Key Points for Succulent Care
The editor answers netizens' questions about key points for succulent care and the methods and techniques for beginners to grow succulents, sharing experience in green plant care. Next, the editor of this site will introduce the content to everyone.
Every succulent lover, I believe, wakes up every morning to check on their beloved succulents. When it rains ☔️, they worry about them getting wet, and when the sun is too strong, they fear sunburn. When left outside, they worry about ants, mice, and birds eating the leaves, truly worrying to the extreme!
We always carefully tend to each succulent, just like raising our children. In fact, sometimes they are not as fragile as we imagine, it's just that we love them too much!
Below, I will share my experience in growing succulents, hoping it helps you!
1. Ventilation. Good air circulation is important for succulents, so try to keep them outdoors as much as possible. If kept in a confined environment for too long, they will become wilted and lackluster, and it's the same for humans. When keeping succulents indoors, open windows more often, and use a small fan during the hot summer.
2. Temperature. The ideal temperature for succulent growth is between 15~25°C. If the temperature exceeds 35°C in summer or drops below 5°C in winter, most succulents will enter a dormant or semi-dormant state. During this period, try not to disturb them. The greater the temperature difference, the better the succulent's condition.
3. Light. Succulents love sunny weather and would benefit from 8~10 hours of sunlight a day, making them very beautiful. If this condition is not met, 3~5 hours of sunlight is also fine. However, be careful that stronger light is not always better. The midday sun in summer can be harmful, so proper shading is needed. Also, after buying a succulent, it should be gradually exposed to more light.
Key Points for Succulent Care
4. Watering. At first, you may not get the hang of it, so you can water regularly: every 5~7 days in spring and autumn, every 15~20 days in summer, and every 20~30 days in winter. Later, you can explore the habits of your succulents and gradually change the watering method. For instance, if the leaves become soft, wrinkled, or the lower leaves start to wilt, these are all signs of dehydration, indicating it's time to water. Make sure to ventilate after watering.
Additionally, you should understand the dormant habits of different succulents. Do not water excessively during the dormant period, or the plant may easily rot.
5. Soil. Succulents prefer dry soil, so loose and breathable sandy soil is best for their growth. After buying a pot of succulents, the first thing you should do is check the soil. If it's yellow clay or soil with a strong black, organic quality, you must change it.
The simplest soil mixture method: 1 part peat soil, 1 part coarse sand. If there is no coarse sand, you can use crushed coal cinders from burned honeycomb coal instead, but make sure to wash and crush them before use.
6. Pots. Succulents can be grown in black square pots, ceramic pots, tile pots, or purple sand pots. Black square pots are cheap and lightweight but not wear-resistant; tile and ceramic pots are breathable and water-resistant but become very heavy after absorbing water, requiring a sturdy shelf; purple sand pots are also breathable but expensive, and the pot walls should not be too thick, as thick ones have similar breathability to porcelain pots.
7. Repotting. Succulents should be repotted every 1~2 years, depending on your care situation. Some fast-growing seedlings may need to be transplanted several times a year, which is known as "move a bit, grow a bit." The best time for repotting is mid-to-late March in spring or October to November in autumn.
The above are the key points for succulent care and the methods and techniques for beginners to grow succulents. I hope it helps you!