If you are new to growing succulents then you are most likely confused about when to water and how much water you need to give your succulents. Most beginners think they need to be watered like any other plant, so they overwater their succulents.
The truth is succulents don’t need much water. Succulents are drought tolerant plants that don’t need much water to thrive. However, they still need water in order to grow healthy and happy, but they don’t need as much as other plants.
A succulent will simply die if it gets too much water. The biggest mistake beginners make is they think they need to water their succulent like it's a regular plant. They overwater their succulents and when this happens root rot occurs and will most likely kill the succulent if not treated.
So no, not giving your succulent enough water won’t kill it, but simply giving it too much water will most likely. It’s actually best to let your succulent get under watered instead of letting it get overwatered. It’s much much easier to fix an under watered succulent than fixing an overwatered succulent with root rot.
So how often should you water your succulents and how do you do it? By the end of this article you will know exactly how to and when to water your beautiful succulents so they can avoid being overwatered, and under watered.
Before we Begin...
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Let’s start.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I WATER MY SUCCULENTS?
You should water your succulents 1-2 days a week or when the soil looks or feels very dry. This is the perfect amount of watering for growing healthy succulents, avoiding under watering, avoiding overwatering, and of course avoiding root rot. There are also signs/symptoms that your succulent will show if it needs water or if it's gotten too much water.
Some common signs would be dry/wrinkled leaves, or mushy/moldy leaves. If your succulent has dry/wrinkled leaves then that’s a sign that the succulent is under watered and needs to be watered. To make sure it needs water go ahead and look at and feel the soil. Dig your finger into the soil and if the soil feels very dry then go ahead and water the succulent. If your succulent is showing mushy or moldy leaves then your succulent most likely has been overwatered and has root rot.
HOW TO WATER YOUR SUCCULENTS (INDOOR & OUTDOOR SUCCULENTS)
Now you know when to water your succulents, but now let's talk about how to do it!
The “soak and dry” method is the most common way on how to water succulents. We’ve used this method forever, and it treats our succulents well.
Soak the soil completely, and then let the soil dry out completely before watering again.
For indoor succulents, it’s best to not let water hit the leaves of your succulent. If water hits the leaves, it could begin to rot your succulent. Avoid hitting leaves!
You can use a small indoor spout watering can, or a squeeze bottle. Hitting leaves with water isn’t an issue for outdoor succulents, due to the fact that there's more airflow and the water will dry out quicker.
Carefully pour water onto the soil around your succulents until it is completely soaked. Yes make sure it gets a good amount of water because succulents love to drink a lot of water in phases.
Do not water your succulent right away, until the soil is completely dry from top to bottom. Succulents don’t like to sit in water for 2-4 days straight, they like a quick drink and then back to growing healthy it goes.
As we mentioned, we recommend 2 days a week avoiding back to back days. It all truly depends on how your succulent looks, and how dry the soil is.
Try to avoid overwatering, like we said you’d rather have your succulent not have water, than too much water. Why? Too much water is a succulents weakness. Too much water will create root rot, and root rot in the #1 reason why your succulent will die.
SOME EXTRA TIPS ON WATERING SUCCULENT PLANTS
KEEP A RECORD ON WATERING
It’s very important to keep track of the exact last time you watered your succulents. If a watering issue such as under watering or overwatering occurs, then you will know what’s going on and what to do next to treat the succulent. A lot of growers tend to forget when was the last time they watered their succulents, so watering issues occur and they don’t know what’s going on! Always keep track!
You can keep record just by writing it down on pen or paper, or even better typing it in your notes on your phone. There is also the succulent tracker app! This app allows you to record each time you have watered, also other cool features. Check it out!
USE WELL-DRAINING SUCCULENT SOIL
When watering succulents, it's a requirement to use well-drained succulent soil. It's very important that you use well-drained succulent soil so the soil doesn't stay soaked with water for several days. If you overwater the succulent and the soil stays wet and not dry for several days, then mold and bacteria will grow and appear. The mold and bacteria will then attack the roots of the succulent giving it root rot. Root rot is known as the #1 most common reason why a succulent will die.
