Succulents are drought-tolerant plants that store water in their leaves, stems, or roots, evolved to survive arid environments. Their popularity is due to their unique shapes, vibrant colors, and reputation for being low-maintenance. While they are hardy, their success relies on understanding and replicating a few foundational care principles. They are easy to keep alive and thriving once their specific needs for water, light, and soil are properly met.
Mastering the Watering Routine
The greatest threat to a succulent is overwatering, which quickly leads to root rot. To avoid this, adopt the “soak and dry” method, which mimics the flash floods and long droughts of their natural habitat. Soak the soil thoroughly until excess water flows freely from the container’s drainage hole, ensuring the entire root system is hydrated.
After this deep soak, the soil must dry out completely before the next watering, which can take days or weeks depending on the environment. Do not adhere to a strict weekly schedule; instead, check the soil moisture by inserting a finger deep into the pot to ensure the soil is bone dry. Consistent light, shallow watering is harmful because it encourages only surface roots.
Seasonal changes affect how often your plant needs water, as most succulents enter dormancy during the colder winter months. Growth slows significantly during this time, and water needs decrease substantially, often requiring only a fraction of the water given during the active growing season. Factors like high indoor humidity, low temperatures, and less light slow the evaporation rate, meaning you must wait longer between watering sessions.
Providing Adequate Light
Succulents require bright light to maintain their compact shape and vibrant color. They thrive with several hours of bright, indirect light each day, or direct morning sun, which is less intense than afternoon sun. For indoor plants, a south-facing window typically provides the best and most consistent light exposure.
Insufficient light causes etiolation, where the plant stretches abnormally toward the nearest light source. Symptoms include pale, widely spaced leaves and a lanky, elongated stem. Etiolation cannot be reversed, so moving the plant to a brighter location is necessary to ensure the new growth is healthy and compact.
While they love light, succulents can suffer from sunburn, especially if moved suddenly from a shaded location to intense, direct afternoon sun. Sunburn appears as brown or crispy patches on the leaves. The plant must be moved to a slightly less intense spot or slowly acclimated to the brighter light over several weeks. Providing the right light is a balance, preventing both etiolation and scorching damage.
Selecting the Correct Soil and Container
A fast-draining, porous soil mix is foundational to preventing root rot caused by excess moisture retention. Standard potting soil is detrimental because it holds too much water, suffocating the roots. The recommended mixture is a commercial cactus and succulent mix amended with inorganic materials like perlite, pumice, or coarse sand to increase drainage and aeration.
Soil amendments should constitute a significant portion of the mix, sometimes ranging from 40% to 80% of the total volume. This gritty consistency allows water to pass quickly through the pot, mimicking the rocky, sandy soils of their native environments.
The container is just as important as the soil, as drainage holes are non-negotiable for healthy growth. A hole allows excess water to escape immediately after watering, preventing the roots from sitting in standing moisture. Containers without drainage holes, such as glass terrariums, significantly increase the risk of root rot. Porous materials like unglazed terracotta are preferred because they allow moisture to evaporate through the pot walls, helping the soil dry out faster.
Diagnosing and Solving Common Problems
When a succulent shows signs of distress, first identify whether the issue stems from overwatering or underwatering. Overwatered succulents exhibit soft, mushy, or translucent leaves that may turn black or yellow and fall off easily, with the stem feeling soft near the soil line. If root rot is suspected, immediately unpot the plant, cut away all dark, mushy roots and stems with a sterile knife, and allow the healthy parts to dry and callous before repotting in fresh, dry soil.
In contrast, an underwatered succulent displays wrinkled, shriveled, or deflated leaves, a sign the plant is drawing on its stored water reserves. The plant will feel firm, unlike a rotting one. The solution is a thorough soak using the “soak and dry” method, and the leaves should plump up again within a few days.
Etiolation is a clear indication of insufficient light. While the stretched growth cannot return to its compact form, the plant must be moved to a location with significantly brighter light to ensure new growth is healthy. To correct the appearance, the head of the plant can be cut off and allowed to callous before being replanted as a new, compact cutting.
Succulents may attract pests, with mealybugs being the most common, appearing as tiny, white, cottony masses in the leaf crevices or on the stem. These pests suck the sap and should be treated by dabbing them directly with a cotton swab dipped in 70% isopropyl alcohol, which kills them on contact. For a widespread infestation, a diluted neem oil solution can be applied, or the plant can be treated with a systemic insecticide to target mealybugs that have invaded the root system.