Succulents are a type of plant that can store water in its leaves.
Because they store a good amount of water in their leaves, the leaves tend to be thicker and longer than those of other plants.
The ability to store water is what allows succulents to thrive in dry climates.
If you have some succulents at home, then you may worry about overwatering them.
Here’s what you need to know about succulents and how much you need to water them.
How Often Should I Water My Succulents?
You should water indoor succulents once a week or at least once every two weeks.
If you have succulents outdoors, then you should water them every other week if you didn’t get any rain.
The reason you need to be careful about how much you water your succulents is their root system.
Succulents have very short roots.
They evolved this way to ensure they don’t need as much water.
However, this also means that if the soil isn’t well-drained, it can cause the water to pool around the roots.
The roots will rot as a result, and the plant will die.
There are a few factors that can also influence how often you should water your succulents.
Keep these factors in mind when deciding whether to water them or not.
1. Winter Or Summer
One of the first things you need to consider about how much to water your succulents is the season.
If the temperatures are holding below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, then it’s winter.
If they’re holding above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, then they’re non-winter.
This is important because succulents hibernate during the winter.
During hibernation, they don’t need as much water.
That’s because they’re not being active enough to use water.
If you were to water them during this period, you’d drown them.
You’d also put them at risk of freezing.
If the temperatures were to drop further after you watered them, the plant could freeze and die.
During non-winter months, on the other hand, you’ll want to start watering them.
As the temperatures become hotter and hotter, you may need to switch from watering every two weeks to once every week.
Since succulents grow naturally in dry climates, they’re pretty used to going for some time without water.
By keeping an eye on the temperatures, you can ensure you’re giving your succulents the right amount of water.
2. Succulent Size
Another factor that impacts how often you should water your succulent is the size of the plant.
Succulents come in all shapes and sizes.
You can find plants with big, fleshy leaves.
You can also find plants with tiny leaves.
Those with big leaves are going to need more water than those with tiny leaves.
That’s because those with big leaves have larger water requirements.
They need more water to circulate throughout its body.
Smaller leaves need less water since it doesn’t need to spread out as much.
If you have large succulents, then you can expect to water once a week, in most cases.
For those with smaller succulents, you may find yourself only needing to water once every other week or even less often.
Knowing the size of your succulents and their water demand based on their size can help you water them the correct amount.
3. Soil Type
The type of soil that you plant your succulents in can also determine how often you need to water them.
Succulents prefer to be in well-drained soil.
This means that the soil can drain water at a moderate pace.
This is important for plant health because if the soil drains too fast or too slow, it can lead to consequences for the plant.
If the soil drains too fast, for example, then the plant isn’t always able to absorb the water in time.
This can make it difficult to stay hydrated.
Soil that drains too slowly can damage the plant by not allowing it to access the oxygen.
The plant is essentially drowning in water.
Well-draining soil allows the plant to absorb enough water to survive, then it gets rid of the water before it pools.
When it comes to succulents, having well-drained soil usually means that you don’t need to water them as often.
If your soil drains too fast, you might need to water them more often since the plants are not going to be able to absorb the water well.
For soil that is slow to drain, it’s worth changing the soil out or drilling holes in the bottom of the planter if the succulent is in one.
Knowing the type of soil that you have can determine how often you need to water your succulents.
4. Appearance
Knowing if you need to water your succulent or not is actually pretty easy.
Your succulent’s appearance will tell you if it needs water.
When a succulent needs water, it takes on a sort of shriveled or wrinkled look.
If you see wrinkles on your succulent, then you’ll want to give it some water.
Another way to determine if it needs water is to check the soil.
Wet soil and dry soil can often look the same, so you’ll want to press your fingers into it.
If the soil is dry, then it may be worth giving the succulent a little water.
If the soil is wet, then you shouldn’t water the plant.
Knowing what your succulent looks like when it’s dry and when it’s hydrated can help you determine how often you need to water it.
5. Humidity
Another big factor that determines how often you need to water your succulents is the humidity of the area that they’re in.
Succulents prefer to grow in climates with low humidity.
They’re used to that sort of climate.
If you live in an area with high humidity, it’s still possible to grow succulents, but you’ll want to be careful not to overwater them.
Humidity is the amount of moisture in the air.
High humidity means there’s a lot of moisture in the air while low humidity means there’s little moisture in the air.
When there’s a lot of moisture in the air, the succulents can take that water and store it.
While it isn’t as much as they’d get if it rained, they’re still able to store some water from the humidity.
As a result, if you were to water them, there’s a good chance that you might start overwatering them.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, low humidity means that your plants may need a bit more watering.
While this is the preferred climate that the succulent likes to grow in, it does mean you’ll need to water it more often.
That’s because the succulent relies on you for its water instead of the moist atmosphere.
To ensure you don’t overwater your succulents, it’s worth paying attention to the humidity levels that the succulents are in.
6. Weather
A final factor that can determine how often you should water your succulents is the weather.
If you have outdoor succulents, then they might get enough water based on the weather alone.
For example, if you live in a climate that sees a lot of rain, then you don’t need to worry about watering your succulents more.
If anything, you might want to put your succulents in a planter.
This allows you to easily move them out of the rain if they’re getting too much.
