Soak and dry
The best watering method for almost all succulents is called soak and dry:
- Soak: Pour water evenly over the soil until it runs freely out of the drainage hole.
- Drain: Let the excess drain away completely. Never leave the pot sitting in a saucer of water.
- Dry: Wait until the soil is dry all the way through before watering again.
This copies a desert rainstorm followed by a dry spell. Deep watering encourages deep, healthy roots. Small, frequent sips keep the surface damp and the roots weak.
How to tell when soil is dry
- The finger test: Push a finger about 2 in (5 cm) into the soil. If you feel any coolness or moisture, wait.
- The stick test: Push a wooden skewer or chopstick to the bottom of the pot and leave it for a minute. If it comes out dark or with soil stuck to it, the soil is still damp.
- The lift test: Pick up the pot just after watering and again when dry. You’ll quickly learn the difference in weight.
How to tell when the plant is thirsty
Succulents show thirst in their leaves:
- Leaves look slightly wrinkled, soft, or deflated.
- Leaves feel thin and bendy rather than firm and plump.
- In aloe and other succulents with long leaves, the leaves curl inward.
After a good soak, a thirsty succulent usually plumps up within a day or two.
How often?
There’s no universal schedule, because it depends on light, heat, pot, soil, and season. As a rough starting point:
| Situation | Roughly |
|---|---|
| Growing season, sunny window | Every 1–2 weeks |
| Growing season, outdoors in heat | Every 5–10 days |
| Winter, indoors | Every 3–6 weeks |
| Low light (any season) | Less often than all of the above |
Watering tips
- Water the soil, not the leaves. Water left in rosettes or on fuzzy leaves can lead to rot or marks.
- Room-temperature water is kindest.
- Tap water is usually fine. If you have very hard water, white crust may build up on soil and pots. Rainwater or filtered water helps.
- No drainage hole? Repot. “Measuring” small amounts into a pot without a hole is a common route to rot.