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In today’s post, we will explore 10 common and potentially fatal succulent growing mistakes to avoid when growing succulents and cacti, along with some useful lifesaver solutions to tackle these problems. You can also checkout my detailed guide on How to grow and Care for succulents.
1. Over Watering #1 Succulent Growing Mistakes:
One of the most common mistakes made when growing succulents and cacti is overwatering. These remarkable plants are drought-tolerant and have a unique ability to store water in their leaves, stems, and roots, allowing them to thrive in arid conditions. Overwatering can lead to root rot, a serious condition that suffocates the roots and can ultimately be fatal, causing the plant to wither and die.
Additionally, another mistake that many beginner gardeners tend to make is drenching their succulents during watering. This practice can create an environment ripe for fungal rot due to the excessive moisture that remains in the soil. It is essential to understand that succulents prefer dry conditions, and their roots should not sit in waterlogged soil.
To avoid these pitfalls, the best watering can to use for succulents is one with a long nozzle. This allows you to direct the water precisely onto the soil, ensuring that only the roots receive moisture while keeping the leaves dry. By following these tips, you can help your succulents and cacti flourish and maintain their vibrant beauty.
How to Avoid this Mistake:
- Remember to water your plants only when the soil is completely dry. To determine this, you can use the finger dip method, which involves inserting your finger into the top inch of the soil to feel for moisture. If it feels dry, it’s time to water.
- Alternatively, if you have one, using a moisture meter can provide a more precise reading of the soil’s moisture levels.
- Ensure that the drainage holes in your pot are unobstructed to prevent water from accumulating at the bottom, which can lead to root rot and other issues. Good drainage is crucial for the health of your plants.
- During the dormant season, typically in winter for many succulents, it’s important to reduce the frequency of watering, as these plants will not require as much moisture during this time.
- Generally, watering once a week is sufficient for most succulents, but it’s essential to adjust this based on the specific climate of the zone you live in.
- Factors such as temperature, humidity, and exposure to sunlight can significantly affect how quickly the soil dries out, so always pay attention to your plants’ individual needs.
- Costa Farms unique succulents are hand-picked by grower. Each package contains 3 well-rooted, healthy, Premium quality echeveria succulents
- Each vary in shape, size and texture. Costa Farms succulents are approximately 3-inches wide, well-rooted in soil in a 4in grower pot, shipped are each unique in shape, size and assortment.
2. Using the Wrong Soil:
Succulents and cacti thrive best in well-draining soil, as this is crucial for preventing root rot. Unlike other plants, they are adapted to arid environments and have evolved to store water in their leaves and stems.
Regular garden soil or standard potting mix tends to retain too much moisture, creating a soggy environment that can lead to root rot and other issues.
To ensure the health of your succulents and cacti, it’s advisable to use a specialized soil mix designed for these types of plants, often formulated with materials like sand or perlite to enhance drainage and mimic their natural habitat.
How to Avoid This Mistake:
- Create your own mix by combining regular potting soil with sand, pebbles, perlite, or pumice to improve drainage.
- Do not use watering retaining stuff like vermiculite or coco peat.
- One recipe i use frequently is: 30 to 40% of Garden Soil, 30 to 40% Sand, 10% to 20% pebbles or some small coarse rocks or pumice or perlite if available, 10 to 20% Compost like cowdung or vermicompost, Optionally you can add some 10% Charcoal – small pieces.
- This fast-draining soil is actually a lifesaver for succulents during the raining season, especially young plants or those that are recently transplanted. Check out my detailed post on Making the Best Succulent Soil Mix.
- Balanced Blend – Professional quality mix of forest humus, pumice, compost, perlite, peat moss, fish bone meal and limestone
- Excellent Drainage – Fast draining formula prevents root compaction to keep your succulent and cacti healthy
3. Inadequate Sunlight:
Succulents and cacti require plenty of bright light to thrive and flourish in their growth. While some varieties can tolerate low light conditions to a certain extent, most will suffer significantly without adequate sunlight.
Insufficient light can lead to a condition known as etiolation, where the plant stretches toward the light source, resulting in a leggy and elongated appearance.
This not only affects the aesthetic appeal of the plant but can also weaken its overall health, making it more susceptible to pests and diseases.
Therefore, ensuring these hardy plants receive the right amount of sunlight is crucial for their vitality and robust growth.
How to Avoid:
- Position your plants in a location that receives at least four to six hours of direct sunlight each day, as this is crucial for their growth and health.
- Consider areas near windows or outdoors where they can soak up the sun’s rays.
- Additionally, make it a habit to rotate the plants periodically—every couple of weeks, for example—to ensure that all sides receive even light distribution.
