Why do beginners who grow succulents never do as well as everyone else?

Why are other people's succulents plump and so cute, while mine are skinny and scraggly, as if they're malnourished? Why are other people's succulents all a lovely jelly color, while mine stay the same dull vegetable green? In the eyes of many beginner friends, succulents are like children: the ones belonging to other people are always better. Actually, don't doubt yourself - as long as you use the right methods, you too can grow succulents that others admire, and make them envious of you.

1. Why are other people's succulents plump, while yours are skinny?

These days everyone considers thin to be beautiful, but in the world of succulents, the plumper the cuter. So why do your succulents never get plump? The main reason is that you probably haven't grown the roots well.

To grow flowers you must first grow roots - this is the consensus among flower lovers. Whether it's succulents or any other plant, the roots are always the most important place for supplying all nutrients, which is why there's a derived term called "root fundamental." The amount of water you give a succulent has an important relationship with its root growth. When a succulent's roots are strong and it's given plenty of water, it will grow leggy wildly; when a succulent's roots are strong but it's given little water, it will grow toward being thick and fleshy; when a succulent's roots are relatively small but it's given a lot of water, it will first grow its roots; and if a succulent's roots are already weak and you don't water frequently, the succulent may only be able to barely stay alive by entering a dormant state.

Actually, it's not just reasonable watering - suitable soil, regular fertilizing and repotting - these are all factors that make a succulent's roots strong.

2. Why are other people's succulents a jelly color, while yours are a vegetable green?

Succulent color change, put simply, is the result of the battle between anthocyanins and chlorophyll within the plant. A dedicated article earlier said that the first factor affecting succulent color is light. At least four hours of outdoor light each day (note that they can't be scorched by the sun in summer), especially in autumn when ultraviolet rays are strongest, anthocyanins will increase and chlorophyll will decrease; at this point different succulents will change from green to different colors. In addition, increasing the temperature difference and controlling water are both means of making succulents change color. When your succulent starts to show a faint, slightly translucent color, your jelly color is about to arrive.

3. Why are other people's succulents compact and dense, while yours always grow leggy?

We've covered leggy succulent growth in a dedicated article before: insufficient light and too much water. So the way to control leggy growth is outdoor light supplemented by water control. If you want to grow succulents well in a closed indoor space, it's basically a pipe dream.

4. Why do your succulents always turn to mush?

The native habitats of succulents are mostly arid environments, so they need relatively little water. The main reason succulents turn to mush is that they absorb water at a time when they should be dormant, going against their own metabolic pattern, and so they turn to mush. The main measures to prevent succulents from turning to mush: 1. Use pot and soil that both drain well and breathe well; 2. The environment must be well ventilated; 3. Follow the watering principle of not watering until dry; 4. Provide appropriate shade in summer to avoid scorching sunlight - if they get sunburned they easily turn to mush.

5. Why do your succulents always grow crooked?

It's actually the same principle as with other plants: succulents need sunlight. When the light is uneven, a succulent will strive to climb toward the direction of the sun, and the final result is that it grows crooked. Growing succulents indoors is the most troublesome part of this - we need to regularly rotate the pot evenly so that every side of the succulent enjoys even light. In addition, a leggy succulent that's top-heavy, or root problems that leave it unable to grip the soil, can also make it grow crooked, so you must check frequently.

After all this talk, really, to sum up succulent care it's nothing more than those few major elements: well-draining, breathable soil; sufficient light; a ventilated environment; the right amount of water and fertilizer; and suitable temperatures. Once you've mastered these elements, I believe your succulents will also become the "other people's children" that others envy!

Compiled and published by Little Exquisite Life