Advanced watering techniques for succulents: master them and stay away from rot and black stem
We discussed the topic of watering before in the beginner's guide. Today we're bringing it out again for an upgrade. Combined with the humid weather coming to the south, watering directly affects succulent care.
With the warming weather after the Start of Spring, succulents have begun their vigorous growth period again. Especially in the south, this year has been a warm year, and Guangzhou can be considered a "safe zone" in winter. Succulents have maintained good growth momentum all along, and after increasing the amount of watering in spring, the little plants bloomed quickly.
Watering is an important subject in growing succulents well. We can't copy other people's watering schedules, nor can we completely follow a rough number of how many times a week to water. Combining it with the external environment at the time and watering according to the condition of the succulents is the correct choice.
First let's understand the external environmental factors: temperature, wind direction and humidity. The best time to water is in ventilated, dry and sunny weather. Ventilation is the primary factor. Note that the humid weather around Qingming in the south generally brings a south wind. Although there is wind, the humidity is high, so the watering rhythm must be controlled. The temperature standard is generally above 5°C and below 30°C. Watering at around 7 p.m. is generally suitable. In summer, it should be pushed later according to that day's temperature. When sunlight is strong, you need to wait for the succulents to cool down before watering. This is the safe way to water through summer. Humidity is the benchmark for adjusting watering frequency. When humidity is high, it is not suitable to water much, and the amount of water must be controlled. In dry weather, the amount of water can be appropriately increased. On rainy days, watering should be avoided.
Next, you need to judge whether the succulents are short of water. We have always mentioned the principle of watering thoroughly after drying out completely, and we have also mentioned the trick of using a toothpick to test how dry or wet the soil is. But if you can understand a succulent's water shortage, it is even more helpful for controlling its shape and fattening it up. The symptoms of water shortage in succulents generally include leaves becoming soft, leaf surfaces wrinkling, and so on. If you touch a thick-leaved succulent or Haworthia and the whole plant is firm, it proves that the succulent is growing normally and has sufficient water. If the leaves are loose and soft, that may be a sign of water shortage, or the leaf surface shows shriveled wrinkles, or the leaves dry up. For Aeonium and rosette-type succulents, if there is too much water, the leaves will bend slightly downward and become deformed, so you must immediately ventilate and control water, otherwise there may be leggy growth or rot. Judging the actual condition of succulents depends on accumulated experience and careful observation, and fellow growers need to practice a lot.
Finally, there is the method of watering. When watering, you must not pour water directly onto the succulents. Many new succulent growers very much like to spray water directly on the succulents. If there is no ventilation, this can easily lead to rot. Also, watering should be thorough, that is, the standard is water coming out of the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot. Why water thoroughly? Mainly to grow good roots and strong roots. If you only water the surface of the soil, the succulent's roots will only grow on the surface and will not grow downward. It will be difficult to grow thick main roots, and the soil at the bottom is also prone to clumping, which is not conducive to drainage. So we would rather delay the watering time and still water as thoroughly as possible.
To sum up the experience of watering: choose the appropriate time to water, match it with the condition of the succulents, and use the correct method to water. Actual conditions change a lot, so we should also adjust the watering frequency according to the actual situation and find a watering method that suits our own environment. Do not apply one rule to everything. Only then can succulents grow better and plumper.
Previous articles related to watering:
Little succulents, "I see your bones are extraordinary, so I give you this watering secret manual"!
A comprehensive guide to getting succulents through summer, with the dormancy-period ventilation, shading, watering and water-control essentials you want to know!