Published by Programme B
Succulents are an excellent choice for houseplants, particularly if you lack a green thumb. You’ve probably seen them in interior design magazines, as part of lavish wedding centerpieces, and on social media. Right now, succulents are all the rage. The oft-repeated claim that succulents are simple to grow is far from the facts. It can be easy, but it does necessitate some mental adjustment.
Succulents are low-maintenance plants, but you should know a few things to make sure they survive. Even with daily watering, you can notice that your leaves are falling off or that your sedum is becoming wrinkled. Here are some expert care tips to help those beauties prosper.
Make Sure Your Succulents Get Enough Light
Indoor succulents need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day, depending on the species. If there isn’t any sunlight available, an artificial light source may be used to compensate. Since freshly planted succulents inside may be vulnerable to direct sunlight, you will need to acclimate them to total sun exposure over time or cover them with a sheer curtain.
Water Succulents Heavily, But Not Often
Succulents are among the most demanding plants on the planet. Since they are native to dry, arid areas, they are used to drought. Smothering your plant with too much affection is the surest way to take it to an early grave (water). Succulents prefer their roots to be soaked and then the soil to dry quickly. In short, the roots need a thorough but infrequent soaking.
Making a habit of watering your succulents on the same day of the week can be beneficial. However, there are a few things to bear in mind in this situation:
- You can only need water every other week or so if you live in a more humid climate.
- Succulents with thicker leaves need less watering than succulents with thin leaves.
- Make it a habit to rotate your succulent every time you water it to ensure that the whole plant gets enough water.
Propagate Your Succulents
Succulent propagation is a simple way to create new succulents from parts of your existing ones. If your plant appears healthy and developing well, consider propagating a piece to grow into a new baby plant. There are a few different ways to spread succulents. Choosing which propagation method to use on which plant often needs prior knowledge, but with practice, you’ll be able to predict which method to use on a given plant fairly accurately. Here is the best way to propagate succulents.
- Using sharp scissors make a slit in the succulent. Be sure to cut just above a leaf to ensure that you have enough plants to grow on its own.
- Allow for drying time after cutting. Enable 3-7 days for the cut to heal and scab over.
- Set your succulent cuttings on top of the soil and water gently, just enough to moisten the top layer of soil.
- You should replant your succulent cutting in fresh soil once the succulent starts to grow roots. On average, the procedure takes about 2-3 weeks.
Plant Succulents In Soil That Drains Easily
Most succulents can thrive in a potting mix specifically designed for succulents and cacti. Standard potting soil often contains too much organic matter to assist in moisture preservation, which is beneficial to most plants but not succulents. You may also use a mixture of potting soil, sand, and perlite, a whitish volcanic rock that is highly absorbent and aids drainage.
Remember to make your final decision based on the particular succulent varieties you’re developing, as requirements can differ. The most important thing to look for, however, is that your growing medium drains well.
Fertilize Your Succulents
Succulents are slow-growing plants that need the perseverance to see their full potential. There are, however, some ways to speed up the operation, such as fertilizing. Any decent soluble fertilizer from a garden center will do the trick. You should possibly use it at half the recommended pace for succulents, which is every two months.
It can be challenging to fertilize potted plants at times. The most effective method is to dissolve it in water and then apply the fertilized water to the plant. You will need to use larger pots for specific plants that proliferate. Otherwise, they can always be held in the same pot for long periods. They will flourish and candle in a compact root system.
Succulents are becoming increasingly common year after year. They have a large selection of succulents from various plant families, and many people associate succulents with the Cactaceae family of desert flora. Succulents must be cared for according to the recommendations above to stay safe and happy.