Caring for Succulents
Winter Care for Frost-Tender Succulents
Depending on where you live, here’s how to get frost-tender South African succulents—like crassulas (jades), euphorbias, senecios and aloes—through a North American winter.
Read MoreHow to Behead and Replant Echeverias
Fancy ruffled echeverias—those large, flowerlike succulents—eventually need to be beheaded and the rosettes replanted. This is a bother, but it comes with a benefit: New clones will form on old, headless stalks. But not always. Here’s how to ensure success.
Read MoreTen Autumn Succulent Must-Do’s
These seasonal succulent must-do’s are mainly for southern and coastal CA, from the Bay Area south. If you live beyond, please visit my site’s Succulents By Season and Region page.
Read MorePrepare Your Succulents for Rainstorms
How to prepare succulents for rainstorms. Succulents, which come from arid climates, may rot. Stems or trunks turn squishy and collapse. It may be possible
Read MoreTina’s Tips & 16 Things Your Succulents Want You to Know
Expert succulent grower and Cactus & Succulent Society vendor Tina Zucker says “you don’t need to understand the science of plants. It’s all about observation, and anyone can do that.” 16 Things Your Succulents Want You to Know
Read MoreShould You Cut Echeveria Flowers?
Here and in my new video, “Should You Cut Echeveria Flowers?” I explain why you should snip echeveria bloom stalks, and how you and your plants both benefit.
Read MoreHow Much Light Do Succulents Need?
How much light do your succulents need? It depends on the type of plant and where you live. Most haworthias and gasterias prefer shade but can handle some sun along the coast. Many but not all cacti are fine in full desert sun. As a general rule, the majority of soft-leaved succulents want half a day’s sun (in mild climates) and dappled or “bright” shade.
Read MoreHow Rain Benefits Succulents
Here’s how rain benefits succulents: It provides dissolved minerals and washes away dust that inhibits photosynthesis; it dilutes and flushes salts and harmful chemicals that have built up in the soil from tap water; and it provides nitrogen essential to growth,
Read MoreFrost and Succulents: What You Need to Know
See the video Depending on how long temps stay below freezing (32 degrees F), “frost tender” succulents may show varying degrees of damage. When moisture in the cells of a vulnerable plant freezes, it expands, bursts cell walls, and turns leaves to mush. In a “light frost,” leaf tips alone may show damage (“frost burn”). In a “hard…
Read MoreOh No, My Succulents Froze!
Will succulents recover from frost damage? It depends. Here’s how frost-tender succulents looked before temps dropped into the mid-20s F, and after: Here’s the same Euphorbia ammak ‘Variegata, after the frost: Likelihood of recovery: Nil. Too much of the tissue was damaged. But what about the Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Sticks on Fire’ behind it? It’s hope of recovery is excellent because only…
Read MoreCold Weather Care for Outdoor Succulents, By Region
Cold Weather Care for Outdoor Succulents, By Region Should you be worried about your outdoor succulents in winter? It depends on where you live. It’s all about frost. The temperature at which water freezes (32 degrees F) is the Great Divide. Above that, most succulents are fine. Below that, most are at risk. See “Frost and…
Read MoreFour Ways to Overwinter Succulents
These four ways to overwinter succulents give you several options, depending on how cold it gets where you live. Most varieties can’t handle temps below 32 degrees F. These common winter conditions can lead to damage or death for dormant (not actively growing) succulents: — soggy soil (causes roots to rot) — excess rainfall (engorges…
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