Do succulents need supplementary lighting on rainy days (How to prevent succulents from growing too tall on cloudy days in autumn)

It is said that autumn every year is the "highlight moment" for succulents, because there is sufficient sunshine and a large temperature difference between morning and evening, which is conducive to the coloring and growth of succulents.

However, this year's autumn is contrary to the norm. It is not only rainy but also so short that it makes people suspect that it is a "fake autumn". Especially for flower lovers who mainly grow succulents, their wish for succulents to transform gorgeously in this autumn is probably going to be in vain!

It's rainy and cloudy, do the succulents at home need supplementary light?

Continuous rainy weather can easily cause succulents to fade and grow too tall due to lack of sunlight and high air humidity. Therefore, flower lovers who pursue good condition will think of using plant fill lights to supplement the light for succulents in order to maintain their condition.

However, using fill light is a double-edged sword, with both advantages and disadvantages! It is usually only used for a short period of time during the rainy season and winter, because it only simulates natural light and cannot replace sunlight .

Not only are there certain requirements for the main parameters such as the selection of lamps, irradiation time, power, and safe distance, but long-term use will also lead to reduced resistance of succulents, uneven coloring, and even stagnation of growth.

Whether to use fill light in autumn varies from north to south:

It is late autumn, and the temperature between the north and the south is very different. Although it is rainy in the south, the temperature is not particularly low. It is too early to move succulents indoors or use fill lights.

Moreover, it is only mid-October, the low temperature and heavy rain are only temporary, so you can postpone the use of fill lights for now; and in the cold northern regions.

If the temperature is below 5℃, succulents can be brought indoors or use fill-in lights. Because the heat emitted by fill-in lights can also have a certain insulation effect while supplementing light, which can increase the ambient temperature in the small environment and prevent succulents from frostbite at night .

In addition to using fill lights, water control can also prevent leggy growth:

Using fill lights is not the only way to prevent excessive growth in winter. When the climate is rainy, in addition to preventing succulents from being exposed to rain for a long time, water control is also one of the effective means .

Because succulents have thick and fleshy nutritional organs and are potted plants with strong drought resistance, you can delay fading and excessive growth by controlling watering in autumn and winter.

Although water control does not produce obvious results in the short term like using fill lights, it is simple to operate and will not reduce the resistance of succulents. It is a relatively safe and simple method.

Mild fading and lengthening are not irreversible

Succulents are sensitive to light and humidity, and have certain growth patterns. Most succulents have vigorous growth periods in spring and autumn, short dormancy periods in summer, and are not tolerant to severe cold in winter. Therefore, their state is also unstable and will change with the change of seasons.

Generally, slight fading and leggy growth during the rainy season, dormancy period and winter are normal phenomena. Later, you can help it recover slowly by increasing light, controlling water, using fill lights, etc.

Even if the growth is serious, it can be remedied by pulling out leaves, cutting leaves, beheading and producing side buds, so there is no need to be too anxious. After all, enjoying the fun of growing flowers is the original intention!