Succulents don’t do well in rainstorms, for example.
They’re not used to that sort of climate.
It’s easy for them to drown.
If you only get rain once every few weeks, then you should still water your succulents now and then.
To ensure your succulents survive, it’s worth watching the weather and moving your plants indoors during a rainstorm to prevent overwatering.
When it comes to succulents, underwatering is better than overwatering.
Rainy weather can determine how often you water your succulents.
How Do You Water Succulents?
Once you have a schedule down, you may wonder how you go about actually watering succulents.
You might be unsure whether you should water the plant directly or aim for the soil.
How you water the plant depends on where it’s planted.
Here’s how you should water succulents in certain situations.
1. Indoor Succulents
To water succulents indoors correctly, you’ll need a watering can or pot with a small spout.
The small spout can help you control the direction and amount of water that you pour.
You’ll need to pour water at the core of the succulent.
This is the main part of it that also connects down to the ground.
You’ll also want to avoid watering the leaves.
Since indoor succulents don’t get as much heat or airflow, it’s easy for them to start rotting from the top downwards.
That’s because they store water in their leaves.
After watering the core, you’ll need to keep an eye on the pot that it’s planted in.
Make sure that the water passes through the pot.
If you have a tray underneath the pot, it’s worth emptying it periodically to ensure the pot can fully drain.
Finally, you’ll want to make sure that the soil is completely dry before attempting to water it again in the future.
2. Outdoors In Containers
When it comes to watering succulents outdoors, you might need to water them a bit more than if they were indoors.
Take your pot and aim it at the base of the succulent.
Continue to water the plant until the soil around it is fully saturated.
Like with your indoor succulents, you’ll want to watch the pot to ensure it drains well.
Make sure that it drains properly and remove the tray under it if it’s filled with water.
One additional thing you need to do for outdoor succulents is to move them indoors if a rainstorm is coming.
That’s why it’s usually a good idea to plant succulents in pots or planters instead of directly in the ground.
You can move them inside a lot easier.
Before you water your outdoor succulents again, check the soil.
If the soil is moist, then you shouldn’t water them.
If the soil is dry, then you can proceed with watering.
3. Outdoors In The Ground
If you planted your succulents directly in the ground, then it’s a little different than if you had planted them in a container.
If you have succulents planted directly in the ground, you can use a tarp to cover the garden bed during rainstorms.
Make sure that the tarp is large enough to cover the entire bed.
Otherwise, the water will simply seep to where your succulents are and drown them anyway.
Since you can’t easily move succulents that are in the ground indoors, covering them is your next best option to ensure they don’t drown.
Otherwise, you’ll want to water them similarly to how you water your other outdoor succulents that are in containers.
You’ll need to aim for the base of the succulent and water it until you saturate the ground.
In winter, you can move potted outdoor succulents indoors.
You can’t do that with outdoor succulents that are in the ground.
Because of that, watering them is a little different.
You should avoid watering your outdoor succulents that are in the ground during winter.
That’s because it can lead to frost damage.
You’ll also want to reduce watering in the fall.
If you happen to water just before the temperatures drop, the saturated soil can also cause frost damage to the plant.
In the summer, you may need to water them more than you would if they were in a container.
However, that largely depends on the weather outside.
If you get a lot of rain, you don’t need to water them as often in the summer.
If you don’t, then you’ll need to water them a bit more often.
What Are The Benefits Of Growing Succulents?
Succulents have risen in popularity over the years.
There are a few reasons behind their increased popularity.
Here are some benefits you can enjoy by growing succulents.
1. Adaptable To Any Home
One of the reasons succulents are so popular is that they’re able to grow almost anywhere.
You can plant them in your backyard as well as keep them in the house.
They’re able to thrive in almost any climate provided you know how to care for them.
Growing plants can sometimes be frustrating when you realize that the particular flower that you want doesn’t grow well in your particular climate.
That isn’t something you have to worry about with succulents.
Growing succulents is beneficial because they can grow in almost any climate.
2. Toxin Removal
According to a study performed by NASA, succulents, along with other plants, can remove toxins from the air.
Although they need a bit of help to do so at a rate that matters, they do play an important role in keeping a room’s air pure.
Toxins wreak havoc on the body.
They can lead to asthma as well as many other diseases.
Some of the most troubling toxins are volatile organic compounds.
These toxins are so small that humans can’t see or smell them.
They could be breathing them in without even realizing it.
Having succulents around the house can remove some of the toxins lurking inside your home.
With the help of a professional air purifier, succulents can do their part in keeping you and your family healthy.
3. Easy To Take Care Of
If you’re someone with a busy life, then the idea of gardening and taking care of plants may not be ideal.
The great thing about succulents is that they require very little care.
Most of the prep happens before you even plant them.
For example, finding the right soil and filling the pot all take place before you plant the succulent.
Once you plant the succulent, the only thing you need to do is make sure it gets plenty of sunlight and just enough water to live.
Since succulents don’t need a lot of water, you only need to check up on them every few days.
That makes it an ideal choice for people who want some green in their house without having to devote their lives to the plant.
Conclusion
It’s easy to overwater succulents since they don’t need much water.
You can usually get away with watering them once a week to every other day.
That said, certain factors could require you to water them more or less.
