How to care for succulents in summer? Care tips shared

Succulents are a class of plants in which at least one of the three vegetative organs - root, stem, and leaf - is thick and fleshy and capable of storing large amounts of water. They come in a vast range of types and unusual forms, and in landscape design they can display a rich exotic flavor and create beautiful garden art effects. However, keeping succulents well in summer is not an easy task. Let's take a look below at how to care for succulents in summer!

How to care for succulents well in summer?

1. Watering: In summer, water succulents at night as much as possible, and never water at midday (except on cloudy days). Stop watering during continuous high temperatures. Once cloudy weather brings the temperature down, seize the opportunity to water. The amount of water is closely related to the pot.

2. Ventilation: Summer is a period of high incidence of pests and diseases. Poor ventilation easily breeds bacteria, and black rot is common in summer. If you find it, immediately cut off the rotten part and apply Duojunling to the wound; the rot spreads very quickly, and if you delay a few days there is no saving it.

3. Shading: Summer does not mean no sunlight at all. Without enough sunlight, succulents will still grow leggy even during dormancy. Artificial shading is meant to help them adapt better to the environment and reduce the damage caused by nature. Some varieties can tolerate full sun and are fine kept outdoors all the time, such as Graptopetalum paraguayense and Sinocrassula yunnanensis.

4. Rain protection: Summer generally has more rain. When succulents are kept outdoors, if the soil retains water for a long time, black rot occurs easily. Of course, aside from a few varieties, succulents should definitely not be kept outdoors in the rain.

How to water succulents in summer?

1. Timing: In summer, water succulents generally in the evening, because the plants are more active at night and can handle a sudden increase in moisture. Also, water retains heat much more than potting soil, so watering during the day in sunlight can easily overheat the soil and literally cook the plant.

2. Method: In summer, water succulents thoroughly, until water gushes out from the bottom of the pot. Doing so can bring enough fresh air to the roots. Fresh air at the roots helps them breathe and, through the weak electric currents produced by metabolism, helps the roots absorb nutrient ions from the medium.

3. Amount: In summer, the amount of water for succulents is closely related to the pot. For red clay, rattan-woven, and sphagnum-type materials with strong breathability, you can water generously and even use the soaking method. Ceramic pots let water evaporate very slowly, so the amount of water should be small and the watering interval should also be lengthened.

How to shade succulents in summer?

1. Summer-growing types: For "summer-growing" succulents, give plenty of sunlight. If light is insufficient, the plants will not only grow leggy but also have their flowering affected. For certain columnar or spherical varieties in the Cactaceae and Euphorbiaceae families, the fleshy stems may suddenly become thinner, seriously affecting their appearance, and once this happens it is very hard to restore them to their original state.

2. Foliage types: For foliage succulents, insufficient light causes loose plant shape and dull leaf color. In particular, for some varieties whose leaves are red or whose leaf surfaces have patterns or white powder, the fleshy leaves may turn green and the patterns or white powder on the leaves may decrease or even disappear. It is best to place the plants outdoors in a spot with ample light and good ventilation for care.

3. Delicate types: For some delicate varieties, from June to August you should still avoid strong direct sunlight around midday, so that intense light does not scorch the epidermis. Plants kept indoors for a long time or grown in other poorly lit places should also not be suddenly moved into strong light. They should first be cared for in semi-shade for a period, then moved to a brighter spot, allowing them to gradually adapt to the environment.

Precautions for keeping succulents in summer

1. Do not water too much: When watering succulents, you must control the amount of water well. If you really cannot resist, you can water a small amount along the pot wall or soak the pot briefly (keep it to about 10 seconds), that is, let the pot sit in water and then take it out, just enough for slight moisture.

2. Pay attention to shading and ventilation: If you do not shade succulents in summer, what you may face is sunburn and death by sun. For safety, shading is the wiser choice. When installing shade netting, also take ventilation into account. Do not shade in a way that makes ventilation worse, which in the end causes the succulents to develop black rot and turn to mush.

3. Do not reverse the temperature difference: In summer, some people move succulents into an air-conditioned room to grow them, but there is a fatal flaw: the air conditioning is cool during the day, and after it is turned off at night the temperature rises quickly. This reversed temperature difference will make succulents weaker and weaker.

4. Do not water at midday: Watering at midday when the sun is strongest is like putting succulents in a pot to boil. Even if the high temperature does not steam the succulents to death, the high-humidity soil plus the excessive temperature difference between the roots and the leaf surface will also hinder the roots' normal water absorption.

5. Ensure the soil is breathable: In summer, never use that kind of non-breathable soil to grow succulents. Non-breathable soil that compacts is of no help at all for succulents getting through summer; instead, it will kill them. Therefore, soil with a high proportion of grit is the first choice for getting succulents safely through summer.