water sparingly, and hope for the best. In such cases, taller containers work better than shallow ones because water tends to gather in the low parts of the pot, so short-rooted succulents have a better chance of keeping their feet dry if all the water sinks to the bottom of a deep pot. You can also treat your succulents more like cut flowers and assemble temporary arrangements, such as a table centerpiece. In these cases, you don't have to worry about drainage, light, or anything else.
Temperature
Your outdoor plants should be fine down to 40°F (4.5°C) or slightly lower. Freezing temperatures can damage succulents, except for certain Sedums and Sempervivums, which are cold-tolerant. If you hear there will be a frost, bring your potted succulents inside or into a shelter, like a garage. In places with frosty winters, succulents need to be potted up and moved to shelter for the entire winter.
Source: rootsimple.com
Links
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus