Deborah TorresSucculents are the hottest craze right now, thanks to their versatile nature and trendy appearance. These plants are available in all vibrant colors and fascinating forms imaginable, and can be grown in containers, outdoors, or indoors.
Succulents are quite unusual plants that need very minimal care to look amazing. However, do succulents need watering? Well, the short answer is yes, they still need watering.
But when it comes to watering succulents, there are some golden rules you need to follow to maintain these lush beauties and keep them healthy for a long time.
When Do Succulents Need Watering?
Due to the unique way that succulents store water, it is recommended to leave them too dry instead of too wet. But these plants still get thirsty now and then, and this is why you need to pay close attention to their water needs just like you would with other plants.
When do you need to water your succulents, then? Once you notice that your plants are already starting to have wrinkled leaves after an extended period of dry spell, this may be an indication of dehydration. However, before you water your succulents, don’t forget to check the soil to ensure that it is totally dry and once confirmed that it is, make sure watering is done during nighttime hours when the plants respirate.
How Often Do Succulents Need Watering Indoors?
Succulent plants grown indoors likely require watering at least once weekly. They require enough time for storing water in the leaves and letting the soil dry out completely between waterings.
Here are some techniques and tips to follow when watering your indoor succulent plants:
- Let the soil dry completely between waterings.
- Let the water drain thoroughly through the holes of the plant pot. If there is a saucer under the plant, make sure you dump out the water that drained through the soil.
- Put water to the succulent’s core until it is completely saturated.
- Never saturate the leaves to prevent rot from the top to the bottom because there is insufficient fresh airflow and heat that will dry the leaves of succulent plants grown indoors.
- Water your succulents using a container with a tiny pour spout.
How Often Do Succulents Need Watering Outdoors?
You need to pay extra attention to succulent plants grown outdoors. They will show you some distinct signs of when to water and when not to water them.
To keep it simple, you should avoid watering the plant if the soil is still wet, whatever the timeframe may be. If the soil is already too dry and the foliage of your succulent plants already looks dry and shriveled, it only indicates that it is high time to water them immediately.
How Often Do Succulents in Containers Need Watering?
Here are tips to remember for watering succulents planted in containers:
- Let the soil dry completely between waterings.
- Allow the water to drain thoroughly through the holes in the pot. If you are using a collection plate under the pot, dump out the water there that drained through the soil.
- Move the pots to a sheltered area if there is imminent heavy rain.
- Water the succulent plant’s base until the soil gets fully saturated.
How Often Do In-Ground Succulents Need Watering?
For succulents planted in-ground, there are several pointers to note when it comes to proper watering:
- Your succulents in-ground will require more frequent water during the growing season’s hotter days.
- Reduce the instances of water during the months of winter and fall to let the succulents survive the cold temperatures.
- Saturated soil can make your succulents more prone to frost damage during the months of winter.
- Water succulents deeply to let the soil dry in between watering sessions.
How to Water Succulents Properly
For your succulents to grow with healthy roots with a gorgeous natural design, you need to water them deeply before you give the soil enough time for drying out. Stay away from frequent small sips of water and give your succulent plants longer and fewer waterings instead once the soil becomes dry.
For succulents planted in containers with good drainage, put them in a water tray for up to 5 minutes. If your plants are grown in a large container or on the ground, avoid watering overhead and water at the soil line instead. No matter what you do, make sure that your succulent doesn’t sit in waterlogged soil.
What are the Signs That Succulents Need Watering?
Just because succulents are better dry rather than wet doesn’t necessarily mean that you no longer need to water them. Remember that water is important for the overall health of your plant, and just like other plants, your succulent will also show signs that it is already thirsty or dehydrated. Shriveled and wrinkled leaves are a telltale indication that your succulents can use more water.
While the cells distributed the stored moisture to the different parts of the plant, they will attempt to bring in more water to make up for what they lost. But if they can no longer get more water with the plant continuously relying on the exhausted water stores, the plant cells will contract to smaller sizes that will turn the once firm and plump leaves shriveled and collapsed.
What are the Signs of Overwatering in Succulents?
Now that you know the signs that your succulent plants have become too dry, it is time to learn the symptoms that will tell you that they are overwatered.
Overwatering will basically make the special balloon-like cells overfill and burst which will lead to damaged cell structures and even rotting roots and leaves.
The most telltale sign of overwatering in succulents is change and discoloration in the leaves. You will notice that the leaves have become squishy, soft, and translucent, and unlike the leaves of an underwatered succulent, the plant will simply drop them instead of trying to recover them.
Although succulents can still heal from this particular condition, this is far from easy. A good way to try to save your overwatered succulents is to take cuttings and leaves to root to form and grow new plants.
