Succulent plants, with their unique form, rich colors and tenacious vitality, have won the favor of many plant lovers. However, the maintenance of succulents, especially the frequency of watering, is confusing to many novice friends. Overwatering can easily lead to root rot of succulents; Too little water will make them grow slowly and even wither. So, how exactly should you control the frequency of watering succulents? This article will give you a detailed answer.
Understand The Growth Habits Of Succulents
Before we can discuss the frequency of watering succulents, we first need to understand their growth habits. Succulents are native to arid or semi-arid regions, so they have an innate ability to store water and survive in dry conditions. This property makes succulents have special watering needs.
The leaves of succulents are usually thick and succulent, capable of storing large amounts of water. When there is not enough water in the soil, they use this stored water to support life activities. Therefore, when watering, we need to avoid over-watering, so as not to destroy their water storage mechanism and cause root rot.
The Factors Affecting The Frequency Of Succulent Watering
The frequency of watering for succulents is not static, and it is affected by a variety of factors. Here are some of the main influencing factors:
Seasons change
The change of seasons has a direct effect on the frequency of watering succulents. In spring and autumn, succulents are at their peak of growth and have relatively high water requirements. At this time, we can appropriately increase the frequency of watering to meet their growth needs. In summer and winter, the growth rate of succulents slows down and their water requirements decrease accordingly. Therefore, in these two seasons, we need to reduce the frequency of watering to avoid excessive watering leading to root rot.
Basin soil material
The material of the basin soil is also one of the important factors affecting the frequency of succulent watering. Different materials of basin soil have different water retention and air permeability. For example, better water-retaining soils such as peat and coconut husk require less frequent watering; More permeable soils, such as perlite and vermiculite, require more frequent watering. Therefore, when choosing pot soil, we need to choose the right soil material according to the growth habits of succulents and their own conservation experience.
Plant size and variety
The size and variety of succulents can also affect how often they are watered. In general, small succulents require relatively little water because their roots are relatively small and their ability to absorb water is limited. Large succulents require more water to sustain their growth. In addition, different varieties of succulents have different water requirements. Some species prefer wet conditions and require more frequent watering; Some species prefer drier conditions and require less watering.
Environmental conditions
Environmental conditions are also one of the important factors affecting the frequency of succulent watering. For example, succulents reared indoors usually require less frequent watering than outdoor reared plants because the temperature and humidity indoors are relatively stable and light conditions may not be as abundant as outdoors. In addition, ventilation conditions also affect the frequency of watering succulents. A well-ventilated environment can promote evaporation of water and drying of the soil, requiring more frequent watering.
How To Accurately Control The Frequency Of Succulent Watering
With an understanding of the growth habits of succulents and the factors that affect watering frequency, we can begin to discuss how to precisely control the watering frequency of succulents. Here are some practical tips:
Observe the dry and wet conditions of the basin soil
Observing the wet and dry conditions of pot soil is an important basis for judging whether succulents need watering. When the surface of the soil is dry and the leaves of succulents appear slightly wilted, watering is needed. At this point, we can gently insert our fingers into the soil to feel the moisture of the soil. If the soil is already dry and does not feel moist, it is ready to water. It is important to ensure that the soil is completely dry before watering to avoid root rot caused by over-watering.
Master watering rules
When watering, we need to follow the principle of “rather dry than wet”. This means that it is better to leave the soil slightly dry than to leave the soil too wet. Because succulents have the ability to store water, they can survive in dry conditions. If the soil is too wet, it disrupts their water-holding mechanism and causes root rot. Therefore, when watering, we need to control the amount and frequency of watering, and ensure that the basin soil is kept slightly wet.
Adjust watering frequency flexibly
Due to the many factors affecting the succulent watering frequency, we need to flexibly adjust the watering frequency according to the actual situation. For example, in the spring and autumn growth periods, we can appropriately increase the frequency of watering; In the summer and winter slow growth period, it is necessary to appropriately reduce the frequency of watering. In addition, when the soil material, plant size and variety, and environmental conditions change, we also need to adjust the watering frequency in time to adapt to the growth needs of succulents.
Pay attention to watering techniques
In addition to mastering watering principles, we also need to pay attention to watering techniques. When watering, we should use the “dip basin method” or “shower method” to water. Both of these methods allow the soil to fully absorb water and remove excess water, which is conducive to the growth of succulents. At the same time, when watering, we need to avoid pouring water on the leaves of succulents to avoid causing leaf rot or infection. If there is water on the leaves accidentally, we need to dry them with paper towels or cotton swabs in time.
Check plant status regularly
In addition to observing the dry and wet conditions of the pot soil and mastering watering principles, we also need to regularly check the status of the succulents to determine whether they need watering. For example, when the leaves of succulents are wrinkled, soft, or pale in color, they may be dehydrated. At this time, we need to water in time to meet their growth needs. At the same time, we also need to pay attention to check whether the roots of succulents are healthy. If the roots are found to be rotten or discolored, it is necessary to treat them in time and adjust the watering frequency to avoid worsening the condition.
Precautions And Common Misunderstandings
In the process of caring for succulents, we also need to pay attention to some things and avoid some common mistakes to ensure their healthy growth:
Avoid overwatering
Overwatering is one of the most common problems in the care of succulents. Overwatering can cause the pot soil to become too wet and damage the water storage mechanism of the succulent plant and cause root rot. Therefore, when watering, we need to strictly control the amount and frequency of watering to avoid over-watering.
Watch the watering time
Watering time is also one of the important factors affecting the growth of succulents. In summer, we should avoid watering in the middle of the day to avoid water droplets forming convex lens effect on the leaves and burning the leaves. In winter, during low temperatures, you should avoid watering in the evening or at night to prevent the soil from becoming too wet and freezing the roots.
Do not use tap water
Tap water may contain chlorine or other chemicals that can adversely affect the growth of succulents. Therefore, before watering, we should put tap water for a period of time to let it evaporate harmful substances such as chlorine gas before use. Or we can choose to use natural water sources such as rain or river water to water succulents.
Pay attention to ventilation conditions
Ventilation is crucial to the growth of succulents. A well-ventilated environment can promote the evaporation of water and dry soil conducive to the growth of succulents. Therefore, during the maintenance process, we need to keep indoor air circulation and open Windows regularly for ventilation.
Avoid moving plants around too much
Frequent movement of succulents can disrupt their growing environment and affect their normal growth. Therefore, during the curing process we should try to avoid moving the plants frequently and let them grow in a relatively stable environment.
Conclusion
Precisely controlling the frequency of watering succulents is one of the keys to ensuring their healthy growth. We need to understand the growth habits of succulents, understand the factors that affect watering frequency, and follow practical advice to adjust watering frequency flexibly. At the same time, we also need to pay attention to some things and avoid some common mistakes to ensure the healthy growth of succulents. I hope this article will provide you with useful information and help you in the process of caring for succulents more easily.
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