Succulents are super easy going plants that can survive months in drought condition. However, they can rot and die within a few days if given too much water. In this blog post, we'd like to share with you how to tell whether your plants are overwatered or underwatered.
Signs Your Succulent Has Been Overwatered
The first sign of overwatering to watch for is discoloration and change in the leaves' form. You'll notice the leaves becoming translucent, soft, and squishy, and unlike those that have been under-watered, they will be dropped by the plant rather than recovered.
Dig the succulent out of the soil and remove excess soil stuck to the roots, cut off any brown/black roots as these are rotten already. Leave the plant on a mesh or any kind of strainer till the roots have air dried from anywhere two to three days. When the roots are dry completely, plant them back in the pot.
How often should you water a succulent? According to Retro Den, the rule of thumb for watering your succulent is every other week during non-winter months. During the winter months, when the temperature is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, it is recommended to water your succulent only once a month.
Most succulents do best in bright direct light and need at least 6 hours of natural light per day. But if you only have a shady corner in your home, choose plants like mother-in-law tongue that do well in low light and place them near a south or east-facing window.
Indoor or Cool Climates
They can go up to 1-3 months of no watering. Indoor succulents will have less exposure to the elements outdoors - wind and sunlight outdoors tend to dry out the soil faster than it does indoors. In cooler climates, generally fall and winter, the soil stays moist for longer periods of time.
Don't use a spray bottle to water your succulents—misting can cause brittle roots and moldy leaves. You can also place pots in a pan of water and allow the water to absorb through the drainage hole.
Should I mist my succulents? No, do not mist your succulents. Doing so can cause spots and rotting. Remember, they come from arid climates with very little humidity, so they like dry air.
An underwatered plant will have wrinkly, shriveled up leaves whereas an overwatered plant will have soft, mushy, almost translucent leaves. What is this? These are the obvious tell-tale signs to indicate whether your succulent is being over or underwatered. Oftentimes, however, the signs are not that easy to read.
Succulents should be watered only when the soil has dried out completely. There is no universal watering schedule that works for every succulent in every climate. Many indoor succulent growers find that watering 14-21 days is a good frequency to keep their succulents alive.
1. If a plant is overwatered, it will likely develop yellow or brown limp, droopy leaves as opposed to dry, crispy leaves (which are a sign of too little water). Wilting leaves combined with wet soil usually mean that root rot has set in and the roots can no longer absorb water. 2.
There's a common misconception that giving your succulent too much water at one time will kill it. In reality, succulents love a good soak every few weeks. The problem with overwatering is continuous soil moisture that sits against the sensitive roots and causes root rot.
Wait 4 days and water again. Usually after this period of time an under watered succulent will start to look more plump. It can take a couple days for the improvement to show in the leaves.
How to Identify Roots Rot? If you unpot your succulents and notice their roots have turned dark brown or black, it indicates that your plant has developed infected roots. As a result, you need to treat it immediately, or else your plant will die.
Third, one of the most overlooked rules when it comes to watering succulents is the time of day. Succulents should never be watered past 2pm in the Summer or 11am the rest of the year. Don't ask us where this rule came from, but it really does seem to make a difference. Photo: Checking to make sure the soil is dry.
Watering succulents with ice cubes is a great idea because it supplies the plants with water over short periods. In addition, it can prevent overwatering the flowers or stopping the newbie gardeners from leaving them with soil dry as a rock.
This cleans the cactus skin and water penetrates some of the stomata. Because gas exchange is active at night, the roots are better able to take up water applied to the soil.
Yes, succulents love coffee grounds, especially when they absorb all of the nutrients that coffee grounds provide. Coffee grounds are very acidic, and succulents grow well and love acidic soil. Coffee grounds are also loaded with nutrients including magnesium, potassium, and nitrogen.
Whether our succulents are shipped or purchased in person, our succulents are treated with the utmost care and are sure to be in excellent condition when received. Signs of healthy succulents include vibrant colors, firm leaves, and slow growth. Succulents are not meant to grow quickly.
Minimum pot size for most of our succulents is 2.5" diameter. Choose larger containers (4"+) for arrangements or if you want to give your succulents room to grow. Using smaller containers will give an instantly filled-in look, but you may have to repot sooner due to fix an overgrown or root-bound container.
They are easy-to-please houseguests and survive indoor conditions with minimal effort. They survive dry indoor environments thanks to special adaptations – fleshy leaves, thick stems or enlarged roots – that allow the plants to hoard water. Most people are familiar with cacti, which are a type of succulent.