Houseplants 101, taking care of succulents, House plants advice, Home Design

Houseplants 101: Taking Care of Succulents

2 June 2021

Succulents are plants that are very good at holding water. This makes them one of the best plants for beginners as they can handle being forgotten and still flourish. While there are very few plants that flourish without any help, succulents tend to be the closest to hassle-free gardening.

Of course, as with all houseplants, you do still need to look after your succulents to get the best from them.

Houseplants 101 – Succulents Care

Light Levels

The majority of succulents love sunlight and will need approximately 6 hours a day. However, you need to consider what type of succulent you have as they are not all keen on direct sunlight. Many succulents prefer to have indirect sunlight and ones that have been recently planted are often scorched by direct sunlight. This is because they are still establishing themselves.

New plants need to be introduced to sunlight slowly.

Rotation

Although they love sunlight, if you leave the plants in one position only one side of them will likely get the sun. This will cause the plant to lean that way. You may also note the back of the plant is not as healthy as the front. The good news is that this can be easily avoided, simply remember to rotate the pot at least once a week. This will even out the light exposure and make the plant healthier.

Watering Habits

Succulents are good at holding onto water but that doesn’t mean they never need watering! In fact, the plants thrive in the spring and summer and will require considerably more water than they do in the winter months.

The best approach with all succulents is to feel the soil in the pot. When the first inch of soil is dry you will need to add water. However, you don’t want to overwater. That is why it’s best to make sure the top part of the soil is dry before you water and to water the plant from the bottom, allowing the plant to control the water absorption rate.

You should have drainage holes in your pots and place them on a saucer or tray, this will allow you to add the water to the tray. You should never water or even mist the leaves, it will harm the plant.

Clean Them

When you keep succulents indoors you will quickly notice that they collect dust. It is a good idea to wipe this off from their leaves. If you don’t the plant will find it harder to get the light and oxygen it needs, stunting the growth of the plant. A quick brush with a damp cloth or a soft paintbrush is all you need to do.

Final Thoughts

Succulents don’t generally like waterlogged soil. That is why you should ensure there are drainage holes and that the soil has small pebbles in to help the water drain through. Using terra-cotta pots is a good starting point if you are new to succulents as they will help to maintain water balance.

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