Oh, how succulents’ popularity has risen and risen. They’re available in a wide range of sizes, shapes, colors, and forms, so there’s something for everyone. When it comes to these fleshy beauties, are you new? Succulent watering is a common question among gardeners.
For the answer and other useful information, stay on the page. In a nutshell, I’ll tell you right now: it depends. Down below, I’ll go into more detail about the various factors that could affect the outcome. There are many factors to consider when deciding how much water to give your succulents, whether they’re in the ground, in a pot, or growing as houseplants. This post (and the video at the end) serves as a guide.
Let me begin by explaining what I mean by succulents in this context. Cacti are succulents, but this is not about cacti at all. This article is about the fleshy little beauties you see in pots, dish gardens, terrariums, kissing balls, wreaths, and living walls, as well as growing in the garden in some more temperate climates.
My personal preference is for succulents, and I’ve been cultivating them for several years now. Both indoors and outdoors, I’ve cultivated them under very different conditions. On our farmette in Litchfield County, CT, my first encounter with a succulent occurred when I was a child. The greenhouse off our dining room had a 4-foot Jade Plant growing in a huge container. That plant seemed so exotic to me!
In San Francisco, I had a small succulent garden on my deck. During my many years in the City by the Bay, they were just becoming available to the general public. When I moved to the south, my interest in them took off.
Garden and container succulents were the order of the day when I lived in Santa Barbara for 10 years. Succulents thrive in the mild climate along the southern California coast, from San Diego to the Central Coast. Fog hangs around until about ten o’clock in the morning, and temperatures are mild throughout the year.
My new home is in Tucson, Arizona, a city with a climate that is not conducive to growing succulents with flesh. Despite this, you can find them in just about every nursery and grocery store, including Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and countless others. When compared to coastal California, the Sonoran Desert has a hotter summer and a colder winter.
Additionally, they’ll be burned by the omnipresent heat of the summer sun. Phoenix, Palm Springs, and Las Vegas are examples of other places where this holds true. Succulents require more watering in this climate. Let’s get to the meat of the matter!
WATERING SUCCULENTS IN THE OUTDOOR
This post might be of interest to you. Succulents require a lot of sunlight, which I learned recently. The amount of water that succulents require is directly related to the amount of sunlight and heat they are receiving. Your climate and growing conditions may necessitate a different approach, but I’ll share what I’ve learned.
IN CALIFORNIA’S SOUTH COAST
It was in Santa Barbara that I gained the bulk of my succulent growing experience. Summertime temperatures hover around 75F, and wintertime temperatures rarely fall below 40F.
During the summer, I had to water my succulents with a dip every 8-10 days or so. I watered the plants in containers for about seven days. Succulents thrived in this area because the fog reduced the need for constant watering.
At the UC Davis Botanic Garden in San Francisco, I bought a few succulents and began my exploration of the world of succulent gardening. There weren’t as many succulents as there are now. In containers on my east-facing deck, I watered them every 2-4 weeks, depending on the amount of fog that was present. In this type of climate, it’s very easy to overwater succulents.
Sooty deserts of the Arabian Peninsula
Succulents have a much harder time surviving here than they would in a place like southern California. All of mine are housed in brightly shaded containers at my house. During the summer, I water the larger pots every seven days and the smaller ones every five days. It takes me twice a week to water my hanging succulents.
The frequency is about every 10 days in the spring and fall (before and after the intense heat). Watering is reduced to every two weeks in the winter, depending on the temperature.
INSIDE SUCCULENT WATERING METHODS
Succulents need a lot of light, but not direct sunlight, in order to thrive in a home environment. However, some people thrive in a controlled environment such as an office or home. To put it another way, the frequency with which you water them is dependent on the amount of light they receive and how warm your house is.
During the summer months, I water my indoor succulents once every two weeks. At this time of year, it’s every three to four weeks. Watering my indoor succulents is less frequent than watering my outdoor succulents, and this is a good thing.
I water my epiphytes, including the Christmas Cactus, Dancing Bones, and Epiphyllums, every week in summer and every other week in winter. Due to their tropical and subtropical roots, these get a quick spray down in the kitchen sink. I don’t mist or spray any of my other succulents.
When it comes to indoor succulent watering, less really is more. In the summer, it’ll be every 7-14 days, and every 3-4 weeks in the winter, as a general rule of thumb. Give them a good soak and then let the soil air-dry before watering them again.
