What Are Succulent Plants? Understanding Succulents in One Article

Succulent plants are plants whose leaves, as nutritional organs, are thick and juicy and have the function of storing large amounts of water; they can use the stored water to survive in harsh environments where water is scarce. So how should they be cared for in daily life?

How should succulent plants be cared for in daily life?

1. Selecting varieties

Some succulent plants are relatively difficult to care for and have high requirements for environment and temperature, so you can choose some cold-tolerant plants that adapt very well to the environment, such as the common succulents of the genus Sedum or the genus Sempervivum.

2. Light

Succulent plants kept at home should receive at least 2 hours of light per day, and are best placed on a sunny balcony or windowsill. However, when the temperature is too high in summer, appropriate shading is necessary; when the temperature is high, the afternoon sun is especially harsh, so you need to pull up a shade net or move the plants to a semi-shaded spot to avoid excessive exposure.

3. Watering

When caring for succulent plants, be careful to control watering properly. Water only when the soil is dry and let it dry out between waterings, and pay attention to the degree of dryness and moisture. The pot for a succulent plant should be loose and breathable with good drainage; the soil should be a loose, well-draining sandy soil, and some granular stones should be added at the bottom of the pot to prevent the soil from becoming clogged. Before watering a succulent plant, check whether the soil has dried out completely.

4. Ventilation

Caring for succulent plants requires a particularly well-ventilated environment to keep the air fresh; otherwise, moisture cannot transpire and mold easily grows, which can cause succulent plants to suffer from root rot or leaf rot.

5. Pest and disease control

Red spider mites, scale insects, Lycaenidae butterflies, root rot, black rot and so on are common pests and diseases that harm their growth. In addition to spraying ixie disinfectant and sterilization medication, you should also place them in a ventilated environment and cut off the rotting and diseased parts to prevent the disease from spreading further.

Apart from some that are relatively difficult to grow, most succulent plants are not very difficult to cultivate; basically, doing the above points well is enough.