GROWING SUCCULENTS: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

Succulents make ideal houseplants for home gardens for two simple reasons: they are beautiful to look at and almost indestructible.

In terms of plant anatomy, a succulent is a plant with an organ that stores water. Succubuses store water in their leaves, stems, or roots. The plants have adapted to survive arid conditions around the world, from Africa (where they originate) to North America’s deserts.

In response to this adaptive mechanism, plants have developed fascinating leaf patterns and shapes, including paddle and tight rosettes, as well as bushy or trailing columns of teardrop leaves. Succulents are composed of some of the best-known plants, including aloe and agave, as well as many nearly unknown varieties. The cacti are a unique subgroup of succulents, as well as being cared for differently and having their own appearance.

Succulent species tend to follow similar rules, no matter what type you’re growing. The following are general rules for growing succulents that are of top-quality.

Light
It is recommended that succulents receive at least six hours of sunlight each day, regardless of whether they are kept indoors or outdoors. To verify whether they are getting enough sunlight, you can check their leaves. best led strip grow lights will scorch if exposed to too much sunlight, whereas others will turn brown or white as the leaves bleach out and the soft tissues are destroyed.

The opposite is true for a succulent under-exposed to the sun, which exhibits an elongated root system and widely spaced leaves in a condition called etiolation. Provide the plant with a better light source and prune it back to its original shape to address this problem.

Soil
Succulents need to be planted in a fast-draining mixture that is designed specifically for succulents. For those who don’t have access to a special mix, you can add an inorganic agent such as perlite to a regular potting mix so that it will be more aerated and drain better.

In order to aid in soil drainage, you can plant succulents in terracotta or clay pots. Because the materials are porous, they will help to drain moisture from the soil and prevent root rot.

Water
The succulents need generous watering throughout the summer. It is best to let the potting mix dry between waterings, but do not submerge them. Cut back watering to once every other month during the winter months when plants are dormant.

In most cases, succulent failure is due to overwatering (and rot that can result). Initially, the overwatered succulent might seem healthy, but the roots are already rotting, which causes rot to spread upward from the bottom.

They may turn yellow or white and lose their color if they are overwatered.2 Their leaves are soft and discolored. It might be impossible to salvage a plant in this condition, but you can still remove it from its pot and examine its roots. If the roots are brown and rotted, cut away the dead roots and repot them in a more drier medium, or take a healthy cutting from the parent and propagate it from it.

Likewise, a plant that is too dry will first stop growing, and then it will start to shed its leaves. Additionally, the leaves could develop brown spots.

when to prune aloe vera and Humidity
Succulents can tolerate cold weather much better than they are generally thought. In the desert, where day and night often contrast sharply, succulents thrive in cooler nights when temperatures easily reach 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. The best temperatures for succulent plants are between 70 degrees Fahrenheit and about 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the daytime, and between 50 degrees Fahrenheit and 55 degrees Fahrenheit at night.

Humidity is a key factor in succulent selection. Generally, people don’t mind humidity levels slightly above or below 80 percent as long as they’re not too humid.

Fertilizer
If your succulents are growing during the summer, fertilize them like your other houseplants. Winter is the time to stop fertilizing.