Succulent watering has its finer points - be sure to pay attention to these

I. Misconceptions

1. Not all succulents grow in the desert, so you cannot have the idea that "watering once every half a month is enough." Although it is true that quite a few succulents grow in desert regions, this does not mean that all succulents are drought-tolerant. Many succulents are hybrid horticultural varieties and still very much need moisture to thrive.

2. Many people think succulents are rather afraid of water, so when watering succulents they only sprinkle a little water on the surface, merely dampening the surface of the soil without watering thoroughly. This easily causes the roots of the succulent to all spread out in a very shallow layer, which is very bad for the healthy growth of the succulent. Of course, you also cannot water too much, otherwise the succulent will easily develop black rot.

II. Judging soil moisture

When the soil in the succulent's pot becomes slightly dry, it is time to water the succulent. So how do you judge the moisture of the soil? There are mainly the following methods.

1. Insert a bamboo skewer into the succulent's soil, then pull it out and judge the soil moisture based on the skewer. With this method, be careful not to damage the succulent's roots.

2. Lift up the succulent's pot and feel the weight; different soil moisture means different weight. Of course, this method is rather advanced, and beginners are advised not to use it.

3. Observe the color of the soil surface. If the soil surface is dry and the color has clearly changed, then it is time to water. Of course, you can also observe the condition of the succulent: if the leaves are wrinkled and soft, then it definitely needs watering.

III. Timing of watering

The ideal state of watering is for the soil in the pot to stay moist, so the succulent can absorb the water it needs without rotting from waterlogged soil caused by too much water. Therefore, the timing of watering succulents also requires careful attention.

1. Generally speaking, spring and autumn coincide with the succulent's growing season, when the succulent begins to sprout and grow roots and has a high water demand, so it needs more watering. In summer and winter, the amount of watering should be controlled, especially in winter, when the succulent enters a dormant state; just keep the soil inside the pot moist, and there is no need to water too much, lest you go too far and cause the opposite effect.

2. There is also the time of day for watering. Generally, watering at around ten in the morning is most suitable, especially in summer, because after ten o'clock the temperature rises, and watering at that time can easily damage the succulent's roots.

3. There are also many factors that affect when to water succulents. For example, if the indoor environment has good ventilation and a higher temperature, the number of waterings can be increased; if the flower pot is relatively large, the number of waterings can be appropriately reduced; during the growing season, succulents have a relatively high demand for water, so the number of waterings can be appropriately increased.

IV. Watering methods

1. Watering from top to bottom. This is the method we use most often. Use a watering can or spray bottle to evenly spray water onto the soil in the flower pot, trying to moisten the soil in the pot until water flows out from the bottom of the pot. This is the method we often use for watering; it not only fully moistens the soil, but also allows waste and stale air around the succulent's roots to be discharged along with the water, which helps the plant grow better.

2. The soaking method. Soaking means using a container larger than the succulent's flower pot, filling it with water, and then placing the flower pot inside it, with the water level preferably not exceeding half the height of the pot. When soaking, be careful to prevent the situation where the soil in the pot has poor air permeability. Generally speaking, there are several situations for soaking: one is when the plant has grown luxuriantly and covers the soil, making it impossible to water from top to bottom; another is when the succulent has just started growing, and watering directly can easily crush its fragile, newly grown stems or roots. In these cases, it is better to soak to replenish water.

3. Spray irrigation. This method is generally used by flower shops or inside greenhouses for watering, but it is not recommended for home use, because a too-sealed environment is, after all, not good for plant growth. Therefore, it will not be described in detail here.

V. Points to note

1. Do not water at noon. Especially when the temperature is high, watering at noon can easily damage the succulent's roots and cause irreparable trauma.

2. When watering, it is best not to get water on the succulent's leaves, otherwise it can easily cause the leaves to rot, which is bad for the succulent's growth.

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