Care guides
Everything a succulent needs
14 short guides, in plain language. Start at the top, or jump straight to the one you need.
Succulents 101
What makes a plant a succulent, why they're easy to kill with kindness, and the five rules that cover 90% of care.
Light
How much sun succulents need, how to read your windows, what stretching means, and how to avoid sunburn.
Grow lights
When a grow light helps, what kind to buy, how close to put it, and how many hours to run it.
Watering
The soak-and-dry method, how to tell when a succulent is thirsty, and how to adjust for seasons, pots, and climate.
Soil and pots
How to make a fast-draining succulent mix and choose a pot that keeps roots healthy.
Seasons, temperature & dormancy
Why succulents rest, how to change care through the year, and how to protect plants from frost.
Propagation
Make free plants from leaves, cuttings, and offsets, step by step.
Repotting
When to repot, how to do it without damaging roots, and why you shouldn't water right away.
Pests
How to spot the few pests that bother succulents, and how to get rid of them gently.
Cacti and forest cacti
How to tell a cactus from other succulents, why desert and forest cacti need different care, and how to handle spines safely.
Buying your first succulent
How to pick a healthy succulent at the store, which ones suit beginners, and what to do in the first weeks at home.
Growing succulents outdoors
Which succulents can live outside where you are, how to plant them so they drain, and how to move houseplants out for summer without burning them.
Succulent myths
Common succulent advice that does more harm than good, and what to do instead.
Arrangements and terrariums
How to plant several succulents together so they all stay healthy, and why closed terrariums usually end badly.
New to succulents? Follow the five-step beginner path.
Quick answers
Questions people ask
Short answers to the questions that come up most. Select a question to open it.
Can I use a pot without a drainage hole?
It’s much riskier. Without a hole, extra water pools at the bottom and the roots sit in it, which leads to rot.
If you love the pot, use it as a cover: keep the plant in a plastic nursery pot with holes inside it, and lift it out to water.
Should I mist my succulents?
No. Misting wets the leaves but barely reaches the roots, where the plant actually drinks. Damp leaves can also encourage rot and fungus.
Water the soil deeply instead, then let it dry out. The only exception is tiny new leaf cuttings, which can have the soil lightly misted.
Do succulents need fertilizer?
Not much. A balanced houseplant or cactus fertilizer, diluted to half strength, once or twice during the growing season is plenty.
Never feed a dormant plant, and skip it entirely for a few months after repotting into fresh soil.
Why did my succulent change color?
Reds, pinks, and purples usually mean the plant is getting strong sun or cool nights. That’s healthy “stress coloring”.
Fading to plain green usually means it needs more light. Brown, crispy patches are sunburn.
Can I grow succulents in an office or a bathroom?
Only a few, and only if there’s a bright window. Zebra plants and snake plants cope best with less light.
Bathrooms are often humid and dim, which most succulents dislike. A bright, sunny bathroom window can work for tough plants.
How do I water a succulent in a pot with gravel on top?
Pour water slowly over the gravel until it runs out of the drainage hole. The gravel doesn’t stop water reaching the soil.
Gravel does hide whether the soil is dry, though. Push a wooden skewer down to the bottom of the pot to check before watering.
Should I water today?
Answer three quick questions about your plant.
Please answer all three questions so we can give you a proper answer.
Don’t water.
Mushy or see-through leaves mean the plant has had too much water. Let it dry out and check the roots for rot.
Check first.
Push a wooden skewer or chopstick all the way to the bottom of the pot and leave it for a minute. If it comes out clean and dry, the soil is dry. If it’s dark or has soil stuck to it, wait.
Not yet.
The soil still has water in it. Wait, then check again in 3–4 days. Succulents would much rather be too dry than too wet.
Don’t water — check the roots.
Wrinkled leaves in damp soil can mean the roots have rotted and can’t drink. Slide the plant out of its pot and look for black or mushy roots.
Yes — give it a good soak.
Water slowly until it runs out of the drainage hole. Let it drain completely, and don’t leave it sitting in a saucer.
Yes, water it — in the morning.
It’s dry and asking for a drink. Water thoroughly and let it drain fully. In cool weather the soil dries slowly, so don’t water again until it’s fully dry.
Probably not yet.
Most succulents are resting now and use very little water. Plump leaves mean it’s fine. Wait until the leaves just start to soften, which may take several weeks.
Exception: some succulents, like string of pearls, grow in the cool season. Learn about growing seasons