A Simple Guide to Succulent Care

Are you a sucker for succulents? Because I sure am!

These little guys are a popular pick to add a splash of green to any space, and they can be easy to care for if you follow these tips.

Light Conditions: 

Succulents need a minimum of five to six hours of sunlight every day in order to thrive. Place them close to a bright, sunny window, but not so close that they will feel the cold temperatures in the winter.

Potting & Drainage: 

Succulents will not survive without proper drainage. Either keep them in their plastic grower’s pot in which they were purchased or a clay pot with a proper drainage hole.

The best potting mix to use is a sandy soil mix, not regular potting soil. Tropical soil mix recipes are often made to keep moisture in your plants, but good succulent soil will be about 30%-40% sand to allow water to run through.

If you are planting your succulents in a terrarium or a pot without a hole, layer lots of stones in the bottom for proper drainage.

Watering:

Succulents prefer to get a really good soak, and then to dry out completely between waterings.

Watering frequency depends on the size of your succulent pot – the smaller the container, the more frequent the watering. Small 2-3” pots will need to be watered every seven to ten days, and 4-6” pots will need to be watered every couple of weeks. If you find your succulents are drying out quicker due to the climate in your home, you may have to water them more often.

Water from the base of the plant, not the top. If you water from the top of the plant and get the ‘petals’ of the succulent wet, they will likely rot.

To water from the bottom, fill your sink or a bowl with an inch of room temperature water, ensuring the water is not higher than the edge of the pot. Gently place your succulent pots with drainage holes in the water. 

To make sure they don’t float and fall over, hold the plants down for a few seconds until the water soaks into the base.

Let your plants sit in the water for a couple of minutes – you will know they are done when you can feel a difference in the weight of the pot. Always let the excess water drain before placing the drainage pot inside a decorative one so water doesn’t sit at the base of the plant. 

Growing:

It’s normal for succulents to slow their growth during the darker and colder winter months, as they go dormant. Don’t be discouraged if your succulent isn’t shooting new leaves or growing as quickly as you would like. It will most likely make up for that in the sunny summer months!

Check out our stunning selection of succulents on our online shop, and don’t miss your chance to sign up for our Pumpkins and Succulents Workshop!