How to Care for Succulents
We had a great weekend launching Mission Plant Company’s “Succulent Bar” featured at the Lehigh Valley Flower Show 2019. Customers picked their own succulent, container, and topping. They designed their own mini succulent at our planting station and took them home with care instructions.
Here are the best five tips for caring for your succulent!
Contrary to common belief, succulents are not found abundantly in the desert. They are native to semi dry climates with a regular level of annual rainfall. In these climates, rain does not fall consistently and there are periods of dryness between them which is how succulents evolved their cells to become “succulence” or water-storing.
Step 1) Watering - Your succulent needs water as soon as your soil looks very dry and parched. During spring and summer when they are thriving and drinking more water, they may dry out more often. Their shallow roots are adapted for rapid rehydration when water becomes available again during short rainfalls. Do not mist your succulent. Spraying your succulent with water will cause moldy leaves and dry roots. Water the soil around your succulent until it drains out. They will love you for it!
Step 2) Light - Keep succulent in a bright room with lots of sunshine (i.e. south facing window). Succulents need bright sunlight from a window and don’t do well in artificial lighting (i.e. windowless office or cubicle) because their soil doesn’t dry out quick enough.
Step 3) Soil - Grow your succulent in a pot with a drainage hole and plant with cactus soil. Succulents have thin, shallow roots that are prone to root rot. Never let your succulent sit in soil that isn’t draining.
Step 4) Temperature - Cool temperatures are not a problem for the majority of succulents. Don’t worry about keeping your home too cold for succulents in the winter. They are very cold hardy.
Step 5) Pests - The thicker a succulent’s leaves are, the less water they need. Oftentimes we water our succulents too often which leads to soggy soil. Gnats are attracted to succulents that are planted in soil that is too wet and not draining. To get rid of gnats and their larvae, spray the soil with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol.
Good luck and keep growing!
Sabrina, Interior Plantscaper and Plant Stylist/Owner at Mission Plant Co.