Watering Succulents: Some Points to Keep in Mind
The drier your surroundings, the more frequently you’ll need to water.
In hotter weather, more often.
The more time there is in the sun, the more frequently (just know that fleshy succulents will burn in hot, direct sun).
The greater the frequency, the smaller the pot size is required to accommodate. Low dishes are also affected by this.
The less frequently you water, the more humid your surroundings become.
A thick layer of fog reduces visibility.
Less frequently in the winter. All plants should take a break at this time of year to rejuvenate their energy stores.
The fewer times this occurs, the denser the soil mixture (because it holds more water).
Less frequently if there isn’t a drain hole. Be cautious when using the water. The following instructions will show you how to properly water and plant succulents in pots without drain holes. Succulents are commonly grown in terrariums or small glass dishes. Again, pay attention to how much and how often you’re watering.
Consider the type of pot. Roots are able to breathe because unglazed clay and terra cotta are porous. It’s possible that the mixture will dry out more frequently. Succulents in non-porous plastic & glazed pots (like ceramics) may require less frequent watering.
In my experience, thin-leaved succulents, like String Of Pearls, String Of Bananas, and Ruby Necklace, require more watering than succulents with thicker stems and leaves like Echvererias, Paddle Plants, Aloe Vera, and the like.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON WATERING SUCCULENTS
Succulents require no special care when it comes to watering. Only water the soil, not the plants’ foliage.
The only water I’ve ever used for the care of my succulents was distilled. Salts can cause other plants to tip, but I haven’t found that to be the case with the fleshies.
Stop “splashing & running.” Succulents prefer to be watered thoroughly on a more frequent basis than to receive only a small amount of water.
Succulents are among the many plants in my home that receive water that is kept at room temperature.
If you overwater your succulents, you run the risk of root rot. Water is stored in the leaves, stems, and roots of these plants.
Let them sit in a saucer full of water together as a pair. I don’t think it’ll be able to dry out the soil.
Rainy weather may necessitate growing your succulents on a porch or other covered area. There is no time for them to “mush out.”
If you have a watering system, drip rather than spray is the best option for succulents.
Keep an eye on the water and the weather. For example, Tucson had a warm and sunny winter two years ago, so I watered more frequently. Because of the cooler temperatures last winter, I used less water.
Soil that is too heavy or dense for succulents isn’t good for them. To avoid overwatering, it’s best to plant succulents in a sparse mixture. If you’re interested in making your own succulent and cactus mix, try this recipe for my personal favorite.
Online options include Bonsai Jack, Hoffman’s (more cost effective if you’re looking to buy a large number of succulents, but you may need to add pumice or perlite to this mix), or Superfly Bonsai (another fast draining 1 like Bonsai Jack which is great for indoor succulents).
Insufficient / Excessive watering
All plants (especially those in the home) are susceptible to over or under-watering. If your succulent’s leaves and stems are yellowed, shriveled, and otherwise dried out, it’s time to water it. An overwatered plant will have brown or mushy stems and leaves. Having a lower leaf of a succulent dry out is perfectly normal; it’s how they grow.
Watering Succulents: Additional Advice
A few days before repotting, I give my succulents a good soak. I waited 5-7 days before watering them again after repotting. After that, I just keep watering like I always have.
REHABILITATING SUCCULENT CATS
For the first few days after planting, I’ll wait until the new succulent babies are established before watering them. As soon as the roots are established, I water them more frequently than an established plant.
Preparation of drinking water while away from home
My job necessitates a lot of time spent on the road. Your succulents should be fine if you’re away for less than three weeks. Most people turn down their air conditioning and heating systems while on vacation, reducing the risk of going without water for a long period of time. –
POT SIZE (2-4 INCHES) FOR SMALL SUCCULENTS
Succulents are often sold in small containers. Soil that is small in mass will dry out more quickly. On average, water these plants once a week.
- Succulents in pots should follow these general rules.
- Water small potted plants at least once every seven days.
- Every ten days, water medium-sized pots.
- Water large pots at least once every fourteen days.
Watering Succuments
I’ve been asked this a few times. Soil is watered around the pot, not just on one side. The epiphytes, on the other hand, prefer a mist or a spray of water to keep them alive.
When it comes to watering succulents, there are many variables to consider. The environment in which they’re growing (such as humidity, temperature, pot size, soil mix composition, sun intensity, and whether they’re indoors or out) all play a role.
