Taking care of your cacti and succulents

Succulents have been popular in recent years. If you provide them with the ideal growing conditions, they are easy to care for plants that will beautify your home and make your guests talk.

Watering

A succulent is a plant whose leaves are composed of fleshy tissues rich in water (juice), not fat as the term 'fat plant' seems to suggest. Cacti (cacti) are among the succulent plants, but the term refers mainly to plants with spines. Thanks to their leaves containing the thick, viscous liquid known as juice, these plants can survive a long period without water. Therefore, too much water can be harmful to the plant. Indeed, watering management is essential for long-term plant cultivation.

In the morning, when light reaches the plants, they open the pores of their leaves (stomata) and start photosynthesis. This process allows plants to absorb water and store it efficiently. This is why the morning is the ideal time to water the plants. If you do not have a growing light, you should wait until a day when the sun is shining on your plants to do so. Otherwise, the plant will not be able to absorb the water and it is possible that the stagnant moisture will cause root rot.

The best way to water your cacti and succulents is by drenching. Simply place your pots in a tray a few inches high (or in a sink) that has been filled with 2 inches (~5cm) of water. As soon as the soil on the surface is moist, remove the plants and let them drain on a dry cloth or tray before placing the pots back on the shelf or in their planter.

How often should we water?

This is a difficult question to answer because your growing conditions (temperature of your house, potting soil used, lighting, etc.) will influence the time between waterings. Water when the soil is completely dry and the leaves are slightly shriveled. It is better to water once a month deep in the soil than several times on the surface.

Potting soil

The potting soil for succulents should be well drained and well aerated. Avoid sand-based substrates that compact the soil. This slows down root growth on the one hand, and will prevent the plant from absorbing water in the long term on the other hand. To avoid these inconveniences, you can use our homemade potting soil mix for succulents, otherwise use a minimum of 40% pumice mixed with a light commercial potting soil.

If the soil is important, the pot is even more important. There is no point in having a draining substrate if the pot does not allow for proper drainage. Terracotta containers are the best choice for cacti and succulents. Terracotta allows a better evacuation of humidity because of its porous surface and the drainage hole efficiently evacuates excess water from watering. In addition, terra cotta warms up with sunlight, which allows the potting soil to dry even faster, thus promoting healthy root growth.

Lighting

Succulents with bloom (a small whitish powder on the leaves), hairs, thorns or bright colours require direct sunlight, while others can cope with good light.

A specialized LED or neon grow light for plants can make a huge difference. If you don't have one, you'll need a south-facing window for plants requiring direct sunlight. However, even if your room's natural lighting looks good, it may not be enough: each layer of window filters out some of the sun's rays. Also, windows that are too new will block UV rays from entering your home, so your plants won't get the full spectrum of light they need.

Fertilization

Once a month, add liquid algae (diluted according to the manufacturer's directions) to one of your waterings. Seaweed helps provide nutrients to your plants to keep them growing and resist disease. Seaweed, unlike chemical fertilizers, cannot burn the roots of your succulents and is therefore a safe choice.

If you follow these recommendations, you will be able to enjoy your plants, which will add colour to your home, for many years!