Do succulents really need to be watered only when the soil is bone dry and then soaked thoroughly? Actually, beginners can do it this way

"Succulents don't like water" is probably a misconception that most beginner friends often fall into. In fact, no plant can survive once it is completely cut off from water; it is just that some plants need more water and some need less.

As for succulents, most of their native habitats are arid and harsh environments. To adapt to such environments, their leaf surfaces have a waxy protective layer, and this waxy protective layer can lock in the water inside the succulent's body so that it will not evaporate away too much. In other words, because there is very little water in their growing environment, they actually lock the water inside their bodies. At this time, if you water succulents the same way you water ordinary plants, that is definitely not appropriate.

Another misconception is the issue of watering frequency. Things like watering once a week or once every half a month are nonsense. Succulents actually do not have a fixed watering schedule, because season, climate, temperature and humidity, pot size, pot material, potting soil, succulent variety, succulent growth stage, and so on and so forth are all factors that determine how succulents should be watered.

So, how exactly should succulents be watered?

1. "Water only when dry, and water thoroughly" is easy to say, but some beginner friends may not necessarily be able to figure out the trick when doing it. Simply put, in spring, summer, and autumn, after watering, the surface of a small pot may dry out in 1-3 days, and a slightly larger pot in 3-5 days. However, note that this only means the soil surface is dry; the potting soil in the lower layer is still wet. If you water at this time, the plant will either have root rot or become leggy. So how can beginners tell whether the potting soil is completely dry? You can insert a bamboo skewer into the soil to check the moisture and gradually build up experience; once you have enough experience, you will be able to judge.

2. In fact, there is an even simpler way to judge whether it is time to water, and that is to touch the leaves. When the second-to-last layer of leaves becomes soft and wrinkled, you can safely water without worrying about the succulent rotting at the roots or becoming leggy.

3. The above two points only let you judge when it is time to water. In other words, if you water at this time, the succulent will basically not develop abnormal conditions. But if you want to grow that kind of plump, gorgeous "fresh meat," you must hold back a little longer. After the potting soil is completely dry, wait another five or six days before watering, simulating an arid native environment for the succulent, and only then water thoroughly. After the succulent has had its fill, instead of rushing to become leggy, it will desperately store nutrients to cope with the next drought. It is actually just like people: if a person has no worries about food and clothing, they will think about developing more aspects; but if they go hungry one meal and full the next, then when they can eat their fill, they will desperately accumulate food to cope with the next time they cannot eat enough, and at that point they have no time to develop other aspects. This is the so-called "abusing the succulent," also called "controlling the shape," which makes use of the succulent's "sense of hardship."

4. Do not water when the weather is constantly hot and humid or during continuous rainy days, because if you water at this time, the potting soil dries very slowly, and without sunlight, succulents with good roots will go crazy and become leggy, while those with weak roots may just die outright. It is recommended to develop the good habit of checking the weather forecast every day, so that you do not water just before running into a stretch of cloudy days, which would be a tragedy.

5. If succulents die in summer, it is very possible that it is caused by not watering. Some friends may not believe it, but that is the fact. If you always cut off water excessively and the potting soil is too dry, the fibrous roots of some succulents with fibrous root systems, such as those in the Crassulaceae family, Echeveria genus, will dry out and die in large numbers, and the dried and dead wounds are very likely to cause the whole plant to rot black once they meet water. Therefore, especially in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, and other major furnace cities, you also cannot cut off water excessively the whole time when succulents are getting through summer.

6. Newly potted succulents cannot be watered immediately. My own method is to pot them in moist soil, and 2-4 days after potting, water once along the pot wall, but do not water thoroughly. This can induce the succulent's roots to desperately spread out in all directions looking for water. Then after a week, water thoroughly once, and after that you can water according to normal care methods.

7. Still talking about watering thoroughly only when dry. Personally, I think that during the normal growth process of succulents, in between thorough waterings you should occasionally intersperse a few "incomplete waterings" as mentioned in the previous point, as this helps make the succulent's root system thick and strong. Of course, most of the time you should water thoroughly, otherwise if the potting soil remains wet outside and dry inside, the roots will likewise wither and die. If the potting soil is compacted or difficult to water because the plant has overflowed the pot, you can use the soaking method to water, that is, soak the succulent's pot in water and let the water seep upward from the drainage holes until the surface of the potting soil is moist.

8. Previous articles have rarely mentioned winter watering. In the north, with a closed balcony and heating, the balcony temperature can reach 25°C during the day and around 10°C at night, which is exactly the optimal temperature for succulent growth. So in the north, just water normally in winter, but be sure to remember ventilation. In the south, if it is a closed balcony, you can also keep watering without cutting off water, but if it is an open terrace, then you need to decide whether to cut off water according to the actual situation.

9. Unlike plants whose place of origin is tropical rainforests, be very careful not to spray water on succulents frequently. If you accidentally drip water into the center of the leaves while watering, be sure to remember to blow the water droplets away.

The above are some personal experiences from Xiao Jingzhi Life, provided only as a reference, and they are not necessarily suitable for everyone. The care of succulents still needs to be combined with your own actual situation, with continuous learning, to figure out your own experience.