Common misconceptions about succulent care - how many have you fallen for?

1. Misconceptions

1. Not all succulents grow in deserts, so you cannot think that "watering once every half a month is enough." Although quite a few succulents do grow in desert regions, this does not mean that all succulents are drought-tolerant. Many succulents are hybrid cultivated varieties and still very much need water 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 wetting the surface of the soil, without watering thoroughly. This easily causes the succulent's roots to all spread out in the very shallow surface layer, which is very unfavorable for the succulent's healthy growth. Of course, you also cannot water too much, otherwise the succulent will easily develop black rot.

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

2. Lift up the succulent's pot and feel its weight. Different soil moisture means different weight. Of course, this method is relatively specialized, 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 succulent's leaves are wrinkled and soft, then it definitely needs watering.

3. When to water

The ideal state for watering is that the soil in the pot stays moist, the succulent can absorb the water it needs, and it will not rot from waterlogging due to too much water. Therefore, the timing of watering succulents is also very particular.

1. Generally speaking, spring and autumn are the succulent's growing seasons, when the succulent begins to sprout and take root and has a high water demand, so you should water more. In summer and winter, you should control the amount of watering, 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, so as not to go too far and cause the opposite effect.

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

3. There are also many factors that affect when to water succulents. For example, if the indoor ventilation is good and the temperature is relatively high, you can increase the frequency of watering; if the flower pot is relatively large, you can appropriately reduce the frequency of watering; succulents in the growing season have relatively high water requirements, so you can appropriately increase the frequency of watering.

4. Watering methods

1. Water from top to bottom. This is the method we use most often. That is, use a watering can or spray bottle and evenly spray water onto the soil in the flower pot, trying to make the water wet 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 wets the soil, but also allows waste and stale air around the succulent's roots to be discharged along with the water, which is beneficial for better growth of the plant.

2. Soaking the pot. Soaking the pot 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 flower pot. When soaking the pot, be careful to prevent poor air permeability of the soil in the pot. Generally speaking, there are several situations for soaking the pot. One is that the plant grows relatively lushly and covers the soil, making it impossible to water from top to bottom. Another is that when the succulent has just begun to grow, watering directly can easily crush its fragile, newly grown stems or roots. In this case, it is better to soak the pot to replenish water.

3. Sprinkler irrigation. This method is generally used for watering in flower shops or greenhouses, but it is not recommended for home use, because an overly enclosed environment is, after all, unfavorable for plant growth. Therefore, it will not be described in detail here.

5. Precautions

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 succulent's leaves to rot, which is unfavorable for the succulent's growth.