My First Year Growing Succulents: My Experience and Insights

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Photos: Curator

As a beginner starting out in the first year of growing succulents, every newbie probably does some things that make the experts laugh. Now let the experts share their wisdom and guide you through the difficult first year.

1. Must the pots used for planting succulents have holes?

Succulents have strong vitality and do not have high requirements for containers, so succulent containers can be varied. But note that in containers without holes, the amount of water given to succulents must not be too much. Because succulents themselves do not need much water, in containers without holes, water cannot leak out and does not evaporate much, so watering too much can easily harm succulents.

2. How do succulents root after "beheading"?

Turn the cut-off succulent upside down to dry. Generally, soft-bodied succulents should be dried for about a week, while hard-bodied succulents need only two to three days. Prepare slightly moist sandy soil and place the head on the sandy soil. Succulents waiting to root only need misting. The amount of misting can be adjusted according to specific weather conditions. For example, no misting is needed during the plum rain season, while in a dry environment, mist once more. Generally speaking, soft-bodied succulents should be misted once a week, and hard-bodied succulents once every two to three days.

3. Can I water succulents when their leaves are dry and withered?

Some succulent species have dark red leaves, with dry and withered leaf tips and old leaves. Some people think this is a sign of water shortage in the plant. In fact, succulents can also show the above phenomena under conditions such as exposure to strong sunlight or root rot, and watering at this time is harmful to succulents. Therefore, before watering, you must first learn to observe and judge correctly. In general, water more when the temperature is high, water less when the temperature is low, and do not water on cloudy and rainy days.

4. What should I do if succulents drop their leaves?

Some succulents have relatively small leaf stalks and round leaves, so they easily drop leaves when touched, such as Green Turtle Eggs and Rainbow Jade. Do not worry, especially with Rainbow Jade, whose vitality is very strong and whose fallen leaves will also root and sprout. But sometimes when succulents drop leaves, it may be that there is a problem with the roots. For succulents with root problems, the leaves generally shrivel and then fall off. In this case, pruning the roots is the best solution.

5. Can succulents survive without sunlight?

Succulents are light-loving plants, but they do not like strong light either. They can also grow in a dark environment, but it will affect the final plant shape.

6. Why have the succulents changed color?

Many succulents will change color, mainly caused by changes in light intensity and temperature. With sufficient sunlight, succulents will be very plump; if they cannot get sunlight for a long time, they will become dull, so succulents kept indoors for a long time generally will not change color.

7. What should I do if dust falls on succulents?

Soil falling on succulents has little effect on their growth, but it affects their ornamental value. You can brush it off with a small brush, but be careful, especially with varieties that have fuzz or a powdery coating on the surface.

8. Is it better to keep succulents indoors or grow them outdoors?

Mainly keep them indoors, as it is easier to control water amount and light, but move them outside to bask in the sun at the right time. This is a necessary means of bringing out the best appearance in succulents.

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