How do you grow succulents so they thrive even more?

Succulents give people the impression of being soft and adorable, stirring feelings of affection and a strong desire to protect them. But in the process of growing them, things sometimes go against your wishes, either they end up stunted or they die, which shows that growing succulents well is not easy. So how do you grow succulents so they thrive even more?

There are many varieties of succulents, and the care points to note differ greatly from one type to another, but when it comes to “how to grow them so they thrive even more?”, there are still some things they have in common.

1. Give them plenty of sunlight

Succulents love sunlight most of all; they are a typical plant that “only shines when given sunlight”. If sunlight is insufficient, succulent leaves will gradually dull and even wither. So if there is a run of cloudy and rainy weather, it is recommended to provide artificial light.

However, some flower lovers go to the other extreme when growing succulents——baking them in the sun, which is highly inadvisable. After being baked in the sun, succulents will quickly wither due to sudden water loss, and if they are not cared for properly afterward, they may simply die. How could you bear that?

2. Keep the air circulating

The environment where succulents are grown should not be too enclosed and stuffy; the air needs to keep circulating, and it is best if it is on the dry side. If the humidity in the air is too high, it is recommended to turn on the air conditioner to dehumidify the home, and move outdoor-grown ones indoors. In addition, if they are grown indoors, it is recommended to place them in a ventilated spot that gets sunlight, as this is most favorable for succulent growth and propagation and also makes them easier to manage and care for.

3. Water appropriately and properly

Watering succulents is a careful and patient task. First and most important, do not pour water onto the succulent“s “fleshy” parts, as this can easily cause rot or scorching when they are in the sun.

As for the watering method, it is recommended to buy a dedicated succulent watering container, the kind with a spout, which is very cheap on the market, generally available for under 10 yuan.

As for the amount of water, generally watering once a week is enough. Note that after each watering, they must be placed in the sun to dry.

Winter is the dormant period for succulents, and watering once a month is fine. After all, succulents come from the desert and are fairly drought-tolerant; giving them too much water will instead make them “unaccustomed to the new environment” and cause all kinds of problems.

4. Let succulents “grow heads”

What does that mean? If you want succulents to “thrive”, then “growing heads” is a must.

The methods can be beheading, pinching out the growing tip, or pulling off leaves, depending on which method suits the variety you are growing.

1. Beheading

Don’t be reluctant; just cut the head off the succulent directly, and before long it will sprout multiple new growth points on its own and gradually grow many heads.

2. Pinching out the growing tip

If you really cannot bring yourself to do it and feel it is too cruel, you might try pinching out the growing tip, that is, removing the top tip of the succulent, which will also sprout new heads.

3. Pulling off leaves

Pulling off leaves to grow heads is even simpler, but you should choose to do it when the succulent is growing at its best, usually in spring and autumn, then pull off some of the succulent’s leaves. Note that after pulling off leaves, do not expose them to the sun; place them in a cool, dry, ventilated spot, which will help the wounds heal and new heads grow.