Succulents struggle to survive summer in July: do these 4 things well and they will make it through safely

Time has crept into July before we know it. As the hottest month of the year, July has the climate characteristics of high temperature, humidity and muggy heat, which has a great impact on the growth of succulents. So this month succulents must be given good ventilation, cooling and sun protection. Summer-growing succulents are relatively easy: as long as ventilation is good and strong direct sunlight is avoided, they are still in their peak growing season; intermediate types grow rather slowly; and winter-growing succulents simply enter dormancy, so they need to be cared for carefully according to actual conditions. But no matter which type of succulent it is, a good ventilation environment is key, and attention must also be paid to rain protection and shade.

1. Watering

On sunny days in July, the potting soil dries quickly, so summer-growing succulents need timely watering; intermediate succulents grow rather slowly, so watering should be reduced; winter-growing succulents stop growing completely because of dormancy, so watering must be strictly controlled, and extremely fleshy ones such as Lithops and Conophytum even need their water cut off. There is no fixed schedule for watering succulents. The simplest way to judge whether watering is needed is to look at the bottom two layers of leaves: if they have become soft and wrinkled, it is time to water. The best time to water is on a windy evening on a sunny day, because by evening the temperature of the potting soil, heated during the day, has dropped to its lowest, so the period from watering until the high-temperature noon of the next day is enough to let the potting soil dry out, avoiding root rot and black rot caused by excessive moisture combined with high temperature.

2. Light

The sunlight in July is fierce, so whether summer-growing or winter-growing, no succulent should be exposed to strong direct sunlight. Intermediate succulents and winter-growing succulents need to be placed where they receive scattered light, while summer-growing succulents can take direct sunlight but must be shielded from the midday sun. If there is no environment with scattered light, try to put a layer of shade netting over the succulents to create one.

3. Ventilation

As mentioned earlier, ventilation is one of the key factors for the survival of succulents. The muggy, humid climate of July is most likely to breed and spread fungi, and a well-ventilated environment can suppress fungal spores in the air to the lowest possible level, reducing black rot in succulents caused by fungal infection. You might as well add a fan to artificially create a ventilated environment to help the succulents get through summer.

4. Other matters

As mentioned above, the humid, muggy climate of July easily breeds and spreads fungi that cause black rot in succulents, and fungi generally invade the body through wounds on the succulents, so in July, unless necessary, try not to behead the succulents or pull off their leaves. In addition, you need to get into the habit of checking the weather forecast every day. If a long spell of rainy weather is forecast, do not water for now, and take rain-protection measures in advance for succulents grown outdoors.

Summer is the toughest period for succulents, but with careful care they can still get through it safely. In summer some succulents may become leggy; if so, just let them be leggy. Staying alive matters most. Even if a succulent dies, do not blame yourself too much; many experts' experience is accumulated over the corpses of succulents. As long as you can learn lessons and accumulate experience to avoid the same tragedy next time, that is enough. Finally, one word: mindset matters most. no zuo no die.

Compiled and published by Xiao Jingzhi Life, hoping it is helpful to you.