How to Care for Succulents in Summer? The Latest Care Tips

Succulent plants refer to a class of plants in which at least one of the three nutritional organs - root, stem and leaf - is thick and juicy and capable of storing a large amount of water. They come in a great variety of species with unusual forms, and in garden landscaping they can display a rich exotic flavor and create a beautiful garden art effect. But keeping succulents well in summer is not an easy task. Let us take a look below at how to care for succulents in summer!

How to care for succulents well in summer?

1. Watering: In summer, water succulents at night as much as possible, and never water at noon (except on cloudy days). Stop watering during continuous high temperatures, and once cloudy days bring cooler temperatures, seize the opportunity to water. The amount of water also has a great deal to do with the container.

2. Ventilation: Summer is a period of high incidence of pests and diseases. Without ventilation, bacteria easily breed. Black rot is highly prevalent in summer. If found, immediately cut off the rotted part and apply Duojunling to the wound. Rot spreads very quickly, and after a few days of delay there is no saving it.

3. Shading: Summer does not mean no sunlight. Without sufficient sunlight, dormant succulents will still become leggy. Artificial shading is meant to help them adapt better to the environment and reduce the ravages of nature. Some varieties can be exposed to full sun and kept outdoors all the time without issue, such as Graptopetalum paraguayense and Sempervivum 'Sizhilianhua'.

4. Rain protection: Summer generally has more rain. When succulents are grown outdoors, if the soil retains water for a long time, black rot comes easily. Of course, apart from a few varieties, succulents should certainly not be grown outdoors unprotected.

How to water succulents in summer?

1. Timing: In summer, water succulents in the evening, because at night the plants are more active and can cope with a sudden increase in water. Also, the heat-retaining property of water is much higher than that of the potting soil, so watering during the day in sunlight can easily overheat the potting soil and literally cook the plant.

2. Method: In summer, water succulents thoroughly, until water comes gushing out from the bottom of the pot. Doing so brings enough fresh air to the roots. Fresh air at the roots helps the roots breathe, and the weak electric currents produced by metabolism help the roots absorb nutrient ions from the medium.

3. Amount: In summer, the amount of water for succulents has a great deal to do with the container. For red clay, rattan-woven and sphagnum-type materials with strong breathability, you can water heavily, even using the soaking method. For ceramic containers, water evaporates extremely slowly, so the amount of water should be small and the interval between waterings should be lengthened.

How to shade succulents in summer?

1. Summer-growing types: For “summer-growing” succulents, give sufficient sunlight. If the light is insufficient, the plants will not only become leggy but also have their flowering affected. For certain columnar or spherical varieties in the Cactaceae and Euphorbiaceae, the fleshy stems will suddenly become thinner, seriously affecting their appearance, and once this happens it is very difficult to restore them to their original state.

2. Foliage types: For foliage-type succulents, insufficient light causes a loose plant shape and dull leaf color. In particular, for certain varieties whose leaves are red or whose leaf surfaces have patterns or white powder, the fleshy leaves will also turn green and the patterns or white powder on the leaves will decrease or even disappear. It is best to place the plants outdoors in a spot with ample light and good ventilation for care.

3. Delicate types: For certain delicate varieties, from June to August you should still avoid the strong direct sunlight around midday to prevent the strong light from scorching the epidermis. Plants that have long been kept indoors or in other places with insufficient light should also not be suddenly moved into strong light. They should first be cared for in a semi-shaded place for a period, then moved to a place with stronger light, so that they have a process of gradually adapting to the environment.

Points to note when caring for succulents in summer

1. Do not water too much: When watering succulents, you must control the amount of water well. If you really cannot resist, you can water a small amount along the pot wall or soak the pot briefly (keep it to about 10 seconds), that is, put the pot in water and then take it out, just enough to be slightly moist.

2. Pay attention to shading and ventilation: If you do not shade succulents in summer, what you may face is sunburn and death from sun exposure. For safety, shading is the better choice. When installing shade netting, you must also consider the ventilation issue. Do not let shading make ventilation worse instead, ultimately causing the succulents to suffer black rot and turn to mush.

3. Do not create a reversed temperature difference: In summer, some people move their plants into air-conditioned rooms to grow them, but there is a fatal flaw: the air conditioning is cool during the day, and at night after the air conditioning is turned off the temperature rises again very quickly. This reversed temperature difference will make succulents weaker and weaker.

4. Do not water at noon: Watering when the sun is fiercest at noon is like putting the succulents in a pot to boil. Even if the high temperature does not steam the succulents to death, the high-humidity soil plus the excessive temperature difference between the roots and the leaf surface will also hinder the normal water absorption of the succulents' root system.

5. Ensure the soil is breathable: In summer, never use that kind of non-breathable soil to grow succulents. Soil that is not breathable and tends to compact will be of no help at all for succulents getting through summer; instead, it will kill them. Therefore, soil with plenty of grit is the first choice for getting succulents safely through summer.