How To Grow Succulents - Planting And Take Care of Them

Ever wanted to grow your own succulents? You are not alone. Some breeds have always been popular (like aloe or hens and chicks), while other, more unusual breeds are popular today (like live rock).

And it’s hard to find a popular gardening news article or Instagram feed without at least a few.

While all plants have their own unique characteristics, it’s not difficult to meet their needs if you know the situation. Succulents will reward you with a range of unique colors, shapes, sizes and textures. With any luck, you may even get them to bloom.

Whether you’re looking to plant some on a sunny windowsill to take care of, or have a patch of sandy soil just begging to fill in full sun, the following tips will help you know how to grow succulents and the ways choose the best succulent parent plug.

Table of Contents

What Are Succulents?

Curiously, some botanists and horticultural experts disagree on which plants are technically succulents. Their appearance varies from species to species, but one common feature is swollen leaves, pads, or stems. The exact classification of any particular plant must be left to the experts, but in any case, all types of succulents, or those that look like succulents, look beautiful, are easy to care for, and have few surprises in their lifetime cycle.

Also, referring to the dictionary, succulents have thick stems or leaves that can hold water. This unique adaptation enables plants to survive in low humidity areas of the world. Succulents are generally thought to be native only to arid regions such as deserts, but they also belong to forested regions, alpine regions, coasts, and arid tropical regions. There are more than 50 families classified as succulents. There are xerophytic succulents that thrive in dry areas and halophytes that live in swampy saline soils. Xerophytic succulents are the best known form and are widely used as indoor or garden plants.

Let the Light Shine

Most succulents are native to hot, dry climates, and their lighting needs are high. Therefore, full sun is a must.

They do well in particularly warm and bright windows, and in colder climates it is advisable to move outdoor succulents to indoor pots in winter. However, keep in mind that houseplants usually won’t bloom for you.

Green succulent plant in a small black plastic pot on a white railing, with a white fence in the background. — Photo by Allison Sidhu.

Of course, many gardeners love a challenge, and it’s not entirely impossible to get flowers indoors when using grow lights.

Some succulents also tolerate a little shade, and many succulents that have been in dappled sun or partial shade for a while will actually change color when exposed to bright light.

A long, pink succulent stem with white star-shaped flowers at the end is in the foreground, with a small shallow planter of more green and orange specimens behind it, on a slate tile. — Photo by Allison Sidhu.

Like tanning, stressed succulents can take on a beautiful “red” or reddish hue when exposed to a lot of light. This can change throughout the year as the sun changes and different amounts of water become available.

How Dry I Am

Now we have to take care of watering.

Did you know that succulents are “xerophytes”?

By definition, these species require very little water and store water in their fleshy leaves and stems. They are often used in “xeriscapes” or landscapes designed to conserve water.

A purple watering can on a white deck railing beside a small potted succulent, with a purple flowering potato plant growing along a white fence in the background. — Low moisture requirements and minimal maintenance are hallmarks of growing succulents. Photo by Allison Sidhu.

However, low moisture does not mean no moisture. When the soil is completely dry or you notice leaves starting to wilt, it’s time to water, especially during the growing season. On the other hand, during hibernation, water demand is low.

If you accidentally overwater or experience wet rain for a while, try to empty containers and garden beds as much as possible to prevent rot. A sign of excess moisture is yellowing of the leaves.

Closeup of an overwatered jade plant with light yellow-green leaves bordered with red, growing in a pot topped with pebbles. — The leaves of this jade plant, Crassula ovata, have yellowed from excess moisture. Photo by Allison Sidhu.

For best results, plant the special succulent mix directly in a well-drained pot or in well-drained sandy soil.

Terracotta pots on racks with pebbles on the bottom before filling are perfect for this, but keep in mind that this material dries out quickly.

A green jade plant with leaves bordered in red and orange, growing in brown soil topped with beige pebbles, in a terra cotta pot, on slate tile next to a potted ice plant. — The same plant, after repotting for better drainage (and a bit of time). Photo by Allison Sidhu.

