How often do i water succulent

How Much and How Often to Water Succulents — Retro Den

March 18, 2018 March 18, 2018/ Ashley Palmer

This is probably the number one question we get at the shop. And for good reason. Your succulent's life hinges on how much water you give it. Though the answer to this question varies depending on several variables (which we will go into later on!), the general rule of thumb is that you never want your succulent to stand in water. When your succulent stands in water, it dies. A succulent can come back from under-watering, but over-watering leads to a succulent's demise. You may think we are being dramatic, but c'mon, succulent death is kind of a big deal. So the short answer to the question of how much to water a succulent is: water it, but not so much that it's left standing in water.

Some of the variables that may affect the amount of water to give a succulent include:

Container type- If your container has a drain hole, you can give the succulent more water because excess water will drain out. If the container doesn't have a hole, you need to be extra careful not to fill the container with water up to the roots. Also, succulents in smaller clay pots dry out faster and can take a bit more water.
How it was planted- putting pea gravel in the bottom of your planter boosts the succulent's roots up off the bottom of the planter leaving room for excess water. Plus, pea gravel allows air to get down into the pot more easily and dry it out more quickly. If your succulent isn't planted with pea gravel, go ahead and replant it! Here's how.
Succulent location- If your succulent is outside in the heat and wind, it can take more water than if it is indoors.
Succulent size- larger plants take more water than smaller plants.

You should water your succulents every other week during non-winter months when temperatures are above 40 degrees. During the winter time (when temperatures are below 40 degrees) you should only water your succulent once a month because it is dormant during this time.

There are a few exceptions to this rule. Certain types of succulents require more frequent watering because their leaves are teeny tiny and can't hold as much water compared to other varieties with plump leaves. For these tiny leaf succulents, feel free to give them a drink up to once a week in the non-winter months if they look thirsty. Succulents typically look a little wrinkly when they are thirsty. Remember though, it's always better to under-water than to over-water.

Scenario #1: This succulent is about five inches wide and a foot tall. It's planted in pea gravel in a clay planter with a drain hole and lives outside on a patio (except during the winter).

Answer: This succulent would like about two cups of water every other week in the non-winter months and 1-1.5 cups of water once a month in the winter.

Scenario #2: This succulent is about three inches wide and three inches tall. It is planted in pea gravel, but it is a shallow container that doesn't have a drain hole. This succulent is living indoors near a west window.

Answer: This succulent would like about 1/8- 1/4 cup water every other week in non-winter months and 1/8 cup water once a month in the winter.

Scenario #3: This succulent is about 2 inches wide and 4 inches tall. It has tiny leaves, is planted with pea gravel and in a container with a drain hole. It lives inside.

Answer: This succulent would like about 1/4 cup water every week to week and a half in the non-winter months and 1/4 water every other week during the winter.

Have a succulent watering question? Leave a comment below! Or if you'd like to learn more about succulent care, please read on! We love to talk about plants.

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How Often to Water Succulents

How Often to Water Succulents | Kellogg Garden Organics™

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Succulent plants are rising in popularity among gardeners both as houseplants and as outdoor garden statements. They are eye-catching plants that flaunt splendid foliage. They store water in their dense, shapely leaves, making them drought-tolerant and relatively self-sufficient plants. One of the most appealing aspects of succulent plants, other than their easy maintenance, is that they can be discovered in a wide array of shapes, textures, colors, and heights.

An essential consideration to their success is how often to water succulents. While they don’t need as much upkeep and care as many other florae, they do require some precise maintenance in the watering department. They might not need as much watering as many people think they do, so it’s crucial to their survival that gardeners know what signs to look for when thinking about how often to water succulents. Check out our tips for keeping succulent plants thirst-quenched and healthy no matter where they are planted.

Succulent Soil Considerations

We can’t talk about watering without first touching on the subject of soil. Succulents have shallow root systems and prefer soil that well-draining. It won’t matter what your watering routine is if water is allowed to pool in a container, oversaturating roots for an extended period of time. The roots will rot, and the plant will not survive.

Plant succulents in a loose, rocky soil that is nutrient-rich for best results. If you are planting succulents in containers, use a potting mix specifically formulated for succulents and cacti and plant in a pot with holes in the bottom for drainage.

How Often to Water Succulents Indoors

Indoor succulent plants should likely be watered approximately once a week. They need enough time to store the water in their leaves and for the soil to dry out between waterings. Follow these tips and techniques for watering indoor succulent plants.

Use a watering with a small pour spout.
Apply water to the core of the succulent plant until it is fully saturated.
Allow water to drain through the holes in the pot thoroughly. If there is a saucer underneath the plant, be sure to dump out any water that drains through the soil.
Avoid saturating the leaves to ward off rot from the top-down since there will not be enough heat and fresh airflow to dry the leaves when planted indoors.
Allow soil to dry thoroughly between waterings.

