How Do Succulents Safely Get Through Summer? A Care Guide for Scorching Sun and High Heat

Not long ago I recommended succulent varieties suited to spring growing, and all the hidden succulent masters came out of the woodwork. Of course, there were also total beginners asking Shaoyao, "Isn't aloe a succulent?" Aloe doesn't want to talk, and gave you a smile

In the comments, what everyone cared about most was still the question of getting succulents through summer. Especially beginners - they haven't even bought their own sunscreen yet, but they're worrying themselves sick over their succulents surviving summer.

For those who still turn pale at the mention of "summer," after reading this you'll feel much more confident. Besides summer-survival experience, Shaoyao has also put together a list of easy-to-keep succulents for newcomers who just fell down the rabbit hole.

This summer, both you and your succulents should take it easy~

{Miss Shaoyao Vol.727 }

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Scorching sun, spare my succulents

Only after being tortured by high heat and blazing sun can you truly understand how to grow succulents.Getting through summer is the first hurdle for succulent fans. Even the most experienced growers need a bit of luck to make it through summer perfectly.

Why do so many people follow summer-care guides to the letter and still lose their succulents? Our country is vast, and there are so many succulent varieties, each with its own little quirks, so it's hard to find one uniform method for growing them.

The summer-survival experience Shaoyao has put together today is mainly aimed at the majority of hot, muggy regions. For beginners who know nothing at all, just doing these few things well will make things a bit easier.

SOIL

To help succulents safely get through summer, many people overlook soil! In fact, summer soil has its own requirements. There are lots of fancy soil recipes online, but Shaoyao has a budget version that works just as well.

Coarse sand 2 : fine stone 2 : peat 1 : coconut coir 1, and the key here lies in the coarse sand.

After a period of watering, the fine soil in the pot sinks down while the large particles stay on the surface, which is exactly what provides heat insulation and airflow, while the sunken fine soil helps protect and nourish the roots.

The roots must be protected at all times,only witha well-developed root system can succulents fight off the blazing summer!

WATER

For most succulents, the period from the summer solstice to the end of the hot season is the hardest time of the year.

If a stretch of consecutive high heat is coming (above 30 degrees), you must cut off watering in advance!Don't be afraid your succulents will get thirsty. After cutting off water the leaves will indeed wrinkle - this is a normal sign of entering dormancy. Once summer is over and the weather cools down, start watering again and the leaves will naturally plump back up~

There's one more point that must be stressed,after a thorough watering, be sure to avoid direct sun exposure, because high heat plus high humidity is what succulents fear most. So in summer, also pay attention to rain protection. The sun after a summer downpour is extremely harsh; water droplets on the leaves act like a magnifying glass focusing light and can scorch the leaves.

When watering in summer, just remember one thing: water less, and cut off water entirely when necessary.

LIGHT

The summer sun is so harsh it can sunburn people, let alone juicy little succulents.

Some people, to avoid the sun, simply move their succulents indoors, but that doesn't work either. Without sunlight for a long time, succulents will grow leggy, their immunity will drop, and they'll be more likely to die.

Plants need photosynthesis at all times to grow, so you must ensure light without exposing them to harsh sun.This is where shade netting comes in to hold up a protective umbrella for your succulents!

Shading doesn't mean the more you block, the safer your succulents are. Because blocking too much hurts ventilation. It's best to choose a low-density shade net, which ensures enough sunlight to prevent leggy growth while also improving airflow.

If you still have doubts about low-density shade netting, then when conditions allow you can raise the height of the net appropriately - the scattered light from a high shade net is even better suited to succulent growth.

In summer, succulents aren't afraid of high heat or humidity alone - what they fear most is high heat plus humidity, like lying in a bathtub of hot water in summer. Try it once and you'll know the feeling.

If you can't remember all these tips, just remember this one line and you'll get twice the result with half the effort:"In summer, less sun and less water; in other seasons, more sun and less water."

But don't think that as long as you shade them, mind the ventilation, and water less, your succulents will sail through summer safely.

Because species differ and growing regions have different climates, summer survival will still run into some variables. For succulent fans who just got into the hobby, it's best to start with some varieties that are easy to get through summer.

Echeveria 'Takasago No Okina'

Its glamorous, big wavy leaves,

whose color even changes with the light,

shifting unpredictably from blue-purple to orange-red.

It's a succulent that loves sunlight,

tolerant of heat and drought, and relatively easy to get through summer.

When summer is hot, mind the ventilation and avoid direct sunlight,

and you'll get to see the beautiful big-waved lady~

Echeveria runyonii 'Topsy Turvy'

Topsy Turvy is a variety I personally really like,

viewed from above, its leaves are adorable little hearts.

Topsy Turvy likes a warm, dry, well-ventilated environment,

water less in summer, mind ventilation and shading, and you can win Topsy Turvy over.

Kalanchoe tomentosa (Panda Plant)

The proper Chinese name for the panda plant is brown-spotted Kalanchoe,

because its leaves have grayish-white fuzz, like a rabbit's ears,

which is how it got this cute nickname.

The panda plant is super easy to grow,

it's fine even without watering all summer,

as long as you don't over-shade it, it will grow very well.

Sedum 'Raindrops'

The leaves of Raindrops have light brown "freckles,"

as if a fine drizzle had landed on the leaves and been frozen in place.

Raindrops is a child that doesn't need much fussing over,

cold-tolerant, heat-tolerant, shade-tolerant, and very easy to grow.

Echeveria 'Chihuahuaensis'

The leaf tips of Chihuahuaensis are deep pink,

like a beauty's fingertips, extremely endearing.

Chihuahuaensis is itself a summer-growing type, relatively heat-tolerant,

reduce watering in summer and shade it appropriately, and it's easy to keep alive.

Echeveria runyonii (Rusby's Stone Lotus)

Rusby's Stone Lotus is undoubtedly a workhorse among common varieties,

very heat-tolerant; in summer, just mind water control and ventilation and it's no big deal.

Its leaves are fairly thick overall, covered in a frosty white to pale pink,

and when in prime condition they have a white-jade-like texture.

Echeveria 'Lina'

Lina's curved "beauty tips"

look as if they were shaped by hand, stirring tenderness in the heart.

With sufficient light,

the leaf edges turn pink, making it even more delicately lovely.

Growing Lina doesn't take much fuss - it's very tough,

it likes a warm, dry, sunny environment,

drought-tolerant but not tolerant of wet conditions, so water less in summer.

Graptoveria 'Amethorum' (Grape)

Grape's leaves are thick and plump, like a chubby little face.

Grape is easy to care for,

as long as it gets enough sunlight, it generally won't throw a tantrum,

in summer it can even blush red, and it doesn't need frequent watering.

Echeveria 'David'

Around the edges of its round leaves

grow fine white "eyelashes."

David is easy to get through summer and can keep a certain amount of sun,

under light, the leaves and stem change color,

some green leaves take on a red flush,

and some plants turn entirely red or purplish-red.

When it comes to succulents, every grower cares for them as attentively as if raising a child. But often, parting is still unavoidable - as a true succulent fan, besides technique, you also need a strong heart!

With these skills in hand, you won't have to spend this summer trembling with fear. Once your succulents make it through summer, autumn will give you back a whole pot of adorable cuteness.

People who fall in love with succulents

all dream of having a yard or a big terrace.

But once summer comes, there's only one simple little wish:

May our succulents muster all their strength and get through summer safely!

About succulents, you must have a million questions in your heart,

tell Shaoyao everything you want to know,

and maybe next time you'll be the one picked~

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