Succulents have seasons too
In nature, most succulents grow when it’s warm and bright, then rest during harsh weather. This resting period is called dormancy. A dormant plant barely grows, so it uses very little water. Watering it on a summer schedule is the classic winter mistake.
Succulents fall roughly into two groups:
- Summer growers rest in winter. Most echeveria, aloe, sedum, kalanchoe, and snake plants.
- Cool-season growers grow in autumn through spring and slow down in summer heat. Many haworthia, lithops, string of pearls, and some aeonium.
Each plant in our plant library lists its growing season.
Through the year
| Season | What to do |
|---|---|
| Spring | Growth restarts. Increase watering gradually. Best time to repot and propagate. |
| Summer | Full sun and regular soak-and-dry watering. Watch for sunburn in heatwaves. |
| Autumn | Water less as days shorten. Bring tender plants indoors before frost. |
| Winter | Brightest spot possible. Water lightly every 3–6 weeks — only when fully dry. |
Feeding
Succulents need far less fertilizer than leafy houseplants, but a little helps plants that have been in the same soil for a long time.
- Feed only while it’s growing. For most succulents that’s spring and summer. A few feeds across the season is plenty.
- Dilute it. Use a fertilizer made for cacti and succulents, or a balanced houseplant one at half strength or less.
- Skip resting plants. Don’t feed in winter, or whenever a plant is resting. Some, like lithops, follow a different cycle, so check each plant’s page for its growing season.
- Skip stressed plants. Wait a few weeks after repotting (fresh soil has nutrients), and don’t feed a plant that’s struggling. Fix the light or watering first.
Too much fertilizer does more harm than too little. It pushes soft, stretched growth that’s more likely to rot or attract pests.
Cold and frost
Most succulents store a lot of water, and ice crystals inside their leaves destroy them. As a general rule:
- Tender succulents (most echeveria, aloe, jade, kalanchoe, string of pearls) should come indoors when nights drop below about 40°F (4°C).
- Hardy succulents like hens and chicks (Sempervivum) and many stonecrops (Sedum) can stay outdoors through freezing winters — if their soil drains well.
Dry plants survive cold much better than wet ones. If frost is forecast and you can’t move a plant, don’t water it beforehand. Cover it overnight with frost cloth or an old sheet.
Heat
Even desert plants can scorch in extreme heat, especially in pots, where roots heat up fast. In a heatwave, give potted succulents some afternoon shade. Water in the cool of the morning or evening.