If you have succulent plants at home, you might be surprised to read that about 80% of the time succulents die from water issues. In this article, we will talk about how and when to water your succulent plants to keep them alive and healthy.
What is a succulent?
Succulents are any plants that store water in their fleshy leaves, stems and roots that they will use to survive drought conditions. There are more than 50 different plant families that are included in the succulent category such as cactus, aloe, and agave, among others. Succulent plants can be kept indoors or outdoors.
How often do you have to water your succulent plants?
You should water your succulent plants once a week during the summer months and once every two to three weeks during the winter months. Only water them when the soil is completely dry.
Succulent plants are different from other plants since they store lots of water in their trunks and leaves so they can go many days without water, therefore they do not need frequent watering.
As a general rule, you should never leave your succulent standing in water. Adding gravel to the bottom of the pot boots the succulent’s roots up leaving room for excess water. Also, make sure you use well-draining soil or quick-drying soil.
Of course, there are some factors that affect how much water succulents need, such as the size of the plant or the size of the container. Outdoor plants generally need more water than indoor succulents because an outdoor succulent that is exposed to sunlight and wind, dries out faster.
How to water succulents
A good watering method is to always direct water to the plant roots and avoid watering the leaves. You may not be able to completely avoid it but try your best to keep your succulents looking their best. Watering the leaves will produce hard white water deposits on them. You could use a garden hose on its weakest drip, a watering can or a syringe for small pots and containers
The soak-and-dry method is best, when is time to water your succulents, give them a good amount of soaking. They are correctly soaked when the moisture meter reads 6-10.
If your succulents are outdoors, pay attention to the weather. Do not place succulents in pots without a drain hole out in the rain. Water accumulated at the base of the pot for long periods of time will cause root rot.
How to check soil moisture for succulents?
If you are unsure whether your plants need watering or not, check the overall health of the leaves, healthy leaves look plump and firm with no wrinkles on them.
You could also use a moisture meter. A moisture meter is a tool that you place in the soil and has a display that indicates the level of moisture. Water the plant 3 to 5 days after the moisture reader shows level 1 or ‘dry’ everywhere in the pot or container.
Another way is to feel the soil with your finger and stuck your finger to the second knuckle in the soil. If it feels dry, it is time to water your succulent.
Make sure you follow the above tips to keep your succulents looking great and healthy. Only water them once a week during the summer months and once every two to three weeks in winter.
Watering succulents FAQ
Only water indoor succulents when the soil is completely dry. Remember that indoor plants are less exposed to the elements, wind and sunlight tend to dry out the soil a lot quicker.
Use a moisture meter to check the soil’s moisture levels or, feel the soil with your finger and also check the overall health of your plant.
Succulents do not need to be in direct sunlight, although it varies for each type of succulent, usually, around 6 hours of indirect sunlight is the optimum for succulents.
The soak-and-dry method is best, and always direct water to the plant roots and avoid watering the leaves.
Add a layer of pebbles or gravel at the bottom of the pot and use a good drainage soil mix to aid drainage. To water, you can use a syringe to measure the exact amount of water. Also, using a moisture meter or inserting a chopstick in the soil to check moisture levels is a good idea. But remember, it is always best to place your succulent plants in containers with drainage holes to prevent root rot.
Note: Clicking the above links will take you to Amazon.com where you’ll get additional product information. If you make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
