How to Grow Succulents (wherever you live)
Succulents are unique plants with gorgeous shapes, colors and textures. Plus their drought tolerant nature makes them ideal for those of us who don't want to water plants very often (or simply forget to water).
While anyone can grow succulents, even if they don't live in the perfect climate, it's important to learn the essential elements of how to care for succulents to ensure they thrive, no matter where you live.
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For some people, growing succulents is a breeze. For others, it's a daily struggle. Either way, this guide will teach you the important aspects of succulent care so you can find success growing succulents in less than ideal circumstances.
Really quick, be sure to grab my FREE watering cheat sheet so you can learn how to tell if your succulents are getting too much water (and how to save them if needed).
Pick the right plants
Succulents are not all created equal. They have different requirements when it comes to light, water, and temperature. You can grow nearly any succulent indoors as long as you have enough light, but if you are growing succulents outside, it's critical to find succulents that can tolerate your climate year round.
I've learned that the hard way from living in Utah (a zone 6 with freezing winters) and Arizona (an extremely hot climate that is brutal for most succulents).
No matter where you're growing, it's important to learn how much light your particular succulent needs.
Figuring out all the terms like "full sun" and "partial shade" can be tricky, so I put together a video to show you what different terms mean.
Temperature is also an important factor when choosing succulents.
If you're growing indoors, nearly anything will work. Though keep in mind that some succulents (especially cactus) need a period of cold in order to produce their beautiful flowers. For other succulents, a change in temperature can affect the color of their leaves.
For those of us with cold winters, Sempervivums and stonecrop Sedums are our go-to outdoor succulents. I've loved being able to create potted arrangements for my porch that will survive year round and always look great!
Those of you fortunate to live in zone 9 and above, you can pretty much have your pick of succulents! Most succulents do best in a zone 9 or 10 when outdoors.
If you're growing succulents indoors and (like me) don't have a lot of natural light in your home, then you'll want to look for plants that tolerate low light. Most Haworthia and Gasteria are great in low light.
Sansevierias (also known as Dracaena or Snake Plant) are also becoming a new favorite of mine. They tolerate low lighting and are forgiving when it comes to watering frequency.
If you aren't using a grow light for your succulents, you'll want to avoid most colorful succulents. They tend to stretch out and lose their color if they aren't getting enough light.
In general, more colorful succulents, like Sedum nussbaumerianum, need more than just a bright window to maintain their color. Succulents that are naturally green tend to be happier indoors.
When choosing a succulent, you'll also want to consider how frequently you like to water plants, and opt for a succulent that is more likely to match your care style.
If like watering plants frequently, succulents may be a bit challenging for you. However, some succulents, such as Portulacaria afra, don't mind being watered frequently. Crassula arborescens undulatifolia and Aeonium 'Zwartkop' are two others that seem to like water more than other succulents.
On the other hand, really plump succulents like Graptoveria ‘Fred Ives', Pachyveria glauca, and Aloe brevifolia can go much longer before needing water again. You'll also find that cacti, such as Mammillaria rhodantha and Mammillaria gracilis fragilis, are very tolerant of long periods of drought.
Are you catching on here?
Plant selection can be a major factor in the success of your succulent garden. If you don't know what kind of succulents you own, I have an article that will help you learn how to identify your succulents.
Use a well draining soil and adjust as needed
As a general rule, succulents do not like to sit in wet soil for very long. Using a gritty succulent soil will help prevent your succulents from rotting and encourage them to grow thick, healthy roots.
This is especially important in humid areas as soil will take longer to dry out. A traditional potting soil will quickly cause the succulents roots to rot.
In dry environments, a gritty soil mix is still a great choice for succulents. You may find it helpful to have more organic material in the mix (such as pine bark fines, coconut coir or worm castings) to help the soil stay wet a little longer. However, a large particle size for your soil components is still important.
I personally use Bonsai Jack's Gritty Succulent Soil for the majority of my succulents (and I live in a very dry climate). For succulents that need a little bit more water, I frequently use Magic Succulent Soil.
If you prefer to mix up your own soil mix, I've put together a receipe and some suggestions for making your own well-draining succulent soil.
Choose a shallow pot with a drainage hole
Just as the soil you use will help your succulent thrive, so will the planter you put it in.
Succulents tend to have shallow roots, so choosing a short planter with drainage holes is idea.
The material of your pot can also play a big role in how well your succulent survives. Terra cotta is a great choice if you're just starting out, because it's very porous allowing the soil to dry out more quickly.
Materials such as glazed ceramic or plastic will take a little longer to dry out because they aren't as breathable.
Regardless of the planter material you choose, make sure your pot has a large drainage hole to allow water to flow out and air to flow in, drying out the soil.
As you become more confident in growing succulents you can experiment with growing and watering them in a non-draining container, like a glass bowl.
There are endless options of planters for succulents, but start with something basic until you get the hang of growing succulents and then branch out to more unique containers.
Water deeply, but infrequently
Once you have the type of succulent that works for your climate, in well draining soil and a pot with a drainage hole, you'll need to learn how to water succulents properly.
Think about cactus in a desert...
When it rains, it pours and the soil around the succulents get completely soaked. Then there's a period of drought before it rains again.
The same thing applies to watering your succulents. I call this the "Soak and Dry Method".
Don't just pour a little bit of water on the soil... get all of it completely wet, all the way to the center.
Then, let the soil dry out compltely before watering again. In fact, you'll likely want to wait a while after the soil is dry to water again.
I've found it extremely helpful to record when I water my succulents to help prevent over or under watering. I use an app called "Cheerful Plants" so I don't have to remember everything and keep track of things in my head. It's been a lifesaver! (or succulent saver...)
Don't expect perfection, and be willing to let go
At the end of the day, you need to realize that you may not have success with every succulent you grow. Plants die, and that's just a part of the learning process. Try to take a lesson from each plant that doesn't make it so you can take care of your next one even better!
I know money can sometimes be a concern, but thankfully succulents propagate easily so you can swap cuttings or leaves with a friend to help build your collection. You can also request succulents instead of a bouquet of flowers from your significant other to help build your collection 🙂
Be willing to experiment
If you take away just one thing from this article, it should be this: It's always okay to experiment! In fact, a lot of the information I share with you on my site is based on my own experiments.
I start by doing some background research, then I test those ideas through my own hands-on experience. There's always some sort of experiment going on with my plants and I'm constantly learning more.
While all succulents have the same basic needs, every home and growing environment is a little different. Factors like natural light, pots and soil, and other environmental variables all play a role in the health of your succulent, so take the basic guidelines and adjust them to where you live.
Always be ready to tweak the rules a little to make them work for you. What works well for me here in Utah won't necessarily work for someone in India.
I hope this post has given you some great ideas on how to grow succulents in a variety of climates. I'm convinced that anyone can keep succulents alive no matter where they live. In order to do so, it's important to have the right plants, soil, and pottery–and be willing to conduct some experiments to figure out what works for your plants.
To learn even more about succulents and how to tell if your succulents are getting too much or too little water, be sure to sign up for my free watering cheat sheet and email series.