March 15, 2022
This issue is all about watering, what to do, and when. There have been a lot of questions about this topic over the years, so I’m going to attempt to answer them.
March 15 2022
Typically, most people don’t seem to have issues during the summer months, when their succulents can be outdoors, getting rainfall, and being ignored.
They love being outdoors, especially in warmer climates, but they do well even in slightly cooler areas, as long as they are protected from heavy rain or hail, and kept fairly dry in well drained soil (like a raised bed or pots with drainage holes).
In winter, when the plants are kept indoors for long periods of time, it’s a different story. The problem is not so much the type of water (although that’s a big factor) but the amount. In winter, in the northern hemisphere, the light levels and the day length are so much lower.
What does that have to do with it? you ask.
Well, with shorter days, the plants don’t need as much moisture, and, having less intensity of light, they stop growing and go dormant until they start to get more light. Your job is to recognize this, and reduce the amount of moisture.
The connection between light levels, warmth (or the lack of it) and moisture levels is crucial.
I’ve seen recommendations to stop watering altogether from October through March, and this is good advice. If you don’t have grow lights to extend the season, use your plants appearance to guide you.
If they are in a cool room under lights, they won’t grow much, if at all. Use a spray bottle to spray moisture off to the side of the plant, not directly on top of it, which can cause mildew. The amount does not have to soak through the soil. It’s just to basically act the same way as dew, to slightly raise the moisture level close to the roots.
Don’t wait to see leaves fall off and the stems to rot to change your system.
See these pages for more information; how-to-water-succulent-plant.html light-requirements-for-succulents.html grow-lights.html
I hope that’s answered some of the questions you may have about watering your succulents. If you still need answers, you know what to do – simply reply to this email and ask me, or contact me (there’s a link at the bottom of every page, in the footer, to the contact page.
Visit The Hot Stuff Blog for all the latest in newly published (or re-published) pages.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this issue of Xeria e-Zine! Any questions or suggestions are welcome. Don’t forget, the Horticulturist is always in.
Happy Gardening,
Jacki Cammidge, Certified Horticulturist, Webmaster and Artisan
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