To avoid mold/bacteria and root rot, you must use well-drained succulent soil. Well-drained succulent soil will keep the soil dry at a very fast rate preventing mold/bacteria and root rot from appearing. Any succulent grower expert will tell you that you need well-drained succulent soil, it's definitely a requirement for growing this succulent and every single other succulent out there.
We recommend using arguably the best succulent soil out there "Ramsey Succulent Soil"
Ramsey Succulent soil is arguably the best succulent soil on the market simply because it gets the job done and is loaded with nutrients.
Ramsey Succulent Soil has ingredients such as perlite, sand, and seaweed. Perlite and sand are known as the best ingredients out there if you want your soil well-drained. The perlite and sand will soak up all the excess water that your succulent does not need, preventing the soil from staying soaking wet for several days. So yes, Ramsey Succulent Soil will prevent mold/bacteria and root rot (the #1 most common reason why a succulent will die) simply because there will be no excess water.
That's not all tho.
What makes Ramsey Succulent Soil arguably the best are the nutrients that's in the soil. These nutrients will help your succulents grow bigger, faster, and healthier.
Ramsey Succulent Soil has seaweed fertilizer, which has 60 trace minerals and nutrients. Yes, your succulents will be absorbing 60 trace minerals and nutrients. This will make your succulents grow bigger, faster, and healthier without a doubt. Compared to other succulent soil, this succulent soil will make a huge huge difference for your plants. Don't believe us? Check out this picture below. You can definitely tell which succulent soil is better for your succulents.
USE A POT WITH A DRAINAGE HOLE
When watering succulents it’s also very important to use a succulent pot with a drainage hole. Again, the main goal when growing and watering succulents is to give enough water that won’t cause overwatering and root rot.
A succulent pot with a drainage hole will help prevent overwatering and root rot. It does this by draining all of the excess water out of the bottom of the pot. This gives no opportunity for excess water to just stay soaked in the soil for several days. Again, if water stays in the soil for several days then mold and bacteria will appear, then it will attack the roots of the succulent. This is why a succulent pot with a drainage hole is much needed.
HOW SHOULD I WATER SUCCULENT LEAVES OR CUTTING FOR PROPAGATION
When watering your succulent leaves or cuttings during propagation, it’s best to water them about 4 days a week. During propagation you want the leaves and cuttings to stay wet, this will give them more opportunity to grow roots so you can start planting.
The best tools for watering leaves or cuttings during propagation would be a spray bottle. A spray bottle works best so you can get all the leaves and cuttings wet with the soil. Also it’s great for not moving or damaging the leaves or cuttings.
KEEP AN EYE OUT ON YOUR SUCCULENTS
After watering your succulents it’s very important to keep an eye out on them to make sure they are growing healthy and happy. You now know what to do if your succulents are experiencing dry/wrinkled leaves, and mushy/moldy leaves.
You also know to keep an eye out on the soil. If the soil feels or looks very dry then it’s definitely time for some water. If the soil looks very soaked and wet then you know your succulent doesn’t need water.
SUPPLIES FOR WATERING SUCCULENT PLANTS
So now you know how to and when to water succulents, now here are some great supplies that will help you!
Again, succulents don’t want to sit in a wet puddle for several days, so it’s important that the soil doesn’t stay soaked with water for several days. The main supply for watering succulents would definitely be fast/well draining succulent soil. This is the best supply for watering succulents because it simply prevents overwatering and later on root rot!
Also it’s best to use a watering can, watering squeeze bottle, or a watering syringe. These are also great supplies because it will avoid getting water on its leaves! It’s very important that you don’t get water on its leaves because this may cause a fungus! If a fungus occurs then the leaves will fall off into the soil, if this happens then it will attract succulent pests such as mealybugs.
Last but not least you will need a succulent pot with a drainage hole! As we have mentioned, succulent pots with a drainage hole will drain the excess water helping prevent overwatering and root rot!
Thank You!
Thank you for visiting our website and reading our article. We hope we brought value, and great information to you today. Our goal is to help fellow succulent lovers like you! Any questions or if you’d like more tips email us or comment below!
If you are interested in buying live succulents, soil, cuttings, etc. We have them available here on our website. Go to our homepage, or click the links in our articles for more information.
We thank you so much for your time.
Thank You!
Ramsey Succulents
Family Owned & Operated
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