How to Take Care of Succulents

How to Take Care of Succulents

Table of Contents

People buy succulents with a mindset that they need no care, and end up causing casualties to these lovelies. Even if you are an expert gardener, you need to avoid some common mistakes to keep your little green friends healthy and flourishing, and then with very little care and few demands, these stunners will thrive in your garden and give you wonderful rosette displays at home!

Buy Succulents

 

 So, what are some basics to follow when caring for a succulent plant? Here's everything to know!

 

 

• Tips for Growing Succulents Indoors: The Do's and Dont's of Succulent Care

While low maintenance, succulents still need little but the right kind of care to thrive in your space. So, lets start with the basics... here's everything you need to know!

 

1. How to Take Care of Propagated Succulents?

How to Take Care of Propagated Succulents

a. Succulents can grow from a tiny leaf. However, these stunners also do very well when propagated from an offset of the parent plant. If you're making Always clip use of a leaf, remember to always cut a branch with multiple leaves.


b. After you take the clipping, let them cure. Do not waterlog them at this stage - it might cause rotting.


c. Remember that succulents are drought tolerant plants and they hate being oversaturated with water. So, let your succulent sit in indirect or even direct sunlight for 2-3 days and dry up. This step will allow the clipping time to callous over, so that it does not rot once planted.


Once the clippings have cured, get - set - pot!

 


    2. Caring for a Succulent Plant the Right Way: Potting Your Plant/Cuttings

    potting succulents for proper succulent plant care

    a. Choose the soil that is meant for Cacti and Succulents only. Traditional or regular soil will retain water, and your succulents might end up rotting. To avoid this, you can use Ugaoo's Cactus and Succulent Potting Mix, which is a perfect blend of essential ingredients such as Perlite and Cocopeat that will give your plants the right kind of drainage and aeration. 


    b. Once you have prepared your soil, and are sure that the cuttings have cured, give your plants time to form roots. Note that this will take about 3-4 weeks.
    You can stimulate root development by placing your clippings in a dry and dark area. Avoid bringing them in contact with harsh and direct sunlight.

    propagating succulents with proper light


    c. Let the succulent clippings sit out for 3-4 weeks until you see small roots showing at the base of the clippings. If your cutting do not grow in this period, do not fret. Let them stay in contact with the soil as it may help trigger the rooting process eventually. However, once your cuttings have developed roots, remember to pot them into a container!


    d. Select proper pots and planters with built-in drainage holes and pour inb your succulent-approved potting mix. Place your clippings into the soil deep enough and let them sit upright, allowing them the space and light they need to develop properly. 

     

     

      3. When and How to Water Succulents

      succulent watering

      a. Succulents are robust plants, and the trick to growing them properly is to not over-water them. Often times, the biggest concern for those who love these plants is "how often to water succulents?". Well, let's find out!


      b. Even if you don't water them for weeks, these plants will sustain and hence are famed as hard-to-kill plants. There is no specific answer to - When and how to water Succulents? But, the trick is - check your soil once a week and if it appears completely dry, then water it with a watering can. Moist the plant evenly and avoid drenching the plant in water.

       

      c. If you cannot tell exactly when to water your plant by just checking the soil, then you can use Ugaoo's Sustee Watermeter. This is a device that, when inserted into the potted plant's soil near the roots and away from the stem, tells you the exact time your plant needs water again. When the indicator is blue, it means your plant is perfectly watered. However, when it turns white, it means that your plants needs water!

       


        4. The Final Element: Succulents Watering and Sunlight

        succulents watering and sunlight: succulents in sunlight

        a. The success of your succulent plant depends on the amount of sunlight it receives. People often ask - “do succulents need sun?” The answer to this is that not all succulents need direct sunlight. They do best in a combination of direct and indirect sunlight, while some of the varieties can thrive indoors without even seeing the sun at all.

         

        b. However, some of the most commonly found succulents such as Haworthias and Echeverias do best when exposed to direct sunlight on a daily basis for at least 6-8 hours. 

        loads of potted succulents in the light indoors on a table

        c. But remember that to avoid baking or completely scorching your succulents, you need to monitor their sun exposure. Just like humans, the color of succulents depicts whether the sunlight is harming them or not. For instance, green succulents can often turn red if they are receiving too much light. 

         

        d. Another thing to remember is that if you're planning to keep your succulents in low light conditions, you should only do so with those that can tolerate those light conditions. For example, succulents that are green with a higher chlorophyll content are usually a little more tolerant of limited sun exposure. However, the colored ones need good amounts of sun to do well. 

         

        Also Read: 8 Creative Ways to Plant Succulents

         


        Overall, caring for succulents is easy and pretty low-maintenance. Though succulents are available in countless shapes, colors, textures, and sizes, these basic care tips can be followed for almost all of them. 

        So, which succulent are you going to be planting and growing in your home this time? Happy gardening!