How to Water Your Succulents

“How do I water my succulents?”

Now this is by far the question I hear the most when sending succulents off to their forever homes. Succulents are very different to other plants, most of them originate from dry arid environments so if you try and water them like most of your other houseplants they simply won’t survive long!

But also you shouldn’t totally neglect them. Fear not though, it isn’t complicated to help your succulents grow. This easy watering method will enable you to enhance your succulents lives and help them thrive.

The most effective way to water succulents and cacti is with the “soak and dry” method. Soak the soil completely then let the soil dry out entirely before watering again. Also you want to make sure the succulents are in a well draining soil in a pot with a drainage hole to avoid the roots rotting and killing the plant from the bottom upwards.

For succulents that are kept indoors, it is best if water doesn’t sit on top of the leaves. If it sits on a leaf for too long it can cause rot and start killing your succulent. The best way to avoid this is by either using a spray bottle or a miniature narrow ended watering can on the base of the plant.

My Personal watering can... as you can see it is well used

Also if possible try not to use household tap water to water your plants. Some areas of the country have 'hard water' which means the water contains excessive amounts of nutrients and minerals in the composition of the water, these minerals are harmful to your plants. You also should not use 'hard water' which has been through a household water softener as

these softeners contain salts which is also bad for your plants. The best way to filter 'hard water' is through a pitcher-style water softening system sold in supermarkets for drinking water. This removes the minerals without adding any chemicals.

Of course the best water to use when watering all plants is rain water. This is free from hard water minerals and nutrients and is at the correct pH level for the majority of plant species.

Rain Chain (Expressions, 2021)

The best way to collect rainwater is obviously a water butt as it can collect water from rain showers and storms, but this isn't always an option for everyone. However if you don't have access to one of these then you can purchase rain chains to collect water into a bucket or pot, which is safe to use on plants.

Rainwater is also usually moderate in temperature. This is vital to the health of your plants as really cold or hot water can shock and kill them rather swiftly; which is something a lot of people forget about.

Try to pour water onto the soil around the base of the plant until it is completely soaked. DO NOT water your succulents again until the soil has dried out completely from the top of the pot to the bottom.

Mist Spray Bottle

"How often should I water my succulents?"

Certainly my second most asked question. Succulents should only be watered when the soil has dried out completely. There is no watering schedule that works for every single succulent species in every climate, but this is a pretty strong method. You really have to find what works for you and your lifestyle.

Myself and many other succulent owners would say that as a rule of thumb you should water your succulents every 14-21 days to keep your succulents alive and healthy. Watering more frequently when the weather is warmer and the air is more humid and watering less in colder temperatures.

I hope this brief guide has been helpful in some way to you! As ever if you ever have any questions please message me and ask

- Thanks, Sam