Succulents and rain: there's an art to it, and with the right timing they'll easily fill out their pots

Whether succulents can be left out in the rain seems to be a dilemma for many plant lovers. Some say they can take the rain, since rainwater is far better than tap water and contains many of the mineral nutrients succulents need; others say that rain easily makes succulents sick, causing black rot and turning to mush, so it's best not to let them get rained on. Clearly, rain has both benefits and drawbacks for succulents.

Are succulents suited to being rained on? Rainwater is mildly acidic and, compared with artificially treated tap water, contains far fewer chemical additives, so rainwater is much more beneficial for plant growth than tap water. But there are many preconditions, and in many cases your succulents may not be suited to rain, especially during a long, continuous rainy season. So how do you know whether your succulents at home can handle the rain?

The duration of exposure to rain must be well controlled; they can't be left in it long term. When you feel the conditions are right, let them get rained on, and once you feel it's enough, bring them in and do the aftercare properly to avoid some of the diseases that follow rain. Some delicate or sickly succulents are not recommended for rain! Or succulents that are already very leggy will grow even more wildly after a rain. Old stemmed plants (laozhuang) are relatively more resistant and won't have problems after a period of rain, but long-term exposure is still not recommended.

Some succulents, even if they've grown fairly large, if they've just been repotted and haven't fully settled in and are still growing new roots, are best not risked in the rain. Everyone knows plants draw water and nutrients through their roots; if the roots aren't well developed and the plant still has to sit for a long time in soil that's too wet, the risk of root rot is greatly increased.

If you want to let your succulents get some rain during their growing season, try your best to prevent water from pooling in the pot. Any pot used for succulents must have drainage holes at the bottom. No matter how beautiful the pot is, don't be reluctant to do it: once you have it in hand, you must drill holes before using it. Rain is meant to let succulents absorb water, not to let them soak in it.

Generally, succulents kept outdoors long term have good adaptability to the natural environment and can be left in the rain. Check the weather forecast: if there's no sudden spell of extreme heat in the coming days, so that rain won't create a hot, humid environment, then they can be left in the rain. For succulents that are already very short of water, with fairly breathable soil, hurry and let them take a good rain and drink their fill to revive. Indoor succulents, however, grow more tenderly, and poor ventilation in the small microclimate of a balcony means they easily turn to mush and spoil after rain, so they must not be left in the rain.

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