How to Care for Succulents

I LOVE succulents.  If you maintain them, which is super easy to do, they always look great.  They make great centerpieces, for pretty much any occasion, they are excellent house plants, and here in my neck of the woods, they look great in outdoor landscaping.  {Does it sound like I am running for the Succulent Promotion Council?  I am having cards made up as we speak.  It’s all very official 🙂 }

Like I said, maintaining them is a piece of cake, once you know what you are supposed to do.  Here’s the 411 on caring for succulents:

1. Water.  Succulents have unique watering needs.  During their growing season {the warmer months}, they actually need consistent watering.  Allow them to dry out completely between waterings.  In the cooler months, cut back watering to just once a month.  They will go dormant, and just won’t need tons of water.
2. Light.  Because cactus are actually a type of succulent, some people think all succulents love direct heat and sun, but not true my friends.  Afternoon sun can actually burn them.  They do, however, enjoy plenty of light.  How is that for conflicting information? 🙂  Your best bet is to place them in a south facing window, but move them back quite a bit in the dead of summer.  If you plant them outside, plant them in spot that they aren’t exposed to direct afternoon sunlight.
3. Temperature.  If you only have succulents as houseplants, you don’t really need to worry about this one.  They are happiest in a range of about 50-85 degrees–which is actually a pretty significant spread, if you ask me.  Outside, they can tolerate higher and lower temperatures, but you may notice some signs of stress.
4. Soil.  Because succulents tend to grow naturally in very sandy well-drained soil, make sure to choose a potting soil designed for cactus and/or succulents.  If you can’t find any, you can mix regular potting soil with perlite, to encourage drainage.
5. Pots.  If you will be potting your succulents, make sure your pots have sufficient drainage holes.  This is pretty much a standard rule of thumb for all potted plants, but I thought I would mention it anyway.

That’s it.  If you take care of those 5 little items, your succulents should stay pretty happy.

~Mavis

Need a creative way to showcase your succulents?  Try making a succulent terrarium or you can try a  succulent living wall planter.