1. Make Sure Your Succulents Get Enough Light
Succulents love light and need about six hours of sun per day, depending on the type of succulent. Newly planted succulents can scorch in direct sunlight, so you may need to gradually introduce them to full sun exposure or provide shade with a sheer curtain.
Give succulents half a day of full sun; ideally full sun in the morning and then bright or dappled shade the rest of the day.
2. Rotate Succulents Frequently
Rotating the plant often. Succulents will lean towards the sun, so rotating them will help them stand up straight. (Leaning may also be a sign that they need to be in a sunnier spot.)
3. Water According to the Season
The best way to water succulents is with the “soak and dry” method. Soak the soil completely then let the soil dry out completely before watering again. And make sure the succulents are in a well draining soil in a pot with a drainage hole (more on that in a minute).
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.
The best frequency for watering your succulents is whenever the leaves show very early signs of under watering.
Since most succulents are very prone to rot with frequent watering, you’re best off to wait for a signal from your succulent before watering. But if nothing else, don’t water again until the soil is totally dry.
If possible, just pour water onto the soil around your succulents until it is completely soaked. DO NOT water your succulents again until the soil has dried out — from the top of the pot to the bottom.
For indoor succulents, it is generally best if water doesn’t get on top of the leaves. If it sits on a leaf for too long it can cause rot.
Overwatering can kill your succulent, so make sure you let the soil dry between waterings.
4. Water the Soil Directly
When you water your succulents, soak the soil until water runs out of the drainage holes. (If your container doesn’t have drainage holes, use less water.) 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. Once the top of the soil is moist, remove from the pan.
5. Keep Succulents Clean
“Inevitably, your indoor plants will gradually pick up dust on their surface, which can inhibit their growth”. Wipe off the leaves and spines gently with a damp cloth (use a soft paintbrush to get at hard-to-reach spots).
6. Choose a Container with Drainage
Succulents don’t like to sit in waterlogged soil, so drainage is important to prevent rot. Your container should have a drainage hole to allow excess water to escape. Terra-cotta pots are ideal for beginners.
7. Plant Succulents in the Right Soil
Succulents need soil that drains, so regular potting soil—or dirt from your yard—won’t do. Choose cactus soil or mix potting soil with sand, pumice, or perlite. Succulent roots are very fragile so be gentle when repotting. The soil of succulent should also be such in which water does not stagnate.
8. Get Rid of Bugs
Pests shouldn’t be a problem for indoor succulents, but occasionally you may have to deal with bugs. Gnats are attracted to succulents that are planted in soil that is too wet and doesn’t have proper drainage. To get rid of eggs and larvae, spray the soil with fungicide. Mealybugs are another pest succulent owners have to deal with. Overwatering and over fertilizing are the common causes of mealybugs. Move infected plants away from other succulents and spray fungicide.
9. Fertilize Succulents in the Summer
Succulents don’t need much fertilizer, but you can give them light feedings during the spring and summer growing season. Be careful not to overfertilize—this can cause your succulent to grow too quickly and become weak.
