Succulent Care

MAKE SURE TO USE A POT WITH DRAINAGE HOLE

If you're a beginner, we highly recommend using pots with drainage holes.

It is possible to grow succulents in pots without drainage holes, the risk of rot is much higher as water may sit at the bottom of the pot and keep the soil wet for an extended amount of time.

It also takes more effort and expertise as you have to carefully monitor the watering schedule and the amount of water needed to keep the succulents in their best shape and health.

Luckily, you can add drainage holes to most containers with a diamond tip drill bit.

For glass containers, you can add a layer of pebble and charcoal to encourage good drainage.

The material of the pots is also important in keeping your succulents happy.

Pots made of porous materials such as terracotta and ceramic allow water to evaporate faster than plastic or glass pots.

Make sure you know the advantages and disadvantages of different pot materials before choosing one for your plants.

USE FAST DRAINING SOIL

Succulents rot easily if they sit in water for too long.

It is extremely important to provide fast draining soil that doesn't retain water to allow the roots to breathe.

Using fast draining soil + pot with drainage holes allows you to be more carefree when watering your succulents.

Fast draining soil designed specifically for succulents and cacti can be easily found in local garden centers or home improvement stores at an affordable price.

You can also create your own soil mix by simply mixing light, porous potting soil with materials such as perlite or pumice.

ALWAYS CHECK THE SOIL BEFORE WATERING

Most will have wrinkles and dropping leaves when they need more water.

But you should not water your succulents too often.

Generally, simply check the top of the soil, if it's completely dry, it's time to water.

Make sure to thoroughly soak the soil and then give it some time to dry out.

Don't water it again until the soil becomes completely dry.

It's always better to underwater than over-water.

Therefore, for beginners, we recommend that you water once every 2 weeks at first, then observe your succulents reactions and adjust the watering schedule accordingly.

Learning to tell if your succulents are over-watered or under-watered might seem difficult but you will learn over time.

WATER AT THE ROOTS. DON'T SPRAY OR WATER ON THE LEAVES

Do not use spray bottles.

A common watering mistake is that you can water your succulents by simply spraying water on their leaves.

In fact, that only works for propagating leaves and baby plants.

In adult plants, it's the root that absorbs water and nutrition.

Use watering bottles or cans that have a long small spout to water gently and directly at the root ball.

Watering bottles are lightweight and have scale marks that allow you to control the amount of water you want to give your plants.

Do not water on the leaves or on top of the plant. Water that stays on the leaves for too long can cause the leaves to rot.

Do not water when it's humid/raining or extremely hot.

Do not water at noon or in the afternoon. The best time to water is in the morning.

Use rainwater, distilled water, or filtered water if possible to avoid mineral deposit.

If you use tap water, leave it out overnight to allow some of the treated chemicals to dissipate into the air.