What to Do to Grow Succulents

· 3 min read
What to Do to Grow Succulents

Gardeners love succulents for two reasons: they're beautiful and practically indestructible.

In technical terms, a succulent is any plant with thick, fleshy (succulent) water storage organs. Succulents store moisture in their leaves, stems, and roots. From Africa (where many are native to) to North America's desert, they're adapted to survive arid conditions throughout the world.

An incredible variety of interesting leaf forms and plant shapes are a result of this mechanism, including paddle leaves, tight rosettes, and bushy or trailing columns of teardrop leaves. The succulent plant group includes some of the most famous plants, like aloe and agave, as well as many nearly unknown varieties that only grow in their natural environments. Furthermore, cacti are distinct from succulents and offer their own individual care and appearance.

There aren't many differences between different types of succulents as far as the rules go. You need to follow the following guidelines for growing succulents of the highest quality.

Light
Plants should receive at least six hours of sunlight each day, whether indoors or out. You can check how much light exposure you're giving your plants by looking at their leaves. Some species will scorch if suddenly exposed to too much direct sunlight,  while others will have leaves that turn brown and white as the plant bleaches out and soft tissues disappear.

Under an under-exposed environment, a succulent will begin to stretch, resulting in an elongated stem and tightly arranged leaves, a phenomenon called etiolation. The solution is to provide the plant with a more efficient light source and prune the plant back to its original shape.

Soil
It is recommended to pot succulents in a fast-draining mixture specifically designed for cacti and succulents. Instead of  what type of succulent do i have  specialized mix, consider using an inorganic agent such as perlite to increase aeration and drainage.

For better soil drainage, pot your succulents in a terra cotta or clay planter. The porous nature of these materials helps to wick away moisture from the soil, protecting succulent roots from rot.

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During the summer, succulents need to be watered liberally. It is best to let the potting mix dry between waterings, but do not submerge them. Reduce watering to once every two months in winter, when plants go dormant.

Overwatering (and the subsequent plant rot) is one of the main reasons succulent plants fail. Overwatered succulents may at first plump up and seem very healthy. However, the cause of death may already have set in underground, with rot spreading upward.

They may turn yellow or white and lose their color if they are overwatered.2 Their leaves are soft and discolored. Even if a plant is beyond repair in this condition, you can still remove it from its pot and inspect its roots. Repot the plant into drier potting media or propagate it from a healthy cutting if the roots are brown and rotted.

An unwatered plant also stops growing and sheds leaves after being under-watered. Brown spots may also appear on the leaves.

Temperature and Humidity
Plants like succulents are much more cold tolerant than most people think. Succulents, found in desert regions where the nighttime temperature varies dramatically from daytime temperatures, thrive in those nights when the nighttime temperature reaches 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Succulents prefer daytime temperatures of 70 degrees Fahrenheit to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and nighttime temperatures of 50 degrees Fahrenheit to 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

There are different types of succulents when it comes to humidity. While some prefer higher humidity levels than others, a general rule of thumb is to set humidity levels at or slightly below 80 percent humidity.

Fertilizer
Feed your succulents during their summer growing season in the same way you would your other houseplants. During winter, do not fertilize at all.