5 Most Common Mistakes Your Indoor Succulents
These popular houseplants are tough, but getting watering and lighting properly can be tricky. Let your plants thrive with these tips.
Succulents are popular as easy-to-care house plants that anyone can grow (and they are!), But that doesn't mean you can put them on a table and forget about them completely. Although succulent plants are hard and easy to grow, they still need a little care to be beautiful. If you have undeveloped meats, they may need a little more attention. Sometimes, people tend to ignore flesh because they seem indestructible, but there are certain conditions under which these plants cannot survive. Keep them happy and healthy by avoiding these common succulent mistakes (and fix anything you already do!).
1. Use containers without drainage
Combining beautiful meats with a fun container is tempting, but if you plant your new Echeveria in a small ceramic pot with no way to get water out, it won’t end well for your plant. Most succulents prefer their soil on the dry side anyway, but using a container without drainage holes increases the chances of over-watering because moisture will accumulate at the bottom of the pot and drown the roots of your plant.
Likewise, do not try to create drainage in a pot without a hole by adding a layer of pebbles to the bottom. Instead of helping excess water drain out of the soil, it actually worsens the drainage in your container. This is because the soil will hold more water than it would run into pebbles. The rocks will raise a layer of moist, excess soil so it is closer to your fleshy roots and crown, and they will rot.
What you can do instead is plant your succulent plant in a pot with drainage holes that are smaller than the beautiful container you want to use. Be sure to use a succulent and cactus-designed pot mix ($ 5, The Home Depot). Then, remove the inner container to pour water on your plant and as soon as the excess moisture has drained, return it to the decorative container.
2. Fog instead of watering
Since meats do not need much water to survive, you may think that missing them is a great way to prevent excess water. The leaves are best mixed with a variety of indoor plants such as ferns, aerobic plants, and other tropical plants that appreciate extra moisture. But as for the meat, it will damage them and make them rot. Instead, make sure you use a container with a drain and a succulent pot mix and then soak well for your meat once the soil is completely dry.
3. Not enough water
It is true that most succulents can live without water for weeks or even a month, but that does not mean you should never pour water on them or get them at a time with just a few drops. Succulents can survive drought by storing extra water on their leaves and some roots, but if you often allow your plants to go without water for several weeks, they will begin to shrink and shed their leaves.
Instead, focus on the soil; Once it dries, it is time to pour the water. Stick your fingertips in the tub and if you feel you have moisture, you can wait two more days for watering. Or, you can use an inexpensive moisture meter to help you. If the soil is dry, soak your plant well. Take care not to let all the extra water drain out of the holes and do not let the pot sit in a puddle. Try not to get water on the leaves, which can cause rot. Wipe off any false drops with a cloth or paper towel.
4. Not giving them enough light
As desert plants, most succulent plants actually need a lot of bright or direct sunlight to thrive. However, their reputation as hardy houseplants makes them seem to live anywhere, even in dim rooms without natural light. In fact, there are some succulents that can handle low light conditions, including snake plants, but most will grow best in the bright light you can give.
Without enough light, the flesh often loses color and turns into legs (i.e. they stretch their stems to find light)... Whenever you buy a plant, check how much light its tag needs each day and try to get as close as you can. If you want to grow one in a dim room, consider investing in Crow Light so you can get the light your flesh needs.
5. Planting together in excess, or with succulent plants
There are a lot of beautiful succulent preparations, but most of them only survive temporarily. Meat can handle tighter quarters than most plants, but eventually, if you combine resources like water and soil nutrients, they will start to compete. In addition, avoid planting succulents with other plants that have different maintenance requirements. Planting drought-tolerant flesh in the same container as the fern, which prefers moist soil, will affect one or both plants. For long-term succulent preparations, consider a dish garden; You can still plant many types of meat in one container, at the same time giving them enough space to grow.
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