Succulents come in a wide variety of plant families and thrive in a variety of forms. What they all have in common is the ingenious ability to store water in leaves or roots. This floral talent requires a different water supply than non-succulents. Read here how to properly water the survival artists.
How do I water succulents correctly?
Watering succulents correctly means, above all, only watering them when the soil is noticeably dry. The thicker the leaves, the less water they require. Avoid waterlogging, reduce watering in winter and use permeable substrate.
How to water succulents expertly – the best tips
Bringing the water supply of all succulent species to a common denominator is an undertaking of epic dimensions. Nevertheless, various basic principles apply to succulents. The following tips summarize what these are:
- During the vegetation phase, only water when the succulent soil is noticeably dry
- The thicker the leaves, the less water is needed
- Pour out the coaster after 10 to 15 minutes to prevent waterlogging
- Do not pour into rosettes or leaf funnels
- In winter, only water occasionally to prevent a root ball from drying out
- Do not water hardy succulents in the bed from October to February
- Only use plant containers with a bottom opening for water drainage
The quality of the substrate plays a key role in proper water balance. For succulents, please only use permeable, lean soil consisting of a mix of organic and inorganic components. Before potting a plant, test the substrate. It should not form into a ball even when wet. Otherwise, add lime-free quartz sand or lava granules.
Tip
Please use mostly rainwater or stale tap water for your succulents. If the exotic plants are treated with hard water, the lime content in the substrate accumulates. A fatal chain reaction then sets in, at the end of which the money tree, Christ thorn and other species lose their leaves.