I see a lot of people killing their succulents due to ignorance of how to care for them. Here’s a quick guide!
Lighting: Most* succulents require full sun, meaning they need direct sunlight for 4-6+ hours a day. South or west-facing windows are ideal for succulents. You can also move your succulent around windows throughout the day to give as much light as possible, if you want.
If your succulent has previously not received enough light, GRADUALLY give it more and more sun over two weeks. This will prevent sunburn.
Failure to give your succulent proper lighting will result in etiolation – a process in which your plant will grow lanky, weak stems in an attempt to find more light.
If you can’t provide enough light, succulents probably aren’t right for you. Look into lower light plants, such as pothos or peace lily!
Type of Pot: Succulents need a pot with a drainage hole. End of story. No rocks in the bottom will help, no bullshit. Drainage. Hole.
Size of Pot: Pick a pot no more than one inch larger than your plant’s rootball. Overpotting will kill your plant. Oversized pot = too much soil = more water than your plant can use = death from root rot.
Soil: Regular potting soil is terrible for succulents as it’s water-retentive. Succulents like well-draining soil with lots of perlite or pumice, and gritty ingredients such as fine bark or turface. Look for a cactus&succulent soil mix, or just improve regular soil by adding 50% perlite. Avoid anything with peat moss! Avoid MiracleGro.
Time to Water: Find a wooden toothpick for small pots, or a wooden dowel for larger ones. Insert the wood into the soil. If it comes out wet, with damp soil sticking to it, it’s not time to water yet. If it comes out clean and dry, your succulent is thirsty! Think of checking brownies with a toothpick to see if they’re done baking.
This is recommended because often times your finger cannot feel the soil towards the bottom of the pot, and you need to make sure all of the soil is dry before watering.
DO NOT WATER ON A SCHEDULE. DO NOT RELY ON A WETNESS METER (THEY ARE INEFFECTIVE). DO NOT WATER DAILY. Listen to your plant!
How to Water: When your succulent’s soil is dry, water thoroughly, until water drains out of the drainage hole. Allow all excess water to drain before putting it back into any saucers or decorative pots.
*Some succulents’ lighting needs may vary – such as Haworthias with “windows” in their leaves, who don’t like as much sun, or Sempervivums who need much more sun than most. Look up your specific plant’s care to be sure!
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