8 mistakes in succulent care - avoid them and you'll be halfway to being a guru

Some sellers market succulents as "lazy person plants," but that's not really true.

Anyone who has grown succulents knows: "lazy" people won't necessarily fail at growing succulents, but those enviable succulents are never grown by "lazy" people.

In the process of growing succulents, there are countless small details we need to pay attention to, and some "commandments" we need to avoid... such as:

1. Water the soil, not the plant itself!

You see other succulent growers posting photos of their plants fresh out of the bath, crystal clear and adorable, and you're so tempted that you pour water right on the plant. But you need to know: if you don't clean off the water droplets before the scorching sun comes out, congratulations - you'll end up with a pot of "baked" succulents.

The right way:When watering, just water the soil. Avoid the leaves and the leaf center. If you accidentally get water on them or they get rained on, make sure to clean it off promptly - for example, use a bulb syringe to blow the water off or use an electric fan to dry it.

Also, some succulents have a powdery coating on their leaves, which is a protective layer for the plant and also serves an aesthetic purpose. Even a little rubbed off normally makes you feel heartbroken, so letting water wash it off would be even worse.

2. The topsoil looks dry, so it's time to water!

Sometimes what your eyes see isn't the truth. Although the topsoil looks dry, when you stick a toothpick into the soil, you'll find it's still quite wet inside. In this situation, you still don't need to water.

The consequences of overwatering succulents - fellow growers all know them. It's not just as simple as waterlogged soil in the pot. If you add poor ventilation on top of that, it's a recipe for black rot!

The right way:In the broader gardening community, an almost universal watering principle is "don't water until dry, water thoroughly when you do." For succulents, this basically applies too. For beginners with no experience, following this method is more "foolproof."

"Don't water until dry" means waiting until the topsoil is completely dry before watering. The purpose is to have an interval between two waterings so that the soil has enough oxygen for the roots to absorb. It doesn't mean waiting until the soil is completely dry before watering.

"Water thoroughly when you do" means watering until water seeps out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. You shouldn't wait until the soil is bone dry to water, and you shouldn't flood it either.

3. Planting succulents in containers without drainage holes, and then they drown~

In the world of succulent growers, there's nothing that can't be used to plant succulents. Cups, bowls, plastic bottles - they can all be transformed into "flower pots." But as you grow them, you find the succulents mysteriously dying. This is mostly because the pot has no drainage holes at the bottom, causing water to accumulate.

The right way:Before "upcycling," make sure to punch holes in the bottom of the cup, or lay a layer of expanded clay pebbles at the bottom of the container to absorb excess water and prevent waterlogging.

4. Even more terrifying than lack of light is poor air circulation!

Succulents lacking light tend to grow leggy - that is, they look ugly. But poor ventilation is basically sending them to their death. Being in an environment with poor air circulation long-term, don't be surprised when mold, pests, black rot, and mushy leaves come one after another.

The right way:Of course, it's ventilate, ventilate, ventilate! Good ventilation makes succulents grow more compact and beautiful, and also prevents pests and diseases. If you have a well-ventilated space, just place your succulents there. If not, create a ventilated environment!

For those growing outdoors, no need to say more. For indoor growers, open windows more often. Don't place your succulents next to the TV or computer. If there's really no ventilation, set up an electric fan to blow air. Anyway, there aren't many days left until summer ends.

5. Rushing to move succulents outdoors for open-air growing after autumn arrives!

After finally making it to autumn, some growers excitedly move their succulents outside for open-air growing. As a result, succulents that barely survived the summer get sunburned to death in autumn. Doesn't that break your heart?!

The right way:Moving succulents outdoors for open-air growing requires a process. For example, suddenly moving indoor plants outside, or suddenly removing the shade netting on a sunny day - this kind of abrupt move from a low-light position to strong light is a big no-no. You can choose to move them out on consecutive cloudy or rainy days, giving your succulents a buffer period to adapt.

6. Using yellow sand to grow succulents? Your succulents will say goodbye immediately!

Succulents like loose, fertile sandy loam? Then you should use yellow sand! And then you find your succulents aren't doing well either!

The right way:Sandy loam is a medium that mixes yellow sand and loam, and it should have good aeration, good drainage, and appropriate nutrient supply. Both the loam and yellow sand can be replaced with other materials. For example, loam can be replaced with peat, leaf mold, or wood chips, and sand can be replaced with coco coir, vermiculite, etc.

7. Everyone says open-air growing is great, so you toss your newly purchased, just-potted succulents outside too!

Newly purchased succulents haven't yet established themselves in their pots, and you put them straight outside. Before long, you hear news of your succulents' demise. The cause of death is said to be ultraviolet rays.

The right way:Newly purchased succulents should wait until they've fully established in their pots before being moved outdoors. This generally takes about a week. If the outdoor sun is strong, pay even more attention to gradual acclimation.

8. Creating succulent arrangements however you please!

"My arrangement, my rules" - they're all succulents anyway, so arrange them however you like. This approach is absolutely inadvisable! Otherwise you'll end up with a pot of "rotten succulents."

The right way:When creating succulent arrangements, besides pursuing eye-catching visual effects, what's more important is to take into account the growing habits of each succulent.

If you put Echeveria derenbergii, Kalanchoe tomentosa, Haworthia cooperi, and Senecio rowleyanus together - Echeveria derenbergii and Kalanchoe tomentosa fear stuffy, humid conditions, while Haworthia cooperi and Senecio rowleyanus like shade and moisture. With these succulents squeezed together, tell me - should you water or not?