Guest Post
Succulents have fast become one of the most popular plants out there. If you’ve never had house plants before, you’ve probably picked up a succulent or two thanks to their popularity on social media.
They’re pretty plants that look great, but they do need some care to stay at their best.
Here are some mistakes that you may be making with your new plants, and how you can avoid them.
1: Overwatering Your Succulents
This is the most common mistake that’s made with your succulents. First time plant owners keep watering their plants, as they think they need more water than they actually do.
This leads to the roots rotting, harming the succulent.
If you’re seeing the leaves of the succulent turning yellow or looking slimy, that’s a sign that you’re watering it too much.
Essentially, you only need to water them once every one to two weeks in the summer when they’re growing. In the winter, they will only need water once a month while they’re dormant.
Let the soil dry out totally, before you water them again.
2: Using The Wrong Soil
Here’s another very common mistake that you could be making. With most typical house plants, their roots will suck up water from the soil.
Your succulents actually absorb water molecules from the air, which is why overwatering is such a problem.
It’s important to have the right soil, as the wrong soil will stay wet for longer. That can lead to plant gnats, mold, and so on. Find a well draining soil mix, which can be easily found at your local gardening center.
3: Using The Wrong Containers
When you first get succulents, you may start looking for containers that they’ll look good in. Those pots you’re using may look great, but they may actually be terrible for your plants.
As well as good draining soil, they need good draining containers as well. That will let the soil retain too much moisture, leading to the above problems.
Look for containers that will allow for air permeation.
This includes terracotta, wood, or hypertufa containers. You can use other materials, but you’ll need to be prepared to drill holes in the bottom for drainage.
4: Not Allowing For Enough Sunlight
When placing any plant in your home, you need to consider where they are going to get their light from. Many first time succulent owners will place them wherever they think they look good, without thinking about the light source.
A succulent needs around 6 hours of sunlight a day, so you won’t get enough if you’re keeping it in the bathroom, or at work in your office.
Instead, keep them somewhere where they can get enough light.
If you really want the succulent in a darker area, considering placing them outside over a bright weekend, or finding other ways for them to get the light they need.
5: Having Too Many Succulents Together
What doesn’t look better than a collection of succulents together? While it looks great and makes for a great photo, it may actually be harming them. Having too many in one container will make them compete for resources, and they will start to suffer for it.
If you think there’s too many succulents together in a container, separate them out. You can still have a group together, if you keep them in separate containers.
It still looks good if you pick containers that complement your décor, and your succulents will be able to thrive.
6: Not Properly Fertilizing Your Succulents
Like all plants, succulents need fertilizer in order to be healthy and thriving.
Many first time succulent owners will think that they don’t need it, when that isn’t the case at all.
You’ll need to go talk to your local garden center to see what you’ll need for your plants. They’ll have a recommendation for a fertilizer that has the right macro and micro nutrients you need for your succulents.
If you can avoid these six mistakes with your succulents, you’ll get a lot of success getting them grow and thrive.
Make sure you do your research, talk to experts about your plants, and ensure that your succulents are well cared for.
Emily Henry is a writer at Write My Essay, where she focuses on succulents and plant care.
