Succulent plants: light, watering, soil and how to keep them alive indoors and out

Succulents store water in their leaves, stems or roots, which is why they cope with dry spells. That same trait makes too much water their biggest enemy. Get light, water and drainage right and most succulents are easy to keep.

Light

• Most succulents need bright light, and many like several hours of direct sun.
• Indoors, a south- or west-facing window is usually best. Without enough light, plants stretch (etiolate): they grow tall and pale with wide gaps between leaves.
• Move plants gradually into stronger sun. A plant that has been indoors can scorch if put straight into full summer sun.

Watering: soak, then dry

1. Water thoroughly until water runs out of the drainage hole.
2. Let the soil dry out completely before watering again. Check with a finger or a wooden skewer.
3. Water less in winter, when most succulents grow slowly.

Never let pots stand in water. Wrinkled, soft leaves can mean thirst; mushy, translucent or black stems and leaves usually mean too much water.

Soil and pots

• Use a fast-draining mix: a cactus and succulent mix, or potting soil mixed with grit, perlite or pumice.
• Choose pots with a drainage hole. Terracotta dries out faster than plastic or glazed pots, which helps prevent rot.
• Repot when roots fill the pot, ideally at the start of the growing season.

Outdoors and winter

• Many common succulents are not frost-hardy; bring them in or protect them before freezing nights. Some, like many sedums and sempervivums, are hardy in colder zones — check the plant label.
• In beds, plant in sunny, well-drained spots, raised if your soil is heavy clay.
• Outdoor succulents usually need water only during long dry spells.

Feeding

Feed lightly during the growing season with a diluted fertilizer for cacti and succulents. No feeding in winter.

Propagation

Many succulents root easily from leaves or stem cuttings. Let the cut end dry for a few days until it calluses, then place it on dry mix and water sparingly once roots appear.

Common problems

Problem	Likely cause	Fix
Soft, black or translucent stems	Overwatering, poor drainage	Cut away rot, let dry, repot in gritty mix
Tall, pale, stretched growth	Too little light	Move to brighter light; behead and re-root the top
Brown, crispy patches	Sunburn	Shade during hottest hours, acclimatize gradually
White fluffy spots	Mealybugs	Remove with cotton swab and rubbing alcohol; isolate the plant

Quick checklist

• Bright light, increased gradually
• Gritty, fast-draining mix and pots with holes
• Water deeply, then let dry completely
• Protection from frost