Quick Tips - Indoors: Water once every three to four weeks. Very bright light or filtered sun. Outdoors: Water once a week in summer, once a month in winter. Partial shade or filtered sun. Important: Do not place in direct sunlight all day, avoid afternoon sun. Protect from frost and freezing temperatures. Do not overwater!
That's the short of it. However, we recommend reading the long-form care instructions below. You'll be glad you did! And check out our collections so that you can add to yours!
WATERING
This is arguably the most important aspect of succulent care, along with soil and lighting (which we'll discuss below). The main rule is simple... Do not overwater! Folks have a tendency to give succulents too much water, which they simply do not like. Over-watering is usually the quickest way to kill a succulent or cactus.
The rule of thumb is, if you're debating whether or not it's time to water the plant, then don't. Wait one or more days. But how often should you water them, and how much water should they get? It mostly comes down to a couple of factors: location and season.
Indoors: Some succulents will survive indoors, but it's important to remember that these are not your typical houseplants. With this in mind, they should not be watered the same way a tropical houseplant is watered. For most small to medium sized planters, succulents should be watered once every three or four weeks in a typical indoor environment, or an average temperature of around 70° Fahrenheit (21° Celsius).
Outdoors: This is when the seasons come into play. At The Potted Succulent, we keep our succulents outdoors in a greenhouse, which still gets hot in the summer and cold in the winter. So a loose watering schedule should be: once a month in the winter, once every two weeks in spring and fall, and once a week in the summer.
Quantity of Water: All of our planters contain a drainage hole, which is important to avoid soggy soil. Water with a light stream until water begins to exit the drainage hole.
LIGHTING
You may not realize it, but your succulent or cactus is actually relatively young, and most likely still in its "child" years. In the wild, plants this size usually grow under the protection of the parent plant. This means, they're usually protected from blasting sunlight.
Though they may hail from arid regions, most are not from barren, sandy desert landscapes as you may imagine. They need protection from full sun in most situations. Direct sunlight can damage or kill a plant in minutes.
Indoors: Provide very bright light but avoid direct sunlight, which could burn the foliage. A windowsill that doesn't get direct sun is ideal as is a very bright room that gets filtered sunlight, such as a kitchen. Avoid dark and cold rooms which could lead to root rot.
Outdoors: Do not place your plant in a spot that gets direct sun all day long. Morning sun is usually okay since this is the coolest part of the day, but avoid afternoon sunlight. The best spot gets filtered sunlight, such as underneath a wispy tree. Shady areas are usually okay as long as they still provide bright light.
ADDITIONAL TIPS
Fertilizer - Potted succulents can generally be fertilized once a year, usually in the spring. More often, and the plant may grow too quickly for its planter. However, you may consider adding white vinegar to your tap water, which is usually not acidic enough for succulents. At The Potted Cactus, we use about half a teaspoon per gallon of water. But be cautious as too much can burn the roots.
Pests - The bane of any plant collector's existence, pests can wreak havoc but can usually be eliminated if caught early enough. It's always important to inspect your plants periodically to spot the early signs of pests on your plants. This is especially important during the flowering and growth seasons, as many succulents emit secretions that attract bugs. A telltale sign of pests is ants congregating on flowers and stems and usually signal the existence of tinier bugs that are difficult to see with the naked eye. Other signs are wispy webs, cottony globs, and stunted growth. Our favorite way to deal with these unwelcome visitors is a strong spritz from a formula popular with some succulent collectors: rubbing alcohol and water. We use a half and half mix of either 50% or 70% Isopropyl Alcohol and water, usually mixed with a few spritzes of garden-safe insecticide as a safeguard. Use a strong stream from a spray bottle to knock those suckers off your plant. And if you have multiple plants, inspect them all and quarantine any affected plants for a couple of weeks until they are pest-free.
Placement - As mentioned before, potted succulents are relatively young. So they should be placed somewhere that's protected, just like they'd be protected in nature by the parent plant. Outdoors, an area with filtered or partial sun is best. Indoors, too little light can be a problem, so a spot with very bright light or filtered sun works. When indoors, consider drafts coming from a heating or air conditioning vent that could make it too cold or hot for the plant. And outdoors, protect planters from freezing air or blasting summer winds. Succulents and cacti look great grouped together.
Potting Up - There is no rush to re-pot your plant. In fact, succulents and cacti actually like to be crowded. When it's finally time to transplant your plant, do so at the beginning of its growing season, usually in early spring. Avoid transplanting your cactus or succulent in the middle of summer or winter. It may become too stressed and not survive the transplant. Review the Soil section below for the best potting soil to use. Once transplanted, add a layer of topdressing such as pea pebbles or crushed rock; this not only makes it aesthetically more pleasing, it also provides a layer of protection for the soil.
Soil - A good soil for succulent and cacti is one that drains quickly when watered. If you are re-potting your succulent, regular potting soil from a store must be amended to make it looser. Add perlite, crushed pumice, and crushed rock of some sort to the soil. Quantities and proportions vary depending on the plant's location, but a general rule of thumb is to use 1/2 potting soil and 1/2 of the other material. Remember, if the soil stays soggy for too long, it could lead to root rot and a dead plant.
Stressed Succulents - Succulents can change colors depending on the "stress" of their environment, not always a bad thing but something to keep in mind. Some Aloes, for example, can turn shades of orange or brown with more sunlight and/or less water. This is not necessarily a signal to water them more than usual. If a plant was recently moved or has found a new home, it may take a few weeks for it to adapt to its new spot and could change color during this time frame.
Got a question? Then feel free to email us at pottedcactusinfo@gmail.com or call us at 915-412-6611 during regular business hours.