There is no simple rule of thumb for watering frequency; recommending watering once or twice a week may seem like a magic solution, but the truth is that many factors come into play – including plant size, potted or planted area, average temperature and humidity and seasons.

Don’t be afraid to dip your fingers in the dirt a few inches to see if your baby is actually soaked, and use a rain gauge outdoors to monitor rainfall.

Need A Dose of Healthy Nutrients?

Not all experts agree, but my point is that succulents generally do not need supplemental fertilizer. When planted in well-drained, fertile soil or potting soil marketed for these types of plants, they will thrive on their own with little to no supplemental intervention.

A pink succulent rosette, growing in bright sunshine. — Photo by Allison Sidhu.

This is especially true if you repot your succulents from houseplants into soil each year with warmer weather, or replant them into new soil each year.

However, keep in mind that overwatering, planting in areas with insufficient soil, and even a healthy growing and blooming season can deplete soil nutrients more quickly, and a lack of blooms or other failures may also indicate the need for some intervention.

Be sure to use a slow-release, low-nitrogen fertilizer recommended for succulents. Compost tea is another option favored by many gardeners. Add one of these to the base of a succulent in moist soil, carefully avoiding the plant itself to prevent the leaves from burning.

Variegated yellow and green, and light green red-tipped succulents, growing with other plants in a garden bed topped with brown mulch. — Photo by Allison Sidhu.

Succulents are also prone to rot if there is too much nitrogen in the soil or potting soil. So if you’re changing your potting mix, this is another reason to use a slow-release, low-nitrogen product.

Plants in small pots usually require less than the marked amount and dilution with water is recommended. Excessive fertilization promotes leggy growth and should be fertilized in the spring when new growth is emerging and the plant is in an active growth phase, not in winter when the plant is dormant.

Gray-blue succulent rosettes with a long, single stalk topped with pink flowers, in a cement planter with other flora. — Photo by Allison Sidhu.

Another caveat to keep in mind: Indoor climates are very different from the conditions that plants face when grown outdoors in hot, dry climates. For many plants, hibernation actually occurs during the hottest months of August and September, while wet and mild winters may promote a period of active growth.

Think about your location and observe your plants. Getting familiar with their growing habits and healthy appearance will help you understand what they are telling you and better serve their needs. Keeping a garden journal can help you track your progress.

>>> See more: the benefits of gardening for seniors

Almost Trouble-Free

So far so good – right?

Provide plenty of sun and good drainage, avoid overwatering and overfertilizing, and you’ll have a garden full of beautiful succulents!

The good news: As far as regular grooming goes, that’s pretty much it.

But sometimes you have a rainy summer and outdoor plants get soaked, or your plant sitter struggles with the watering can. In these cases, excess moisture makes them vulnerable to pests such as slugs, mealybugs, aphids and scales, fungal diseases and rot.

How to deal with challenges that sometimes arise:

Remove snails immediately at night or after a heavy rain, on cloudy days when they are most active.

A large brown and gray slug on a wet green plant, with brown mulch and soil below. — Yellow leaves saturated with excess moisture are a welcome mat for snails, and a precursor to rotting. Photo by Allison Sidhu.

Spray the white mealybugs and their webs with a strong stream of water or a solution of semi-denatured alcohol and half water. Or remove them with a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol.

Aphids are another pest that can cause problems. They feed on plant sap and can destroy susceptible plants such as B. tumefaciens that are overwatered.

If you see an infestation, spray it with a steady stream of water.

White web-like evidence of mealybugs on a maroon succulent plant, surrounded by other plants in various shades of blue and green. — While some succulents have a waxy film or powdery dusting, the web-like coating on this Aeonium indicates the presence of mealybugs. Photo by Allison Sidhu.

Likewise, insects called scales like to feed on tree sap, and succulents are well fed. They look like brown spots.