- This practice helps prevent any uneven growth and keeps your plants looking lush and vibrant.
4. Incorrect Temperature:
Succulents and cacti are generally tolerant of a wide range of temperatures, making them ideal for various environments. However, extreme cold or heat can be particularly harmful to these resilient plants.
Frost can damage or even kill succulents and cacti, as their cellular structure is not equipped to handle freezing temperatures.
On the other hand, excessive heat can lead to sunburn, which manifests as discoloration or browning of the leaves, and can also result in dehydration, as these plants may struggle to retain moisture in extremely hot conditions.
To ensure their health and vitality, it’s important to provide them with a stable environment that avoids these temperature extremes.
How to Avoid:
- To protect them from frost, it’s important to either bring them indoors or cover them with protective materials during cold snaps. This helps prevent damage to the plants caused by freezing temperatures.
- Additionally, during the hottest parts of summer, providing shade is crucial for their well-being. Using a 50% green shade net can effectively block harsh sunlight, reducing heat stress and helping to maintain optimal growing conditions.
- Regularly checking the temperature and ensuring adequate hydration will further support their health throughout the changing seasons.
5. Ignoring Pests:
One of the most common mistakes that gardeners often make is overlooking the presence of pests on their beloved succulents.
These resilient plants, while generally low-maintenance, can still fall victim to various pests such as mealybugs, aphids, and spider mites.
It’s crucial for gardeners to regularly inspect their succulents for signs of infestation, as pests can hinder their growth and overall health.
Treating succulents for pest infestations promptly is essential to ensure that they thrive and flourish in their environment.
How to Avoid:
- Regularly inspect your plants for signs of pests, such as discolored leaves, webbing, or small insects. It’s important to catch infestations early, so make this a routine part of your gardening care.
- If you notice any infested plants, promptly isolate them from your healthy plants to prevent the spread of pests to others.
- To treat the infestations effectively, consider using insecticidal soap or neem oil spray, which are both safe and effective options.
- For neem oil, mix about 5 to 10 ml per liter of water and spray it on the affected areas, making sure to cover both the tops and undersides of the leaves for maximum effectiveness.
- Protect your oasis with Captain Jack’s Neem Max Concentrate; this multipurpose product acts as a 4-in-1 insecticide, fungicide, miticide and nematicide
6. Improper Container Size:
The size of the container can significantly impact the health of succulents and cacti. Too large or deeper containers can lead to excess soil retaining moisture, while too small a pot can restrict root growth.
How to Avoid:
- Choose a pot that is proportionate to the size of the plant. For most succulents, we recommend a wider shallow container for best results, because a wider container with enough space will help in the propagation of succulents which produce offsets or babies from sides, which can be separated and grown as independent plants.
- Ensure the pot has adequate drainage holes.
- Repot when the plant outgrows its current container, usually every two to three years.
7. Over-fertilizing:
Succulents and cacti are known for their low nutrient requirements, making them ideal plants for beginners and those looking for low-maintenance greenery. These hardy plants are adapted to thrive in arid environments, where nutrients in the soil are scarce.
However, it’s important to be mindful of fertilization; over-fertilizing can lead to rapid growth that is weak and leggy, making the plants more susceptible to disease and environmental stress.
Additionally, excessive nutrients can damage the delicate root systems, leading to poor overall health. Therefore, it’s best to fertilize sparingly and choose a balanced, diluted fertilizer specifically designed for these types of plants.
How to Avoid:
- Fertilize sparingly, usually once or twice during the growing season or you can fertilize once in 3 months which is more than sufficient.
- Use a balanced mild fertilizer like a handful of Cowdung fertilizer or vermicompost once in a while which is generally sufficient.
- 20-20-20 Analysis – Great for providing fast green-up and rapid leaf expansion in all indoor and outdoor plants.
- Many Ways to Feed – All Purpose Fertilizer can be used as a foliar or root feeding product. Great for spraying directly onto leaves, roots, or when used in a continuous feed system.
8. Improper Pruning:
While succulents and cacti don’t require frequent pruning, removing dead or damaged parts can help the plant focus its energy on healthy growth. However, improper pruning practices can harm the plant.
Pruning means cutting or trimming plant organs like branches, stems, or even leaves for the sake of your plant’s health and sometimes to maintain plant shape and form.
How to Avoid:
– Use clean, sharp tools called pruning secateurs to make precise cuts.
– Prune during the plant’s active growing season.
– Remove only dead or diseased parts unless shaping is necessary.
“And there you have it! By avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll be well on your way to growing happy, healthy succulents and cacti.” Please watch the detailed video below on this topic.
Last update on 2024-12-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
