How Often Should Succulent Plants be Watered?

Succulents are plants that store their leaves, stems, and roots in water. There are several different or succulent forms but they all share one thing. It’s a bit hard to cool them.

While other houseplants are watered every day, according to the season and where they are planted, succulents can go days or even weeks without needing water. A good rule of thumb is to soak the soil before soaking it again, and wait for it to dry completely.

To properly water succulents, you need to know what to look for to decide whether they get enough moisture, and what to do to avoid overwatering and underwatering. Succulent Plants are special and will thrive in any environment with the right care.

What happens when Overwatered Succulents?

To understand what happens when you give too much water to a succulent, it helps understand how the succulent interior structure functions.

Succulents store water in sackcloths which act like balloons. You water the succulent and it fills with water these containers.

Your succulent can keep soaking up water even though it no longer needs it. These bags eventually get too full and burst. This causes extensive cell damage and can lead to rotting, particularly in the roots.

How can you tell if your succulent is overwatered?

The first sign is leaf discoloration. Eventually, they are going to be so full of water that they’re going to become transparent. Leaves should feel mushy at this stage, instead of firm. When the damage is this severe, getting the plant back to health isn’t easy.

How Can You Tell If a Succulent Is Underwatered?

It’s quick to get a succulent underwater. Many people think they don’t need much water that can lead plant owners to assume they need less than they really do. Sugars need water to live, to be sure. They need only less than most other plants do.

Wrinkled leaves are the principal symptom of dehydration. Within, the bags that store water are completely empty and they shrivel quickly in size causing puckering to the outside of the leaves.

Recovering plants underwater is a little easier if caught early. Give them a little water at a time, slowly increasing the amount each time so you don’t risk the roots drowning.

What’s the Best Way to Water Succulents?

The main thing that you want to avoid is to allow any standing water in the bottom of the pot when watering your succulents. The plant will not only drink up as much water as it can, but even the roots will effectively suck in humidity.

A lot of people chose to use spray bottles to water the succulents for this purpose. This form is not the best, either. While it’s nice to have the leave and the stems wet, it doesn’t supply the root system with enough water.

To decide how much water your succulents require, you will also require to remember where they are being planted. You have a bit more wiggle room for succulents rooted in the field because excess water can start to pool in the earth, away from the roots.

When you understand these fundamentals of succulents and they are in the right bowl, there are few things to bear in mind to ensure that your succulents are properly watered:

1. Water deeply to promote root growth. This means that you should water directly into the soil rather than over the plant’s leaves and that is why using a spray bottle is not an effective method. Deep watering brings out strong roots that give you a healthy plant.

2. Remember that succulents can go a few days without water.Taking advantage of this sometimes can actually be beneficial, and allowing the soil to dry entirely before watering again. It can promote root growth, which is again essential to healthy plants.

3. If you are planting your succulents in a pot, using one with a hole at the bottom where the excess water will drain is key. This is an easy and efficient way of helping to prevent overwatering.

How often should succulent plants be watered?

You only need to water them once every other week if your succulents are indoors. A 1⁄4 cup of water should be given to smaller plants whereas large succulents require approximately 1 1⁄2 cups. Use a small watering can with a spout that lets you get close to the roots of the bottom.

Alternatively, you can put the container in a pan of water so that the succulents can soak up the water in the bottom of the container through the hole. Judging how much water the plant is getting this way is a little more difficult but some people find it effective.

Outdoor succulents are a little trickier because more factors need to be considered. As the season’s change, so will your plant needs.

The weather is higher in the summer and the sunlight is intense so that the soil is drying very quickly. It’s a good idea to test the soil physically every day and water again after it fully dries out.

Water each other week when the temperature is above 40 degrees F when fall arrives. As the temperatures drop and winter arrives, the succulents fall asleep and need watering only about once a month.

How much spring water you are going to water depends on how much rainfall. If the soil is already damp, you can skip watering. That said, make sure you regularly check the ground and water when it’s needed. Succulents coming out of their dormant condition need a little more water to begin to grow again.

A Clear Thumbs Rule

The easiest way to water succulents is to soak the soil and wait until you soak it again. It seems to be almost too simple, but bear in mind all the factors that influence how fast the soil dries out.

In fact, there is no schedule as to how much your succulents should be watered out. The real answer is to water the succulents as often as you need them.

Also, See How to Plant Herbs in Container?