How Often to Water Succulents Outdoors

It’s always important to pay attention to your succulent plants. They will give you distinct signals on when to water them and when not to. To put it plainly, if the soil is still wet, no matter what the timeframe, you should not water the plant. If you notice that the soil is very dry and the succulent plant foliage appears shriveled or dry, it’s definitely time to water it.

How Often to Water Succulents in Containers

Water the base of the succulent plant until the soil is fully saturated.
Allow water to drain through the holes in the pot thoroughly. If there is a collection plate underneath the plant, be sure to dump out any water that drains through the soil.
Allow soil to dry thoroughly between waterings.
If heavy rain is imminent, move pots to a sheltered location.

How Often to Water Succulents In-Ground

Reduce watering during fall and winter months so that succulents can survive cold temperatures.
Saturated soil makes succulents more vulnerable to frost damage during the winter months.
During the hotter days of the growing season, plants will need more frequent watering.
Water plants deeply, allowing the soil to dry between watering sessions.

How Much Water Do Succulents Need?

Succulents are fun and easy to grow as long as they are cared for properly. One of the biggest mistakes that people make is overwatering their succulent plants. The word ‘succulent’ is derived from the Latin root sucus, which means sap or moisture, so water is crucial for these plants. But balance is key to succulent plant success.

Succulent plants will often communicate how often they need to be watered based on how their leaves and soil present themselves. Pay attention. Watering succulents too often is a recipe for disaster and will drown the plant. If you don’t hydrate them enough, they could wither and die. Once you achieve that happy balance of how often to water succulents, you will have thriving plants that exude beauty and charm for many years to come.

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How to water the succulent at home correctly and often?

Succulents are one of the most popular plants that beginners prefer to buy. The secret of their popularity is that they are considered unpretentious, and are able to survive even with rare watering. Many people choose good succulents in a beautiful pot for their home or office, put them on a table or on a windowsill. Thick stems and leaves look solid and fit perfectly into the overall environment, even if there is other flora in the room.

Contents:

1.Features of succulents

2.How to water succulents?

3. Rules for watering succulents

4. Common mistakes when watering

It is thanks to thick leaves and stems that succulents are able to do without water for a long time - all moisture accumulates in them, reserves are spent to feed the plant. Even if the soil in the pot dries out, the flower will still be able to feel good for a long time. At the next watering, all excess moisture will be absorbed again and will be in the "storage" to maintain the life of the plant. Despite this feature of succulents, you still need to know the features of caring for them and maintain acceptable conditions for the growth of this flora.

Features of succulents

These plants came to us from arid regions, where such exotic flora grows. During their life with humans, they have become accustomed to good care, but have not lost their standard resistance to rare watering and live in the “rare rains” mode. Succulents feel great, even if the soil is completely dry - for a long time the plant will be green, and its leaves and stems will be elastic and hard. You just need to remember to water and fertilize them occasionally.

One of the adaptations for drought in succulents is the reduction of water evaporation:

the round shape of the leaves reduces contact with the sun and heat of the flower;
most representatives have a cuticle, this is a protective film that prevents moisture loss;
succulents have few respiratory pores through which water vapor escapes;
with a long absence of moisture, the upper part of the plant dries up and dies, but the flower itself does not die.

If you take such a flower home, you need to remember the main rule - in no case do not overfill the water. It is better to leave a succulent without drinking for a while than to suffer later with the removal of the fungus or with rotting of the roots. Before watering, you should make sure that the plant really needs water. To do this, follow the basic rules for watering such plants.

How to water succulents?

Proper watering is the basis of proper plant care, it determines how well the flower will feel. It is important to pick up water and make a schedule, strictly adhering to the days that depend on the time of year. The moisture requirements of such plants largely depend on the ambient temperature, humidity, lighting and growing season. The owners must take into account these features and adapt to the needs of the new home occupant.

The table shows the features of watering succulents at different times of the year:

Period	Explanations
Watering in autumn and winter	Some succulents remain active in winter, so they need to be watered constantly. Procedures are best done as the soil dries out, usually once every 2-3 weeks. If you skip watering, the leaves may become sluggish and begin to fall off.
Spring-summer watering	Most plants adapt to the warmer summer temperatures and begin to take root. They are watered once a week in small portions, with heat over +30 degrees - 2-3 times in 7 days.

Follow these plant care recommendations and you will be fine - the flower will store the optimal amount of moisture, will be able to grow and develop normally. In addition to watering, you need to carefully monitor the temperature in the house, it may vary in different rooms. Only rare watering in small portions will help in the cultivation of this unpretentious plant.

Rules for watering succulents

In order for the plant to feel comfortable, it is necessary not only to follow the watering schedule, but also to carry out this procedure correctly. You should determine if your pet needs water and water the roots with a small amount. Water for irrigation is also carefully selected, collected and specially prepared.

