Succulents have gained popularity over the last five years and for good reason! Because of their ability to store water in their leaves, succulents are a great low-maintenance choice for busy people or those new to houseplant care. Our WRF greenhouse carries over 25 succulent varieties to provide interesting variations for home or office accents.
Follow these succulent care tips for happy, healthy plants.
Watering Wisdom
In speaking with our customers over the years, we have found that most succulent casualties were the result of over-watering. The trick to watering succulents is to fully saturate the container with water and then drain. Then, allow the soil to fully dry out before watering again. This may mean watering every couple of weeks, depending on how quickly the soil dries out. Succulents will fare better with this method over giving plants frequent “quick sips”. Also, misting is appropriate for cuttings, but not for fully rooted and planted succulents.
Sun Solutions
Succulents will follow the light, so if there is not enough light available to these plants indoors, they will naturally lean toward the light source and become “leggy” over time. To prevent your succulent from stretching, place the succulent near a bright window and rotate it every so often. You can also use artificial plant lights if a sunny window is not available. If you work in an office cubicle, you might opt to move your plant to the window over the weekend. One last thing to note is that while succulents love brightly lit areas, some varieties are more susceptible to sun scorch. Keep plants out of direct sun to prevent sensitive leaves from getting burnt.
Temperature Tactics
Most of the succulent varieties we carry should not be exposed to prolonged temperatures under 55 degrees. If you plan to keep your succulents outdoors, it is advised to bring them back inside before the overnight temperatures dip into the 50s.
Potting Perfection
When repotting your succulent plant, we highly recommend choosing a container with good drainage. Succulents do not like their roots sitting in water. Additionally, succulents can be packed tight. Doing so will slow growth. When the plant has outgrown its pot, choose a larger pot that is just 1- 2″ larger than the pot it came from unless you are adding additional succulent plants.
Harmonizing Health
Routinely check your plants for bugs or signs of disease. Some common succulent diseases include root rot, fungal infections, and virus infections. If you notice wilting or discoloration, remove the affected parts and treat them with neem oil or a fungicide if necessary.
Common succulent pests include mealybugs, spider mites, and scale insects. If you find bugs, isolate the plant and treat it with insecticidal soap or Neem oil.
