Watering succulents
Check the soil with your finger before you water a succulent or cactus, and water only once it feels dry. After you plant one, check it every few days at first, since this tells you how fast that particular pot dries out. Always let the soil dry out completely between waterings. When you do water, soak the soil until water runs out the drainage holes. Then tip out whatever collects underneath after a few minutes. Never let the pot stand in water. Holiday cacti and other rain forest cacti need substantially more water than desert cacti, though they should never be left waterlogged.
When to do it
In winter, succulents and cacti go dormant. Let the soil get very dry between waterings, which usually means a light watering every few weeks. During the low-light winter months, water just enough to stop the plant from shrinking or withering. As the days get brighter in spring, the plant's need for water increases too. Once you move a plant outdoors for the season, check it often, since it will need more water out there. A series of light, frequent sprinklings instead of a deep soak often causes distorted growth. So water thoroughly rather than little and often.
What you need
Choose a pot that is wide and low, with one or more drainage holes and a saucer underneath. A cactus potting mix is an ideal medium for planting these plants in containers. You can also blend potting soil with sand or perlite instead. Cactus plants actually prefer a rich soil, as long as it is free-draining. You can buy packaged, commercial cactus potting soil. Or you can make your own with equal parts peat-based potting soil and very coarse sand or grit. Fill the container about halfway with this porous mix before you set the plant in place. Keep both the pot and the growing medium sterile. For rain forest cacti, such as holiday cactus, use a different soil mix. Use two parts peat moss, one part garden soil and one part sand.
Step by step
- Step 1
Test the soil with your finger before you water
Push your finger into the soil, and water only once it feels dry. Check a newly planted succulent every few days at first, since this shows you how fast that pot and soil dry out. A properly mixed, porous soil falls apart when you release it from your hand.
- Step 2
Let the soil dry out completely before you water again
Always wait for the soil to go fully dry between waterings, rather than watering on a set schedule. A pot with drainage holes helps the soil dry evenly, since trapped water leads to rot in a short time. Broken clay pot shards or coarse gravel in the bottom of the pot can add a bit more drainage as well. A pot that is too large for the plant can stay moist for too long as well, which can lead to rot.
- Step 3
Water thoroughly, then let the pot drain
Soak the soil until water runs out the drainage holes, then empty any water that collects underneath after a few minutes. Avoid light, frequent sprinklings, since a series of shallow waterings often leads to distorted growth. A wide, low pot with a saucer makes this kind of thorough watering easier to manage. A mix of one part potting soil and one part coarse sand usually drains well enough for this kind of watering. Some guidance says to wait several days before you water a newly repotted plant. Other guidance says to water it well right away so the excess drains out.
- Step 4
Never let the pot stand in water
Standing water around the roots is something the plant should never be left in. Be especially careful with a shallow dish garden, since these containers rarely have drainage holes and can trap water around the roots. A terracotta pot is porous, which helps remove excess moisture from the soil.
- Step 5
Cut back on water once winter dormancy begins
Let the soil get very dry between waterings in winter, which often means just a light watering every few weeks. During the lower light of winter, give cacti and succulents only enough water to stop them from shrinking and withering. Keep this seasonal routine in mind as the plant moves from dormancy into active growth.
- Step 6
Water more as the days get brighter in spring
As light increases in spring, the plant's need for water increases too. Once you move a plant outdoors for the season, check it often, since it needs more water out there. Holiday and other rain forest cacti need far more water than desert types, but you should never let them sit waterlogged.
- Step 7
Watch for signs that you are watering too much
Leaves that fall off at a light touch, turn yellow, or feel mostly mushy instead of firm are all signs of overwatering. Soggy, wet soil leads to root rot and can kill the plant. Root and stem rot usually comes from a soil mix that drains slowly, or from watering too often.
- Step 8
Watch for wilting too
Wilting leaves can come from either too little water or too much. A plant that needs water very often, or that wilts again soon after you water it, may need a bigger pot.
- Step 9
Use tepid water, not cold
Water at room temperature, since cold water can cause the leaves to drop.
Mistakes to avoid
Avoid fertilizing a cactus too often. Most need feeding only once or twice a year, in late spring or summer when they are actively growing. Skip fertilizer entirely for repotted plants and for arid-climate cacti during the winter. For orchid cacti, it is better to use too little fertilizer than too much. Before you bring a new plant home, check it carefully for pests such as aphids, spider mites and mealybugs. A light case of scale can often be picked off by hand. A heavily infested plant may need to be thrown out instead. Do not repot a cactus more often than it needs; most cacti actually prefer to be slightly pot bound. When you do repot, pick a pot that is only 1 or 2 inches larger across than the current one. Late winter or early spring is the best time to repot a holiday cactus. Wear heavy leather gloves when you handle a cactus for repotting, or wrap it in several layers of newspaper instead. If the roots are too tight to loosen, score the rootball gently with a knife before you repot. Do not add soil above the original level on the rootball when you repot. After repotting, do not pack the soil down firm; press it gently with your fingers instead, and never pack wet soil. After repotting, place the plant in a shaded spot for two to three days.
How this page was made
- Written with AI assistance from the sources listed on this page. AI is never the source of a fact.