Love growing succulents but cant get the hang of taking care of them?
View in gallery
Even thoughsucculent plantshave a reputation for being tough plants, keeping succulents alive can be tricky.
For folks that are new to growing succulents and cacti, these quirky plants are most definitely tough.
And they have to be so you can survive in the arid climate theyre native to.
Succulent plants can withstand the dry heat of desert days, and the chilly nights that follow.
You know how deserts go long period of time without rain?
But once it does rain, its a heavy downpour?
Because of these drought conditions, cacti and other succulents do best with a thorough soaking of water.
But only as needed.
However,the environment of your plantswill make all the difference in how often you end up watering succulents.
Generally speaking, the more light indoor plants get, the more often they need to be watered.
If youll bekeeping your succulents in pots, youll need to ensure that they have adequate drainage holes.
When you water indoor succulents, good drainage is key.
If there isnt a proper drainage hole, the pot will store water.
And that can lead to root rot.
Another important factor in your setup is proper potting mix.
Of course, this ultimately depends on yourindoor environment.
Higher humidity indoors will lead to watering succulents less frequently.
When you water your succulents, check to verify theyre thriving.
How Often to Water Outdoor Succulents
In the outdoors, succulents are found throughout arid desert regions.
If you live in an arid climate, youre in good shape to just let your plants vibe.
And that can leave you watering your plantsevery few weeks to once a month.
Buthow much sun your plant getsis a major factor.
High sun means more evaporation.
Which means watering more often.
Keep in mind that once you start an outdoor garden youre at the mercy of the elements.
And these conditions vary by the month.
So, how much does the current season influence how often you oughta water succulents?
How Often Should You Water Succulents in Winter Months vs Warmer Months?
As the seasons change, the needs of your plants change as well.
Therefore, what works for you in warm months wont cut it in the cooler parts of the year.
But how do you work with these seasonal changes?
Keep reading for tips on how often to water succulents throughout the year, in the winter and summer.
Because in cold weather, succulents go into a dormant state.
Which meansthey wont need as much water.
But that will occur less often once winter comes around.
Instead of watering every couple of weeks, you could end up goingover a month between watering.
For indoor succulents, youll want to be mindful of how often you water.
Typically, indoor plants need less water throughout the winter.
When succulents are in a dormant state, they arent using energy grow.
Therefore, they dont need water.
You have to trust the process and let them do their thing.
Either way, check your outdoor plants often to see to it theyre not thirsty.
Do you have dry soil?
Are the leaves drying out?
Then its time to add some water.
Because with all that extra heat, the soil will dry out faster.
When you water your succulents in warmer months, its important that you water them in the morning.
Then the soil has all day to dry out in the hot sunlight.
If you water succulents at night, they could be sitting in a pool of water for hours.
And that can lead to issues like root rot and mold growth.
Ultimately, your best bet for watering succulents is to keep an eye out for dry soil.
And when that soil is bone dry, water them at the roots until theyre soaked through.
Aboutevery 14 dayswill do for the summer season.
Related Reading:Different Types of Grass that Make Hardy Lawns
Does Size Matter When Watering Succulents?
When it comes to succulents and water, size definitely matters.
Forlarge succulents, youll need a larger pot.
Which means more water.
Because of the excess water, your succulentcan go as long as 14 days without water.
And possibly longer, depending on how dry the environment is.
Once you move down in size,medium succulentscan go roughly a week without watering.
Lately, the most popular types of succulents are incredibly small.
Some in pots that are only an inch or two big.
Due to their small size, the water absorbs faster.
Of course, even with frequent watering, small succulents only need a small amount of water to thrive.
To ensure that your succulent plants are happy and healthy, you should make a schedule for them.
But how should you go about creating your watering schedule?
Unfortunately theres no set in stone schedule that we can give you for succulent care.
Instead, coming up with the best watering schedule for your plants requires trial and error.
One of the most popular ways to water succulents is with the soak and dry method.
For this watering method, water the soil mix until it is entirely wet.
And remember, dont use a spray bottle.
Other plants might enjoy the added moisture, but succulent leaves dont.
Then monitor the moisture level each day.
What youre looking for is completely dry soil.
Only water succulent plants when the soil dries.
Also, remember to look closely at the leaves.
If theyre swelling or breaking off at the stem, youre using too much water.
However, if you have dry, shriveling leaves, dont stress.
Your succulent is still alive, its just time for more water.
Eventually, youll find the right balance of what works for your plants and what doesnt.
But if your succulents environment changes throughout the year, the rate of water evaporation could change too.
Which can lead to keeping more records.
However, once you establish what works best, how do you keep up with it all?
If thats the case for you, its wise to set alarms or add a reminder in your calendar.
Generally speaking, youll be able to go days before you have a totally dry succulent.
Although dont forget, regular watering means something different for each plant.
But constant watering is most definitely going to drown your succulent.
But with smaller succulents, that might not be an option.
Have you ever used a toothpick to test whether a cake is done baking?
Well, this is the same process, only not as tasty.
What you do is take a toothpick and stick it in the soil.
If it comes up clean, go ahead and add water.
But if you pull out the toothpick and theres wet soil stuck to it, dont water it!
Making sure you dont leave your succulent sitting in water is crucial to keeping them alive.
So, only water as often as necessary.
How to Water Succulents Happy Gardening
While succulents can be low effort plants, theyre also dramatic.
And its important to know how often to water your succulents.
Because water too often and youll drown them.
But not often enough and theyll shrivel up.
Hopefully our advice helps you come up with a water schedule thats the right balance for your plants.
