Succulents are one of the most popular plants today, and it’s easy to see why. They grow fast, can take a wide range of conditions, and come in incredible colors, shapes, and sizes.
The world of succulents is growing, and there’s no denying it. These little plants can bring much life and beauty to our homes, offices, and outside spaces. They’re beautiful, easy to care for, and inexpensive. Here you’ll find information on how to grow succulents if you need help figuring out where to begin. Our guide is divided into several parts and covers topics such as soil, water, lighting, watering, fertilization, and much more. Once you read this guide, you’ll be on your way to adding succulents to your home, office, and outdoors.
There’s a lot to learn from succulents. These plants have long been considered a decorative plant because of its many shapes and forms. Its most well-known use, however, is as a houseplant. It doesn’t require much maintenance to keep it looking beautiful, and the leaves and stems can be harvested as a natural alternative to string.
The best time to grow succulents is spring and summer. But they will still survive during the winter. You can plant them outside or indoors under a sunny window. To grow succulents inside, you need a window with southern exposure. You should choose a suitable variety of succulents for your home and place them in a spot that gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. You can also purchase starter kits and pots for your succulents, but you’ll probably want a pot with a drainage hole if you’re starting.
Planting: How to Choose the Right Site
The key to choosing the right type of succulent is to consider your space first. What’s the space like? What is the light like? If you have a full-sun environment, look for plants that can tolerate direct sunlight or need shade. Do you live in an area where there is wind? If so, look for plants that can withstand wind. Are there any areas of the room where water can accumulate, such as windowsills or under-potted plants? These are all questions you should ask yourself before deciding on the best succulents for your space.
Growing: How to Water and Care for Your Plants
Watering your succulents is one of the most important things to do. If you do it right, you can keep the soil moist and prevent the succulents from dehydrating. It’s essential to keep the soil moist, especially during the summer. If you do this, your succulents can grow in a nice pot. During the day, plants should be kept in the shade. It is best to place the plants outside in the evening when the sun isn’t too harsh.
Make sure that they are well protected against insects and disease. Be careful of the water that you give them, though. A good rule of thumb is that the water should be two inches deep. Never pour water directly onto the soil. This could cause the soil to become too wet. Instead, sprinkle the top of the soil with water. They need a lot of sunlight, so don’t put them in a shaded area. This could cause them to become ill.
Hardiness.
Succulents are known to be one of the hardiest houseplants that can also survive in dry climates, which makes them an excellent option for indoor plant care. Succulents come from desert regions and thrive best under hot and sunny conditions. These plants do not require too much water or fertilizer, which means that succulents are easy to grow and maintain indoors. Succulent plants grow slowly and rarely become unruly or messy as they don’t need pruning often.
Ensure Your Succulents Get Enough Light.
Depending on the succulent, they require between six and ten hours of sunlight daily. Newly planted succulents need to be protected from direct sunshine to prevent scorching. Prepare them for direct sunshine by gradually increasing exposure time or giving shade with a translucent screen.
Seasonal Waterings.
Overwatering succulents will quickly kill the plant, so ensure dry soil periods in between watering. They need more energy during the growth phase. During the spring and summer seasons, succulents flourish and are aggressively sucking up nutrients and water, followed by a resting phase during the fall and winter months. Overwatering can be disastrous for the plant, so ensure dry soil periods before watering.
Succulents Care
If you keep your houseplant in a dusty environment, its development will be limited. Remove dust and grime from inaccessible areas using a soft brush and a damp cloth, then wipe the surfaces of the leaves and spines clean with a damp cloth.
Proper Drainage
Succulents require well-drained soil to avoid rot when water is unable to drain quickly. A hole at the bottom of the container to let water out is a must. When starting, terra cotta containers are best.
Plant Succulents in the Right Soil
Since these plants require well-drained soil, standard potting mix or garden dirt won’t cut it. You can use cactus dirt, potting soil, or a combination of the three. Be careful not to damage the succulent plant’s roots during repotting.
Preventing and Treating Pest and Bugs.
Bugs and other pests shouldn’t be an issue with indoor succulents, but there are always exceptions. Scale, mealybugs, and root mealybugs are the most prevalent pests. Spider mites and fungus gnats are two examples of uncommon pests. These pests can be difficult to eradicate because of their small size and propensity for hiding in inconspicuous areas.
Succulents placed in waterlogged soil typically attract gnats. To kill worms and other pests that may have made their way into the soil, spray isopropyl alcohol at a 70% concentration into the ground. Mealybugs are yet another insect that can attack your succulents. Usually, mealybug infestations are the result of either overwatering or over-fertilizing. Remove diseased plants from the succulent garden and treat them with isopropyl alcohol at 70% strength.
Feeding Succulents
Since succulents have a short growing season, the best time to fertilize them is spring and summer. Fertilizing too much might hasten the growth of your plants, which can lead to their eventual weakness.
Move Your Plant Frequently
Make it a point to move your Succulent if left in direct sun. Left untouched in the sun for an extended period of time will cause only one side of the plant to receive more sunlight depriving the other side of light. Succulents will naturally tilt towards the sun, so moving them around often will ensure the plant stands straight.
