9 Tips For Caring Succulents

These days succulents are one of the trends in the world of botany. For clarification, almost all cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. With its different textures, colors, shapes, and sizes, who would not love having some of these cute plants. Their name comes from the Latin word sucus, which means ‘juice’ or ‘sap’. Succulent plants are commonly used as ornamental plants. These are credited for being able to store water in its different structures, such as leaves and stems. With its ability to store water, they can thrive with minimal care. So, here are some tips on how to care for succulents.

1.Fertilize Your Succulents During Summer

Even though succulents don’t need that much care, they still need some substantial minerals for growing. You can bathe them in the sunlight during summer or spring, which is a growing season for the succulents. However, don’t put fertilizer or give sunlight too much as it might grow at a faster rate which could result in a weaker structure. To some degree, this drastic growth can break them. A broken stem or leaf will leave a mark or scar-like feature that might ruin the form.

2.Pests And Bugs, Get Off!

Pests and bugs are not likely to be a problem for the succulents that are indoors. However, some bugs are attracted to the succulents such as mealybugs and gnats. These bugs are attracted to succulents, especially when the soil is too wet and not drained properly. Over-fertilizing can be a factor, too. Having isopropyl alcohol that is 70 percent concentrated at home makes a great investment. To get rid of their eggs and larvae, just spray them with this liquid.

3.Choosing The Right Soil

For succulents, you will need cactus soil or a mixture of sand and pumice with potting soil. These plants require soil that drains, unlike common soil from your backyard or potting soil, which will give your succulents a hard time to grow. The ordinary soil from your backyard has the ability to absorb water heavily, which may also attract bugs that can harm your succulents.

4.Choose The Proper Pot

Succulents may become rotten when there is too much water in their soil, so choosing the right pot is a must. Choose a pot that has holes in its bottom to let the excess water escape and not get stuck at the bottom. If this happens, it could potentially attract bugs. A terracotta pot is the most ideal pot for people who are first-time succulent parents. If you place your succulents on a veranda or anything that may be susceptible to rain, please make sure to have dependable roofing to prevent rainwater from drowning your succulents.

5.Keep It Tidy And Clean

Even if you put your succulents indoors, they may still get covered with dust particles that could hinder their growth. Use a damp cloth to wipe off the dust in the leaves or a small paintbrush to reach in tight areas. But be cautious when cleaning as a scratch or break in the leaves or stems can leave a permanent scar-like texture, to some degree.

6.Directly Water The Soil

Water the soil directly and don’t use a spray as it might result in moldy leaves and stems and cause the roots to have a brittle texture as the water cannot penetrate into the soil. Just water it directly until the water comes down through the holes of the pot. Another great technique to have more control in watering your succulents is by adding a substantial amount of water in a bowl first before actually putting it directly into the soil. Wait until the water is absorbed through the holes until the topmost of the soil becomes moist.

7.Water The Succulent Seasonally

When succulents are growing, they absorb water much more than other seasons such as summer and spring. You must test the soil in your succulents before watering it again. You can do this by thrusting your finger at least 1 inch deep in the soil. If it’s already dried out, it’s time to water it again. It is important to note that you must not overwater your succulents as it can kill your succulent.

8.Rotate It Frequently

Succulents love the sunlight so if you will place them in the same spot every single day they will probably bend towards the sun and have an imbalance form. Regularly rotate them to expose all sides to the sunlight.

9.Bathe It With Enough Sunlight

The average time of sunlight exposure that your succulents need is about 6 hours per day, but that depends on the succulent. The newly planted succulents will need a lot more, so you can expose them to direct sunlight for a few more hours. It is recommended to shade them with a thin curtain or put them on a window where the sunlight is still bright but not as direct as before.