Common problems for beginners raising succulents

Question 1: Do succulent pots need holes?

Succulents are tenacious and do not have high requirements for containers, so the containers for succulents can be varied. But please note that in containers without holes, the amount of watering for succulents must not be too much. Because succulents do not require much water, in a container without holes, the water can neither leak out nor evaporate much, so too much watering can easily damage the succulents.

Question 2: How do succulents take root after being “beheaded”?

Turn the cut succulents over and dry them. Generally, soft succulents need to be dried for about a week, while hard succulents only need two or three days. Prepare slightly moistened sand and place the head on the sand. Succulents waiting to take root only need to be sprayed, and the amount of spray can be adjusted according to the specific weather conditions. For example, no spraying is required during the rainy season, but one more spray can be done in an environment with drier air. Generally speaking, soft succulents should be sprayed once a week, and hard succulents should be sprayed once every two or three days.

Question 3: How to care for mixed succulent plants

At present, the combination of succulent potted plants is very common. For the convenience of maintenance, when choosing the types of succulents, in addition to considering the sense of layering and artistic sense, try to choose succulent varieties with relatively consistent water requirements and sunlight, which will make maintenance easier. For example, hard-leaf and soft-leaf species, summer species and winter species should be separated as much as possible to form different combination potted plants.

Question 4: Can I water my succulents if their leaves are dry?

The leaves of some succulent species are dark red, and the leaf tips and old leaves are dry. Some people believe that this is a sign of water shortage in the plants. In fact, succulents may also suffer from excessive sunlight or root rot. Watering them at this time will be detrimental to them.

Question 5: What to do if succulent leaves fall off

The petioles of succulent plants are relatively small and the leaves are round, so they fall off easily if touched. But don't worry, especially for plants like Rainbow Jade, which have strong vitality and the fallen leaves will take root and sprout. But sometimes leaf falling may also be due to problems with the roots. In this case, pruning the roots is the best solution.

Question 6: Succulents cannot survive without sunlight

Succulent plants are light-loving plants, but they don’t like strong light. They can grow in a dark environment, but they will grow too tall and their shape will not look good.

Question 7: Succulents changing color

Most succulents will change color, mainly due to light intensity and temperature. When there is sufficient sunlight, the leaf color will become bright, but if there is no sunlight for a long time, the leaf color of the nine-tailed plant will become dull. In addition, the temperature changes greatly in autumn, and succulents will change color, but succulents that are kept indoors for a long time are not easy to change color.

Question 8: Dust on the succulents

Dust, soil particles, debris or insect spots on the surface of succulents will directly affect their ornamental value. You can use a soft brush or a soft fine brush to slowly clean them back and forth. Especially for varieties with fine hairs or white frost on the surface, you must be particularly careful when operating.

Problem 9: The soil in the pot is too loose and the succulent plants cannot stay there

You can lay a layer of white stones on the potting soil to lower the soil temperature, support the plant, and improve the ornamental effect.

Question 10: Is it better to grow succulents indoors or outdoors?

Most succulents prefer dryness and fear moisture. In their native places, they grow in dry, sparsely populated open-air areas, but the climate in today's cultivated areas varies. It is better to grow succulents indoors. However, long-term maintenance will lead to poor condition of succulents and even insect infestation. Therefore, you can take care of the succulents outdoors for a few days every once in a while.

Question 11: Do I need to wipe off the white powder on the stone lotus?

The white powder on stone lotus should not be touched by hand. Just like other succulents such as snow lotus and thick-leaved grass, their ornamental value lies in the white powder on them. If you touch them with your hand, your fingerprints will be left on them. During daily maintenance, you can wear gloves or use tweezers to maintain the beauty and integrity of the succulents to the greatest extent.

Question 12: How to determine whether a succulent plant has “died”

It mainly depends on the degree of shrinkage of the succulent plant. Succulent plants that have completely shrunk are already dead, but as long as there is still a little bit of shrinkage, there is a glimmer of hope, and it may come back to life with careful care.

Question 13: The best time to repot succulent plants

During this period of late spring and early summer, the temperature, light and moisture are more suitable, especially the temperature. Succulents are relatively fragile after repotting. If the temperature is suitable in early summer, the succulents can recover better. However, if they are repotted in autumn, the fragile succulents will have to survive the cold winter, which is very difficult for them. Of course, rooms with heating equipment are a different matter. Another period is after flowering. In the plant kingdom, all flower plants are suitable for repotting after flowering.