looking for Growing Succulents Plants: Succulent plants are popular as ornamental plants because of their striking and unusual appearance, as well as their ability to thrive with relatively minimal care
Here are some tips on How to Grow Succulent Plants:
Proper potting: If properly potted, succulents require little maintenance to survive indoors. They should be grown in a porous substrate with good drainage, which will vary depending on the climate it is grown in
Watering: Succulents are very adaptable houseplants and will thrive in a range of indoor conditions. Most plant owners over-water their succulents, which can cause infections and death. Succulents require little water in the summer and even less in the winter. Watering excessively can cause leaf fall and root rot. However, a lack of water can also damage it. Heavy watering in summer is needed
Sunlight: Succulents need about 4–6 hours of direct sun or medium shade exposures with bright light. Adromischus cooperi needs bright sunlight to bring out the dark-colored ornamental spots on the leaves
Propagation: Succulents can be propagated easily by separating offsets, but also by leaf cuttings, and by seed if they are not hybrids. For example, Crassula ovata can be propagated from just the swollen leaves which grow in pairs on the stems
Mesembryanthemum cordifolium can be reproduced from cuttings of the developed stems, roots, seeds of its capsular fruit, and even from its own buried leaves. Seeds must be sowed in summer and cuttings can be done in early spring in cooler climates. For cuttings, the plant can be divided and runners can be planted directly into the ground
Temperature: During winter, Adromischus cooperi should be placed in a dry, bright position with a temperature of around 12 °C; it can, however, tolerate a temperature slightly below freezing (to around –2 °C)
Soil: Succulents require a well-draining soil mix. A good soil mix for succulents should contain a combination of coarse sand, perlite, and peat moss
Succulent plants require a well-draining soil mix. A good soil mix for succulents should contain a combination of coarse sand, perlite, and peat moss
What are the Best Soil and Potting Conditions for Growing Succulents Plants
Succulents are very adaptable houseplants and will thrive in a range of indoor conditions. If properly potted, succulents require little maintenance to survive indoors
Most plant owners over-water their succulents, which can cause infections and death. Succulents require little water in the summer and even less in the winter. Watering excessively can cause leaf fall and root rot. However, a lack of water can also damage it
Curio rowleyanus requires very infrequent watering (about once a month), and a few hours of direct sunlight, and is not affected by humidity. Good soil drainage is essential to prevent root rot, so sandy soil is recommended. This plant can be propagated easily by cutting or pinching off 10 cm or 4 inches of healthy stem tip and lightly covering them with a moist potting mix. The roots will quickly develop from where the leaves are attached to the stem
Mesembryanthemum cordifolium requires a garden bed that must be readied by digging over the soil. Compost and a slow-release fertilizer may be added to ensure healthy growth.
Seeds must be sowed in summer and cuttings can be done in early spring in cooler climates. For cuttings, the plant can be divided and runners can be planted directly into the ground
To avoid root rot, it is best to only water plants when the soil becomes dry and to put the plant in a well-drained pot.
Using a dense potting media such as one dug up from outdoors can also cause root rot. Plants from different environments have different tolerances for soil moisture: plants evolved for desert conditions will experience root rot at lower moisture levels than plants evolved for tropical conditions
what type of soil mix is best for succulents
Succulent plants require a well-draining soil mix that is porous and well-draining to prevent root rot. A good soil mix for succulents should contain a combination of coarse sand, perlite, and peat moss
Lithops thrive best in a coarse, well-drained substrate. Any soil that retains too much water will cause the plants to burst their skins as they over-expand. Plants grown in strong light will develop hard strongly colored skins which are resistant to damage and rot, although persistent overwatering will still be fatal
Crassula ovata requires a porous substrate with good drainage, which will vary depending on the climate it is grown in. It requires about 4–6 hours of direct sun or medium shade exposures with bright light
Dymondia requires a soil mix of 40% vegetative matter, 30% red lava sand, and 30% river sand. Perlite can be added to the mix as needed and provides faster growing in flats and pots. It makes a flat, very drought-tolerant ground cover and good lawn replacement in dry zones.
Takes heavy foot traffic and is often called living cement. Works well as a filler between flagstone, pavers, or stepping stones, and other confined areas. Soil retention is excellent on slopes and hills due to the large diameter and deep root system
How to Make a Succulent Soil Mix at Home
To make a succulent soil mix at home, you will need to combine materials that retain moisture, aid in aeration and drainage, and provide nutrients. Here are some materials that can be used:
- Coarse sand
- Perlite
- Peat moss
- Coconut coir
- Bark and wood fiber
- Stone wool
- Recycled paper
- Akadama soil
A good soil mix for succulents should contain a combination of coarse sand, perlite, and peat moss
Cacti and succulents require sharp drainage, thus requiring a much larger percentage of perlite or sand
Good soil drainage is essential to prevent root rot, so sandy soil is recommended for Curio rowleyanus and Crassula ovata
To make the soil mix, combine the materials in any ratio depending on the particular needs of the plant. A soil test may be done to analyze the chemistry of a potting mix, despite the mix not necessarily being made of soil