One of the most popular houseplants at Upper Village Blooms are succulents. They are easy to care for, aesthetically diverse, and ideal for small spaces.
A few tips on how to give your succulents the best possible care:
Light
Give your succulents enough light! They typically need about 6 hours of sun daily, depending on the type of succulent.
Indirect light is best— in the summertime, move them away from southwest facing windows where they could burn, or provide some protection with a sheer curtain.
Rotate your plants regularly so the entire plant can benefit from the sun.
Water
Succulents like to be dry in between waterings. It is better to under water them than over water. When in doubt, don’t water.
Our preferred way to water them is to sit the pot (make sure your pot has drainage holes) in a shallow dish with about 1/2 inch of water for about 20 minutes. Remove when the top layer of soil is moist. They will absorb the water to the roots and stop drinking when they are full. They need more water in spring, summer, and fall and much less during the winter months. They store excess water in their succulent leaves —if leaves are not plump, water them.
Do not spray water on your succulents. Excess moisture will cause rot.
Soil
Succulents should be kept clean and dust-free. A small paintbrush is handy for getting into crevices.
Keep an eye out for bugs and mites in the soil or on the plant. If there are insects, isolate the plant from other plants and spray the soil with 70% isopropyl alcohol. Bugs and mites are usually caused by over-watering and over-fertilizing.
Fertilizing only in the growing months— spring and summer. Use a fertilizer that has an appropriate NPK ratio for succulents, and dilute it in half.
With a little care and attention, you will probably need to repot your succulent in soon to accommodate for its growth! Repot in a larger pot (with drainage holes) and use a succulent soil blend. We like Organic Mechanics Brand Cactus and Succulent Blend.
Do you need to ID your succulent? Snap a photo and email to us at info@uppervillageblooms.com and we will do our best to help you identify it.
