Succulent Care

Succulents come in many shapes and sizes, but they all want pretty much the same thing: lots of light and minimal water.

Light – Bright light. Succulents can handle direct sunlight, but may scorch in summer.

Water – Allow succulents to dry out completely before saturating the soil. *Some potting soils may take a while to absorb water after being dry for a long period of time. This is referred to as becoming “hydrophobic” and can be overcome by repeatedly watering the soil and draining excess water, until the soil becomes saturated.*

Soil – Well-draining soil. While they can be planted in all-purpose potting soils, a cactus soil, like Espoma Cactus Mix, is a better choice as it dries quickly and reduces the chance of over watering and root rot.

Temperature – Succulents prefer temperatures between 60° and 90°, but some varieties can handle temperatures into the lower 40° range. Most indoor succulents are not frost tolerant and should be protected from freezing temperatures.

Humidity – The average humidity levels of most homes is perfect for succulents.

Fertilization – Due to their slow growing nature, succulents don’t require much feeding. Fertilize in spring with a balanced or cactus fertilizer, like Bonide Cactus Food, according to the label’s directions.

Size – Sizing varies from succulent to succulent.

Repotting – Slow growing, succulents generally don’t require repotting more than once every few years. When repotting, select a container that has excellent drainage and is no more than 1or 2 sizes larger than its current pot. Cacti and succulents are generally shallow rooted plants and they tend to do better in shallow, bowl-like containers.

Propagation – Succulents are easily propagated by planting their leaves into soil.

Toxicity – The toxicity of succulents varies from plant to plant.