If you are new to succulents, you may be wondering how much water they need. Succulents are very low maintenance plants and only require a small amount of water. In this blog post, we will discuss how often you should water your succulent and the best way to do it!
What is a succulent plant?
Succulents are plants that store water in their leaves, stems, or roots. This allows them to survive in dry and arid climates. There are many different species of succulents, each with its own unique shape and color. Succulents are mostly characterized by fleshy and large petals, and their colors can range from blue, yellow, purple, red, to dark green.
Important rules for watering a Succulent
The most important and first rule for your succulent is to never let the plant stand in water. If the plant stands in water, it will inevitably die. Its roots will rot and the plant cannot be saved. If you don’t water the plant enough, it can come back to life when you start watering it again. But when there is too much water, you can’t bring the plant back. Now you know how much water is destructive to a succulent.
What affects watering?
Watering your succulent is influenced by many factors that are important to keep in mind for your plant to grow healthy and strong:
- The type of pot – if your pot is clay and has special holes in the bottom, excess moisture will flow out of it. In that case, you can give your plant a little more water. But if the pot or container in which the succulent grows closed, then be very careful when watering. Here the water will stand and the roots will inevitably rot;
- The presence of fine gravel – if you used fine gravel when planting the plant, which helps support the roots of the succulent a little, then a small overflow of water will not be afraid of him;
- Location of the plant – if your succulent is outside in the heat or draught, it will need more water;
- Size of the succulent – the larger the plant, the more water it will need.
Watering technique
Watering is very important for succulents. In nature, succulents grow in an arid environment and collect water from the morning dew. Because they are used to growing in water-scarce environments, they have adapted to store water in their leaves, stems, and roots. When you bring a succulent home, you need to mimic its natural habitat.
- Water the succulent at home once every two weeks. This technique is fine for the spring, summer and fall months, but as long as the temperature is above 40 degrees.
- When the temperature drops below 40 degrees and during the winter months, watering is reduced to once a month.
- If you have a succulent variety that has small and not large leaves, it is important to give it more water here than those with thick and fleshy leaves.
A good way to notice if your plant isn’t getting enough water is if the leaves are slightly wrinkled.
How do I water succulents that grow in pots outside?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, since succulents have different needs, but a good rule of thumb is to water them whenever the soil feels dry to the touch. If you live in a particularly hot or arid climate, you may need to water your succulents more often than those who live in cooler climates.
But more often than not, when transplanting a succulent into a pot outside in the summer, it needs to be given time to acclimate. First, put the pot in a place with good shade, and then move it to a sunny place. The succulent likes bright light, so it is important to find it a well-lit place. But here it is important to hide the plant in the hottest hours from late morning to noon. Move it into the shade at this time. If your succulent is standing in the heat and has a small container, it may require more water than others. Check the condition of the soil and the appearance of the plant. Over time, you will find the exact watering technique for your kind of outdoor potted succulents.
How do I water succulents that grow on the lawn in the ground?
If you have a succulent that is able to grow in the soil in your lawn, then water it differently. Usually, this kind of succulent is called a peeler. It gives beautiful and lush bushes, and it can also have different colors.
This kind of succulents need to be watered every week, but it will depend on the climate in your area for sure. If you have constant heat, the plant should be watered twice a week at first, but be sure to check the soil for moisture. If it is wet, then postpone watering. It is important that the soil is dry before the next watering. When the succulent has taken root and is more mature, you can water it once a week or a week and a half.
A larger root system allows it to tolerate drought better.
No matter what kind of succulent you have, it’s important to choose well-drained soil. For overly moist soil, you can add aged compost to form mounds. Such compost should be mixed with perlite and placed on the beds.