Here are a few tips:

Make sure the succulent needs water by assessing the soil, it should be completely dry to a light crust. This means that the plant should be watered.
Use only rainwater that is collected in a container, settled and filtered. For lack of a better, in winter you can work with ordinary water, but it must be properly defended.
Do not water the succulent with cold water - it should be at room temperature. Bring it into the room, put it next to the flower and let it warm up.
Pour water directly under the root, try not to disappear on the stems and leaves. If this happens, gently wipe off the drops with a dry cloth.

Common Watering Mistakes

Sometimes beginners make mistakes when watering, due to which the plant begins to hurt. Succulents are sensitive to the volume of water and do not like to be "coaxed" too much. Any surplus can turn into serious problems in the future, which will have to be dealt with.

Here are the main mistakes when watering succulents:

watering every day - in this case, root rot, mold and plant death are almost inevitable;
the use of cold water - the flower starts to hurt almost immediately, it can be difficult to cure it;
wetting of leaves during watering - do not allow water to get on the ground part of the plant.

Errors during watering are indicated by any disturbances in the normal life of the plant - wilting of leaves, loss of stem tone, the presence of spots, white bloom on the ground. When such painful signs appear, the probability of plant death is very high, therefore, when watering, it is important to follow a simple rule: you need to water the succulent in moderation.

If you buy a flower in a good store, the manager will answer all your questions regarding the care of the succulent. You will receive valuable recommendations and be able to care for the plant at home on your own.

summer, winter, autumn, after transplantation, how much water to use, watering calendar

Many lovers of exotic plants plant succulents, knowing that they are extremely unpretentious in care. But despite the fact that these plants came to us from arid regions, they still need to be irrigated on time. Properly watering succulents can be one who has studied their needs and knows how much water will not harm the fragile roots.

Seasonal watering schedule

Watering succulents at different times of the year differs in frequency and intensity. In order not to flood or dry the plant, before choosing an irrigation scheme, you should not only check the calendar, but also evaluate the overall humidity and temperature conditions.

Spring and summer

Spring is the most difficult time for watering succulents. In spring, the plant comes out of hibernation and needs more moisture and nutrients. If the transplant was not carried out, then it is necessary to gradually reduce the interval between waterings, every month for several days. This will prevent the plant from rotting.

Watering becomes more intensive in summer. On average, the owner should water his succulent at least once every 4-5 days.

It is better not to overdo it with top dressing during this period, but once in 3-4 waterings, a weak solution of fertilizers, which is sold in specialized stores, can be added to the water.

In autumn and winter

In autumn, succulents should be gradually weaned from the abundance of moisture that plants enjoyed in summer. Breaks between water supply increase to 7-10 days in temperate climates and 5-7 in hotter regions.

How to water correctly

In order to properly water the succulent at home, you do not need special tools, drip irrigation and other difficulties, a simple watering can will suffice.

It is necessary to irrigate the plant with water at room temperature directly under the root, trying not to flood the leaves. After watering, it is worth checking the ground and making sure that the root neck, which peeks out from under the ground, has not accumulated moisture (this can lead to rotting). If watering the succulent under the root does not work, then this can be done in the usual way - from above, but then it is better to remove excess moisture from the leaves with a napkin, or temporarily rearrange the plant so that direct sunlight does not fall on it.

Do not water the succulents after transplanting. That is why it is recommended to replant the plant after it completely comes out of hibernation and gets stronger again (somewhere in the middle of spring).

Features of watering some species

The frequency of watering succulents also depends on what species the gardener is dealing with. There is a simple rule in this matter: the more the plant looks like a cactus, the less often it needs to be watered. This principle almost always works, but it’s better to clarify the information on a specific type anyway.

The least moisture-loving succulent is called lithops or "living stone". This plant really looks like a small gray-green pebble, and it needs to be watered half as often as any of its other counterparts.

Typical mistakes and problems in care

Succulents are easy to care for, but even here people often make mistakes that lead to diseases or even death of the plant. The most common of them are:

Succulents “overflow”. For this type of plant, a lack of moisture is better than its excess.
Feeding abundance. Succulents grow in harsh conditions and are accustomed to the fact that nutrients need to be saved. If the plant "forgets" how to do this, it will quickly die.
The vegetative growth period requires special attention to watering, and many beginners forget about it. Some succulents can be watered once every 3-4 days, and this will be optimal for them, and some require more rare watering (up to 7-10 days). The required frequency of irrigation can only be determined by practice, by checking how quickly the topsoil dries out.
If a succulent has not been watered for a long time, and it has started to dry out, inexperienced gardeners simply cut off the “dead”, in their opinion, leaves, which harms the plant.
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