How to keep your succulents from drowning

It’s commonly said that succulents are easy plants to take care of, as you can leave them alone in a bright spot and forget about them for a couple of weeks. But if you are anything like me, you will have issues with over watering them. So here are some tips to keep your succulents thriving.

1.- Try bottom watering

Bottom watering consists of placing your pot in a container filled with water. This way the water will go through the drainage hole and start to moist the soil from the bottom, encouraging the growth of deeper and healthier roots, as they will have to go down to get the water. Another benefit is that all the soil won't be wet. (there is no point on watering the top part if there aren't any roots there)

What happens if my pot does not have drainage holes?

I recommend you put a base of pebbles and cling film before planting your succulent. (as I explained in my how to make a terrarium post), this way the excess water will have a place to sit while it evaporates without harming the roots. Though you won't be able to bottom water your plants, at least you are less likely to drown them.

2.- Make your soil arier

When you buy soil mix for your plants, you have to be careful. Most of the plant-soil I have seen in the market is just compost. If you plant your succulents in that, it will retain much moisture and there is a high chance that your succulent will rot. All you have to do is adding some extra elements such as bark or perlite. These elements will add extra aeration to the substrate and the roots will be more protected from root rotting.

3.- Try terracotta pots

As they are made with a porous material when you water your plant, the excess water will go through the pores. This way your plant won’t be sitting in water waiting for the root rot to come. Plus they add extra ventilation to the soil which is nice for the roots. The only drawback is that they are heavy, but you won't need to move your succulent much so is not much of a problem here I think.

4.- Measure its turgor

As I explained in my 5 easy houseplants for beginners' post, some plants will warn you when they need to be watered by losing their turgor. The leaves will start having wrinkles when dried out but don’t worry, as soon as you water them, they will be back to normal. This way you will know exactly when you need to water your succulents.

5.- Keep them in a bright place

Last but not least, you have to keep in mind that succulents originally come from sunny places. They will thrive extra well if you can provide them with bright sunlight. A south-facing window (if you are in the northern hemisphere) would be perfect, if not you can consider buying a grow light or just keeping them in any bright place, maybe they won’t grow as fast, but they will still be ok.

If you liked this post consider checking my blog the growing plants where I tell you more tips on how to care for your houseplants.

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