SUCCULENT CARE
If you have planted a succulent bowl or have purchased a design from us and want to know how to take care of it for long-term enjoyment, we've provided this guide for you! These plants are relatively unfussy and handle benign neglect better than over-loving (ie, overwatering). However, their basic needs must be met before they will thrive in your house.
LIGHT
OUTDOOR: When the weather is consistently above 50 degrees Fahrenheit (especially at night), leaving your succulent planter outside in the sun will give the plant an optimal growing season. Be careful if you live in an area that receives wildlife visitors. Succulents are not deer resistant. If you own a greenhouse, this can be a great place for your succulent to receive plenty of light, stay warm to maximize growth and not get eaten by wildlife.
INDOOR: Light is the most important consideration to make in the long-term health of an indoor succulent. A room with south-facing windows will ensure the succulent gets plenty of UV rays from the sun. This is optimal but not always available. In houses where light is less generous, find a room that contains an abundant source of bright indirect light. This is a quality of light that bounces off of the walls and illuminates the space, but doesn't receive direct sun rays. Keep in mind that windows are often coated with a layer of UV protection, so your succulent plant is at a greater disadvantage to absorb the UV from the sun. A room with low light will be challenging for a succulent and may cause the plant to stretch. There are artificial grow spectrum lights that can be used to improve the health of the plant, but it is no match for sun in the long-term.
Plan ahead - if you simply do not have an area that gets a lot of light, succulents will struggle and be more prone to pests and disease.
WATER
Watering a succulent can be tricky, but there are a few things you can look for if you're not sure it needs a drink. Succulents are survivors and they stay alive by storing water in their leaf structures. Succulents do not have massive root systems and do not need regular weekly watering. In fact, most succulent deaths happen because of overzealous watering practices. Because water is stored in the leaf, the leaf will give you a clear visual when the plant is beginning to pull resources.
When a succulent leaf is plump and juicy and firm, it is satisfied and does not need any more water. On the other hand, when a succulent leaf starts to get wrinkled and deflated, it is time for a good watering.
Another visual you may see is intense coloration in the succulent. This is another defense mechanism in the plant to protect the leaf from burn or scorch. Anthocyanin pigment (the same pigment found in red and purple-colored fall leaves) is activated to keep the plant from absorbing too much UV. In succulents, this causes pink, purple and red coloration in the leaves. This is a sign of environmental stress and can be remedied with a good watering.
A good watering is one that replicates the cycle of nature where these plants are home to. Succulents store water during rains to survive long periods of drought. Your watering should reflect this flood/drought cycle. When a succulent's soil is dry, flood the plant and completely rehydrate the soil underneath. If the soil has remained too dry for too long, it may have gone hydrophobic (repels water molecules). If this is the case, you may need to hydrate slowly in a sink, or allow the pot to slowly draw water from the base. In any case, a good watering should make the soil feel wet and hydrated (like a sponge after washing dishes) and you shouldn't have to water again for weeks.
SPRING-SUMMER: This is ideal growing time and is when the succulent will need a more frequent watering. For small containers (less than 5"), watering once a week should be plenty. For anything larger, watering once every 2 weeks should suffice.
FALL-WINTER: This is a time where the succulent slows down its growth and can be damaged by overwatering. For small containers (less than 5"), watering once every 3-4 weeks is safe. For anything larger, watering once every 1 to 1.5 months is ideal.
In any case, checking the soil with your finger will tell you if the succulent could use a drink. If it is anything but dry, do not water - even if the calendar tells you to do so.
DRAINAGE
Succulents thrive in poor, rocky soils. Because of their water-storage mechanism, the root system of a succulent is fairly small and can be venerable to rot if soils remain too moist for too long. Drainage is key. If your pot doesn't drain, the risk of root failure is inherently higher. If a pot does drain but is clogged, it can cause a succulent to die quickly. Make sure when you water your succulent, that excess water is coming out of the bottom. If your pot sits on a saucer, remove the excess water from the saucer as well. Soils should be saturated after a good watering, but lose saturation fairly quickly as the container dries out.
If you have a container that can't be drilled (like the vintage Lane cedar chest on the left), you can still have succulents live but you have to be a bit more careful how you water. Since your excess water will pool at the bottom, it's important to not use the flooding method. You should get a spray bottle where you can direct the flow to the base of the plant. This may mean you need to water more frequently, but less aggressively (you want to hydrate the soil sponge without having a bog develop under the roots). In the long term, containers without drainage will be moderately harder to maintain and have a higher mortality rate. Consider succulents in cute containers more of a seasonal, temporary thing - a collection of cool plants that are fun to display in a non-traditional way, but may be disassembled within about 6 months after the plants have outgrown the space.
FEEDING
Unlike most garden plants, succulents don't require a heavy feeding schedule to thrive. They do appreciate a very light houseplant or cactus fertilizer during the growing phase. If you feed during every watering, be sure to halve or quarter the standard dose on whichever water-soluble fertilizer you use. If you feed about once a month, use the standard rate on the product you choose. Standard Miracle Grow or Jack's All-Purpose can also be used - just remember to dilute the solution judiciously. Less is more when it comes to feeding your succulents.
Fall-Winter: Stop feeding entirely and allow the plant to rest.
