The good thing about succulent plants is that most of them don’t need much care. This doesn’t mean care as in pampering. There have been stories told of a lonely cactus that was left in a cup in the corner of a countertop that survived for years with no soil, no water, and no sunlight until someone noticed and rescued it. Now, the cactus is thriving in a pot of cactus mix in a bright window. Some succulents are that easy to take care of.
What is a Succulent?
A succulent is a plant that stores water in its leaves and stems, which tend to be fleshy and thick. Some scientists also call plants that store water in their roots succulents. Succulents are most often found in hot deserts, though bromeliads are often found in tropical rain forests. These plants are prized for their unusual but pleasing looks as well as their ease of care. Bromeliads, for example, produce spectacular flowers. Others produce gorgeous whorls and rosettes of leaves in beautiful shades of green or other colors. Some have spikes, thorns or even what looks like hair.
Succulent Benefits
Succulents are amazingly easy to propagate, and many put out plantlets with no help from you. Many of them are exceeding slow growing and don’t need to be transplanted into larger pots very often. Pests tend to leave them alone, and they get along well with other plants in the same container. Most of them aren’t expensive.
Succulent Plant Care
Two things will kill a succulent plant. One is overwatering it, and the other is exposing it to a hard freeze. Otherwise, they do best in soil that is made just for succulents or cacti. This potting mix drains well, is dry, somewhat poor and is usually made of sand, peat moss, potting soil and pebbles or pumice. It’s also important to put the plant in a pot that has drainage holes.
Put the succulent in a window or in an area where it will get at least six to eight hours of sunlight. When it is time to water, saturate the soil once a week, and don’t water it again until the soil is dry. Make sure the plant is in a warm room. A temperature of 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal in the summer, and 50 to 60 degrees F is good for the winter. This means that in some places the succulents can stay outside all year.
Some Modifications
Some succulents need some modifications to the basic succulent care. Bromeliads can be grown in cactus mix, but the mix needs to be kept moist, and they do best if they are very lightly fertilized about twice a year. Their leaves should frequently be misted. Kalanchoe, another succulent, does best in a cool room in full sunlight. Like the poinsettia, which is not a succulent, kalanchoe plants bloom in December if they stay in complete darkness from sunset to sunrise in September.