How often to water succulents is a common question that many people have. According to the University of Illinois, succulents have been gaining in popularity since 2007. Succulents can brighten up any room in your home. When it comes to succulents there are a multitude of shapes and sizes, making them the perfect addition to any space.
Succulents are not very difficult plants to take care of, but even they do have specific needs that are required in order for them to thrive. In this article, we’ll cover one of the most important aspects of succulent care: watering.
While succulents may be easy to care for, one of the most important things you need to know is how often to water them.
Succulents are a plant that is popular among many people. They are low-maintenance plants that can be great for those who want to have an easy time taking care of their plants.
However, succulents do need water so how often should you water them?
This article will cover how often you should keep your succulents watered while also providing key suggestions on how to take care of them!
Typically succulents require water around once per week depending on the location where you live and how hot it is outside!
It is important to know that too much water can be as detrimental as too little.
This article is all about watering succulents planted in soil. It is possible to grow succulents hydroponically without the use of soil. If you would like to grow succulents hydroponically here are some suggestions for the best hydroponic system.
How often to water succulents?
Watering succulents is one of the key aspects to keeping them healthy and looking great. Understanding the water requirements of your succulents will help them to continue to thrive.
Some tips on how to water succulents properly:
– Succulents should be watered when the top of the soil feels dry to the touch.
– Water your succulents thoroughly, until water begins flowing out of the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot.
– After watering, allow the pot to drain for several minutes before placing it back in its original location.
– If you notice that your succulent leaves are starting to curl or wilt, this means it has been overwatered and needs less water going forward.
– If you notice the leaves are starting to shrivel, this usually means a lack of water, it’s been under-watered and needs more water going forward.
Pay attention to the soil
Watering succulents can be tricky – too much water and they will rot, but not enough water and they will die. One way to determine how often to water your succulents is by checking the soil moisture levels from time to time.
Dry soil means that it’s time to water them; if it’s wet, then hold off on watering them until it dry.
When watering your succulents you want to make sure that both the top layer of soil as well as the lower layer of soil are thoroughly moist.
Always water them until the soil is soaked and then allow it to dry out before watering again. This will help prevent root rot and extend the life of your plants.
You can tell when your succulent needs water by checking how heavy the pot feels; if it’s light, give it some H20!
Use a drainage dish
Using a drainage dish so that excess water doesn’t sit in the saucer after irrigation can be really helpful. You really can’t go wrong if you do this and how often to water succulents will become much easier!
Succulents should never be overwatered or allowed to sit in wet soil for extended periods of time as they will begin to rot!
Succulents that have been overwatered may recover if there is no damage from rotting.
To help ensure recovery place the plant out of direct sunlight until any remaining rotted roots have dried up completely. Then repot your succulent into fresh potting soil with drainage.
Succulent roots grow deep
Succulent plant roots grow deep within the soil which makes them able to absorb larger amounts of water when it rains or when watered by hand.
These factors make watering your succulents infrequent but extremely thorough; once a week should be fine for most people’s needs (you may need to increase this to twice a week if you live in a very dry climate.
Watering too often will cause root rot while not enough can lead to shriveled, crispy leaves. If this happens don’t worry! Succulents recover quickly once they receive the right amount of hydration. Pay attention to your succulent and it will tell you what it needs.
Succulents store water
Succulents differ from other types of plants because of their ability to store water in their leaves and stems. This makes them very drought-resistant plants, meaning they can go for extended periods of time without any water. HOWEVER, succulents still need water!
What makes succulents unique is how they retain water in their leaves. When you read how to take care of succulents, it is important to know that these plants are drought resistant and therefore need little watering compared to other types of plants.
The amount of water your succulent needs will depend on a few things such as the climate where you live, how much light they are receiving, how large they are, how old they are, etc.
Size matters
How often you water your succulents can also depend on how large they are. For example, if you have a small plant that only has one or two leaves then it will require less water than an older larger plant with several stems and/or leaves.
How much light?
Succulents need plenty of sunlight – at least six hours a day! If they don’t get enough light, they might start growing long and spindly as they reach for the sun. Place them close to a window where they can soak up some natural rays, or use a grow light to get light similar to bright sunlight.
Also, the amount of light your plants get every day will determine how frequently they need their soil watered.
If there are in a location that gets a lot of light (for example 10 or more hours of direct sunlight) then this may mean more frequent watering which could be up to twice per week depending on how hot it is outside.
Time of year matters
Like most plants, succulents do most of their growing in the spring and summer months and slow down or suspend their growth in the winter months.
Because of this, the best time to fertilize succulents is in the spring and then you can fertilize again in the late summer or early fall.
Light is important
Succulents like other plants need light lots of light in fact it is safe to say that succulents LOVE light. One way to tell how much light a succulent need is how red or pink the color of the leaves are.
The deeper and more vibrant their color, the more sunlight they need to thrive! You can tell if your succulent isn’t getting enough light is if it gets elongated then that is a sign that it is reaching for the light. In order to keep your succulents in general they need about 4-6 hours of sunlight.
Living in an area where it doesn’t get a lot of sunlight means that you may need to supplement with grow lights.
Avoid getting water on leaves
One last note on watering succulents: avoid getting water on their leaves as this can lead to fungus or other problems. When you’re done watering, give your succulents a gentle shake off to remove any excess droplets.
Summary
How often should you water?
Succulents are able to survive in dry conditions because they store moisture. This makes it easy for us humans – we only have to make sure the soil is moist (but not too wet) on average once a week.
But how can you tell when it’s time? If the leaves on your plant curl up or start drooping, that means it needs some hydration fast! Give it enough until its leaves become plump and perky again.
Conclusion
Succulents are a fun way to add beauty and life to any room in your home. They are a fantastic option for those who want to have plants in their home or office but don’t have the time to water them often.
Watering is one of the most crucial aspects of taking care of succulents. It is not uncommon to make the mistake of watering your plants too often, which can have the unfortunate consequence of root rot and other health problems. However, if you don’t water your plants enough, they will also die.
Now fortified with a better understanding of how often to water succulents and some key tips on how to take care of them, put your green thumb to the test! Succulents make great houseplants for those who are new to taking care of plants or for those who want a low-maintenance plant.
With just a minimum amount of care, you can ensure your succulents stay healthy and look great! In this article, I covered some key things to consider when watering your succulents.
If you are the type of person who doesn’t want to have to remember when to water your plants, then having a garden system may be for you. Check out this article on how to grow hydroponic tomatoes as an example of an easy way to garden.
Now that you are aware of these tips on how often to water succulents you’ll be good to go. Thanks for reading hope this helps!
I am a physician who cares about healthy living. I strive to be as healthy as I can be so that I can thrive in my own life. By sharing what I know I want to help others to live a healthy life.