Keep Killing Your “Easy” Succulents? These 11 Tips Help You Fix What’s Going Wrong and Keep Them Alive

Give Your Succulent Adequate Light

Succulents are often native to hot or desert climates, and can tolerate abundant sunlight. Bright sunlight, direct, dappled, or indirect, works well for succulents grown indoors. If your succulent’s leaf color seems to fade or grow lighter, try gradually increasing their sunlight exposure.

Provide Well-Drained Soil

Succulents require a well-draining soil with a lightweight texture. Adding a bit of sand and perlite to potting soil is recommended. There are potting mixes made specifically for certain succulents (such as cacti), and these are also recommended.

Choose a Suitable Container

Your succulent’s pot is important. Natural materials such as terracotta clay or ceramic, with well-placed drainage holes in the bottom, make very good containers for succulents. Placing a tray or dish beneath the pot helps catch excess water.

Water Consistently as Necessary

Water your succulent only when the soil is dry. In many cases this will mean once a week, or every two weeks. Reduce watering frequency by half in winter, as succulents require much less water during their dormant season. Proper watering is crucial to keeping your succulent healthy; overwatering can kill your succulents.

Provide Appropriate Humidity

Some succulents prefer a humid environment. If you’re not sure, do some research on the variety of succulent you have. Placing a dish of water nearby provides humidity, as does using a spray mister to moisten the surface of the soil.

You can also try using a small humidifier, or place your plant outside to increase humidity. Too much humidity can cause issues.

Use Fertilizer Sparingly, If At All

Generally, succulents do not need much if any fertilizer. Giving them some fertilizer at the start of the growing season can help make growth more vibrant, but with proper care you shouldn’t need fertilizer.

Adding soil amendments to potting soil, however, is a good way to increase nutrients. This can include perlite, compost, coffee grounds, and/or powdered eggshells.

Observe Temperature Needs

Succulents are native to desert climates, which can be very hot during the day, and very cold at night. Therefore, these plants are adaptable to a range of temperatures: some succulents can handle a range of 40-90°F when kept in containers outdoors.

Keeping temperatures generally between 60-80°F should keep your succulent thriving, but look into whether your specific variety of plant needs special temperature conditions.

Rotate Your Succulent Often

Rotating your succulent’s container by a quarter turn every few days will ensure an even exposure to sunlight for the entire plant. This will help the succulents leaves to grow more evenly and produce a fuller, more balanced appearance. You will know you need to rotate more often if it starts to have heavier growth on one side.

Remove Pests Promptly

If you see any insects such as aphids or spider mites, be sure to remove them promptly. It may be advisable to remove any plant parts that show signs of an infestation, to keep any damage from spreading.

Often pests are tiny, so look closely often at the plant’s leaves. Some pests can be wiped off with a clean cotton cloth with a few drops of neem oil on it.

Move Outdoors Occasionally, If Possible

If your succulents are in pots that can be moved, they adapt well to being moved outside for a few weeks or months at a time especially during the height of the growing season in spring and summer. Keep them protected from windy storms or heavy rain.