Water your succulents this way and they won't get leggy - they'll even grow plump and chubby

Everyone who grows succulents knows the 3 big secrets of growing these fleshy plants: more sun, good ventilation, and less water! More sun is what brings out their colors and gets them into peak form. Poor ventilation easily breeds mealybugs and triggers black rot. Too much water easily causes leggy growth! Who says succulents are easy to keep alive? If you want to grow beautiful succulents, you can't do it without putting in the effort!

Let me talk with you all about this worldwide puzzle: watering your succulents.

First, we need to understand that watering frequency and watering amount are tied to the care environment and the pot.

1. The size of the pot. A large pot holds water better than a small one, so it's not that plants in large pots need more water - it really comes down to the plant's growth and how wet or dry the soil is.

2. The material of the pot. Clay pots lose moisture faster than plastic pots, and ceramic pots lose moisture the slowest. When growing succulents in pots that lose moisture slowly, make sure the interval between waterings is longer.

3. Ventilation. Good airflow speeds up evaporation. Succulents kept outdoors have good ventilation, so the interval between waterings can be shorter; succulents kept indoors have poorer ventilation, so watering frequency should be reduced accordingly.

4. Soil conditions. Compared with peat soil, gritty soil has stronger air permeability, poorer water retention, and doesn't easily waterlog, making it suitable for succulent growth.

Once you understand the relationship between watering and succulent growth, you're ready to water your succulents.

Let me tell you about a new way to water succulents - the tray watering method.

Normally when we water succulents, we use a watering can to pour water on them from above. This method easily gets water on the plant itself, making water collect in the center of the leaves. Once daytime temperatures rise, it very easily causes rot in the growing point and black rot, and the succulent's life is in danger!

Place a tray under the succulent's pot. The tray shouldn't be much bigger than the pot - use a small tray for a small pot and a large tray for a large pot, or put several small pots together in one tray. Then fill the tray with water and let the succulent's roots find the water themselves by growing downward. This watering method won't let water collect on the soil surface and cause the stem to rot; it lets the water be fully absorbed by the plant's roots. After filling the tray with water, wait for the succulent to slowly absorb it. Once the water is fully absorbed, don't rush to add more water to the tray - wait about a week, then add water to the tray again.

This watering method suits spring and autumn. In summer, or when temperatures rise above 28°C, you can't use this method to water your succulents! That is, if you still want to see them again.

When it's very hot, fill a mineral water bottle cap with water and gently pour it along the edge of the pot, without touching the succulent's stems or leaves. Succulents are drought-tolerant, and a tiny bit of water is enough for them to get through the rest.

The May Day mini-holiday is coming, which means hot weather is coming along with it. The succulents' annual "big exam" is about to begin. All you "succulent masters," are you ready?