A simple guide to caring for succulents so they grow plump and adorable, easy to pot one at home

Potted succulents, also called succulent plants or fleshy plants, sometimes called succulent flowers in horticulture, have some part of them, such as the stem, leaves or roots, with well-developed parenchyma tissue for storing water, making them appear thick and juicy in appearance.

Some succulents have branches and leaves that themselves look like an open flower, either a single bloom or a cluster of blooms, looking plump and abundant.

Potted succulents are generally still easy to grow, and they will not die even without light, but they need good ventilation, and having light is the key to growing them well.

Another key is water control; it is better to give too little water than too much. A lack of water or sunlight only makes succulents look less attractive, but too much water causes root rot and then they become difficult to grow.

In potted succulents, their plump leaves are actually full of water, and this water storage capacity is very high compared with ordinary plants, which can ensure that succulents maintain their own life even when water is lacking.

But these plump leaves also have a drawback, which is that they are vulnerable to bacterial invasion.

Therefore, in the daily care environment, try not to let high-temperature and high-humidity conditions that are suitable for bacterial reproduction appear.

The amount of watering should be controlled, and the care environment should be well ventilated with soil mix that has good air permeability. In addition, the growing medium and flower pots are best disinfected and sterilized with carbendazim before planting.

For this kind of drought-tolerant plant, beginners will encounter the problem of either watering too much or too little.

Use a toothpick to judge watering; hopefully this helps beginners. Insert a toothpick completely into the potting soil, and after 24 hours, pull it out. If the inserted toothpick is dry, then it is time to water, and the water should soak through.

As for where to place potted succulent flower pots, they should not be exposed to overly strong direct sunlight. The ideal position is on an east-facing or west-facing windowsill, so they can get sunlight in the morning or evening, and ventilation is also good.

Regarding shading, generally a south-facing balcony does not need shading as long as it does not get the west sun, since the summer sun basically will not shine into the room.