Keep your succulents alive with our General Succulent Care Guide
The succulent group is a vastly diverse genus, a common feature is each plant’s ability to store water in its body and root system, yet roots want to sit dry. Many succulent plants have evolved to exist in extremely hot, barren, dry conditions. They also survive well here in the UK too with a little modification!
As with any plant, heat, light, water, and food are all key factors to consider when caring for your succulents. The growing season for most succulents is March to September and once tuned into caring for them, they are quite easy to keep.
Here in our General Succulent Care Guide we have shared decades of our experience growing succulent plants under glass in Surrey. Our starting point is always to consider the natural habitat of each plant and how we can mimick what it needs to thrive in the UK.
If you have found what works for you in your location – stick to it! It is important to understand your own climate, what is hardy in the south west might not be hardy in the north west. We like to err on the side of caution when it comes to keeping these plants alive and looking great.
Have a look at our YouTube Channel : Succulent School where you can find so much care information from how to repot, taking cuttings and general care information for all seasons!
General Succulent Care
Temperatures – Keep frost free. We heat our greenhouses to +3°C
Most succulents can stand some cold if they are dry, but certainly do not want to go below freezing (0°c). Indeed, it is the time spent dormant in the cold months that helps some plants develop flowers in the warmer months.
Ventilation is critical when it gets hot, we are running fans in the hot summer months. You might be surprised just how windy the dessert/dry landscapes are. It this air movement that makes the heat bearable for the plants.
Light –As much as you can give it.
We grow our plants either outside in the summer months or in the greenhouse all year round.
Succulents naturally live in bright climates, with strong light most of the year round. This allows the plants to grow in a vibrant, colourful and compact way. Whilst not all succulents want bright sunshine, most do.
We have found those that prefer a shadier spot often are variegated, or have translucent leaves. If you find your plant raising up from the center or has leaves that are not as tightly packed as they were – it is likely the plant needs more light.
Outside is where the best light is, under glass the levels drop, and moving into a porch or sunny windowsill it is lower still, and a shady windowsill has further reduced light levels. When you need to put your sunglasses on, this is the light level your succulents enjoy.
Water – Soak it, then let the compost dry out completely. Repeat.
We are regularly asked “How often should I water my succulent?” the easy answer is “When the compost is completely dry… and if you are not sure wait a further day or two…or even three.”
The most important thing about watering is to soak the compost well, then let it dry out completely…. before repeating. The plant will store all it needs from the good soaking it is getting. Just as in their native climate, often a deluge of rain occurs which dries up fast.
The rate at which the plant dries out will depend on where you put it. On a hot bright windowsill the plant will dry out quicker than on a cooler more shady windowsill. We are watering more than once a week in the hot summer months in our hot greenhouses.
Not letting the plants roots dry out is the most common cause of Root-Rot and succulents dying. Take comfort in the fact that you are less likely to kill your succulent plant by not watering it, you might by over watering it. Indeed withholding water can help develop the vivid colours in some succulent plants.
Compost & Food – Re-pot your plants.
Choose pots with drainage. See our range of the perfect shaped Echeveria bowls here
If you can not repot every year, then feed in the second and subsequent years.
The plants will be getting all their nourishment from the compost they are sat in. To get the most from your plants you should aim to re-pot them every year….using a mineral based peat free compost. Feed them to ensure they are getting any missing nutrients, this will help with leaf colour and flowering. Always choose a pot with drainage holes and empty out saucers 2 hours after watering. This will ensure the plants get rid of any the excess water, helping to prevent Root-Rot.
Decades of growing succulents has led to the creation of our new compost. It is a Peat Free (and Bark Free) mix of Sand, Loam, Perlite, Coir and Horticultural Grit. with added slow release fertiliser. Our specially formulated fertiliser is low in nitrogen, high in potassium and phosphorus together with many trace elements is designed for succulent health. We have had some great results with this mix of compost and feed. See our compost mixing video for all the tips on giving your succulents the growing medium they need.
How To Pot Up An Echeveria – See how to re-pot your favourite Echeverias with our video
Further Information
For further reading visit our Aeonium care page and Echeveria care page for more tips on growing these beautiful plants. Visit “How To Pot Up A Summer Succulent Bowl” page for ideas to make the most of your plants this summer. Maybe create a patio table center-piece, or statement for your conservatory or porch. See our winter care guide for additional tips on how to get your succulents through our colder months.