Scrub them with your fingernails to destroy them. For more stubborn bugs, dab some denatured alcohol half diluted with water. Discard leaves that do not respond to treatment.

Other brown spots or spots may be caused by edema caused by overwatering.

In addition to overwatering, plants can also get too much moisture from humid air. So promote air circulation by placing potted plants in abundance and keeping them away from damp places like laundry rooms and bathrooms.

A brown spot of scale on a green potted succulent plant. — This sedum is leggy from being in a north-facing window that lacks adequate sunlight, and is frequently bumped by opening and closing curtains, hence the brown scar. Photo by Nan Schiller.

Dried leaves can be gently removed, and severely dehydrated plants can often be at least partially preserved by propagating new leaves from the remaining healthy parts.

Finally, plants that are frequently handled or poked develop spots that penetrate the flesh of the leaves or stems and leave scars.

Keep an eye out for all types of contaminated leaves and stems and dispose of or discard as needed. If infestation or rot of any kind becomes a common problem, consider taking healthy cuttings to start new plants, or discarding the plants entirely.

Don’t worry if you lose something along the way of becoming a pro – it’s part of the learning process.

Companion Plants

For the most part, you should have good luck and a carefree time to care for your succulents. When a dramatic statement is required, they look like individual plants and combine themselves into striking combinations of colors, textures and shapes.

Magenta bougainvillea, and green and yellow succulents, growing along a white fence next to a cement curb outdoors. — Pair succulents with colorful annuals and perennials. Photo by Allison Sidhu.

Additionally, you can combine these beautiful plants with traditional garden annuals and perennials that also thrive in sunny locations with somewhat sandy soil and good drainage.

The following plants have these requirements and make good companions for succulents in containers and gardens:

These are just a few of the many suitable companion planting options available. Always research the plants you plan to combine in containers or gardens to ensure they have similar growing needs to ensure they thrive and produce the best results.

Transitions

If you are in a cold climate with a risk of frost in late summer, consider replanting the plant using a cactus/potting medium and a well-drained container.

Hoffman 10404 Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix, 4 Quart

Place the container on or near a sunny window and allow the soil to dry completely before watering. Indoor succulents don’t always bloom, but the leaves themselves add appealing visual interest.

A small succulent plant in shade of purple, blue, and green, in a small ceramic pot on a white deck rail. — A few favorites from the garden, potted for winter. Photo by Allison Sidhu.

Indoor light is not as strong as outdoor sunlight. Note the plant’s long legs growing. This may indicate that they are stretching to reach daylight.

If this is the case, you may want to consider supplemental grow lights.

For plants that stay indoors year-round, pot and check the roots each spring. While most varieties tend to be shallow rooted, you may need to replant if they are firmly twisted.

Blue-green and pinkish succulents in a rectangular orange plastic planter filed with brown soil, growing along a white railing. — A shaded winter planter acclimates to summer sun. Photo by Allison Sidhu.

You can keep indoor plants outside in the summer. Introduce them gradually at the beginning of the season, first placing them in a partially shaded area, then full sun or partial shade as needed.

Those returning to your garden beds and planted in the ground can also be gradually introduced outdoors by placing pots in a partially shaded area and allowing them to acclimate to outdoor conditions a few days before planting.

Replant and place them in appropriately rich garden soil on warm mornings when the sun is still low to minimize transition stress.

Colusion

Succulents are one of the easiest plants to grow. remember:

Low water does not mean no water, wait until the soil dries before watering
Adequate drainage is the key to success
Fertilizers are usually not necessary
Exuberant growers may need to repot annually
Cuttings Make New Plants Affordable and Convenient

Are you ready to upgrade your decor with succulents? In minutes, you can set the table with an exotic centerpiece for today’s barbecue. What a wonderful conversation to start!

Let me tell you, everyone wants something. These geometric wonders are very addicting!

Feel free to share your questions and your victory stories in the comments section below – Answer The Question loves to hear from you!