Succulents: The right care

LITTLE GREEN LOVE

Succulents are easy-care indoor and garden plants. This means that they require little water and their owner aren’t facing major challenges with them. However, there are a few things you should consider in order to enjoy your plants for a long time. With good care and a well-suited location, you can enjoy them for many years to come.

We therefore recommend: Choose one day a week to take care of your succulents and see if they need anything.

If you have any questions or if you are unsure, you are always welcome to contact us. We will be happy to help you.

WHAT IS A SUCCULENT?

Succulents are a group of plants that store water in their leaves, roots or shoot axis. The most well-known succulents are probably cacti. However, there is a wide variety of other, non-spiny succulents in which we have specialized. They often are found in regions with little rainfall and high temperatures. This enables them to survive longer dry periods and makes them grateful indoor plants.

PERFECTLY IMPERFECT

Each succulent is a wonderfully diverse and unique living being. They grow individually and none are alike (so they never grow exactly like on our product pictures). Every single one is grown lovingly and with great care in our greenhouse in Stuttgart. So, it can happen that a succulent has a spot on the leaves or a slightly crooked trunk. If you want to get a plant that is absolutely perfect, please buy a plastic plant.

Any plants that are actually damaged can be exchanged at any time. We are committed to ensure that 99% of the plants shipped each week will arrive safe and sound (except for plants on which substrate has been spread during shipment. This can easily be removed with a soft cosmetic brush).

Their coloring varies depending on the season and the length of the day, weather, temperature, irrigation, fertilization and substrate.

Succulents, and especially those in rosette form, naturally lose their lower/oldest leaves. These dry out or become glassy (mostly when too much water is used). These leaves can be plucked off carefully. The new growth is from the center of the rosette. Some of these plants are also stem forming.

Prior to your wedding/celebration: If you have any questions regarding collections for guest favors, we will be happy to send you a current picture in advance via mail or messenger. This way you can be ensured that the coloring of the plants perfectly matches your ideas and the color theme of your wedding. Here you can also order a sample of your favorite collection to be sent to you in advance.

You can find more information about wedding succulents on our wedding blog.

HOW DO I CARE FOR MY SUCCULENT PROPERLY?

It is most important to find a suitable location for your succulent roommates and to care for them accordingly. Unfortunately, there are no generally valid watering intervals, as photosynthesis and therefore growth depends on several factors.

LIGHT

Succulents like to have as much direct light as possible. Plants for a sunny location should normally be exposed to the sun for at least a few hours a day. In indoor areas they like to be placed directly on the windowsill or at least half a meter from the window. Plants for shady locations can also be placed up to 2 meters from the window.

Important: The less light they get, the less water they need, since both are essential for photosynthesis. They also grow much slower than.

The external appearance of the succulent plants is also depending on the (sun-) light. UV light ensures a compact growth with firmer leaves. The coloring also becomes more intense (especially with Echeveria!). If there is a lack of light in a warm location, sooner or later succulents often develop unnaturally long and thin shoots.

During summer you are free to put your succulents outside. However, after winter they must get used to the sun and direct UV radiation to avoid burn. Even after shipping, where your succulents have spent some time in a dark package, a period of acclimatization is important.

In general: Observe your plants and make sure that they are happy with the chosen location.

IRRIGATION

Note: In case of doubt, rather too little than too much watering!

In the product description you will find information about the location and watering of each plant.

Succulents should be watered generously during the period of growth, from March to September, with a reduction in watering during the period of rest in winter. They should be given a good sip of water and then be allowed to dry out completely. 1-3 days in completely dry substrate stimulates root growth and the coloring becomes more intense. Plants that require water can also be recognized by the fact that the leaves are less bulging.

Succulents should never sit in water, as there is a high probability of root rot due to the waterlogging. This is unfortunately the main cause of succulents' death. In winter, irrigation is mostly stopped. The only exceptions are the so-called winter growers (despite decreasing light, relatively less watering!)

Humidity is good for tillandsias or rhipsalis, other succulents tend to develop fungal growth if the humidity is too high.

SUBSTRATE

For succulents, it is important to use a well-drained, fast-drying substrate to avoid waterlogging. Sandy soil or mineral substrates are excellent for most succulents. As an all-purpose mixture we recommend a mixture of equal parts of succulent substrate and cactus soil.

Advice: Try to form the mixed, moistened substrate into a lump. If it sticks together, you should mix in mineral parts. If it falls apart crumbly, your succulents will feel comfortable in it.

FERTILIZATION

During the period of growth from March to September, succulents should be fertilized regularly, approx. every 4 to 6 weeks. During the period of dormancy (in our case in winter, as there is little light available), irrigation also stops fertilization.

REPOTTING

The best time for repotting is in spring. Water succulents again 3-5 days before the transfer, to ensure they are sufficiently supplied with water.

Roughly remove the soil around the roots or expose it completely. Then let it dry, as some roots have probably been damaged a little. The plant should be planted in its pot just as deep or high as before (exceptions are stem forming succulents). The freshly repotted plants should only be watered after a week. They should stand bright and warm until a good re-rooting has taken place.

HIBERNATION

Dry, cool and bright. Priorities in that order, with light being least important in winter. In case of doubt, dark is better than too warm or too humid.

However, many succulents can also be kept at room temperature and moderate watering. It is then important to ensure that the succulents do not become too dry, but only grow as little as possible.

AIR CLOUDS

Tillandsias are succulent representatives that absorb water and nutrients through their sucking scales/trichomes on their leaves. They accordingly require no substrate. Their roots mainly serve as adhesive organs.

You should water in accordance with the weather. Spray/ fogging/ bathing more often when it is hot and dry and less often when it is cold, dark or humid. In general, watering every two weeks is the easiest method. Otherwise, spray every two to four days (atomizers are very suitable for this). Add suitable fertilizer in summer.

WINTER GROWING SUCCULENTS

Our small range of hardy succulents are grown outdoors by us. They therefore meet the guidelines of perennials regarding winter hardiness. Furthermore, they are true to type, planted in a balanced substrate and guaranteed to grow in your garden with their strong roots.

However, they are neither suitable for indoors nor do they correspond to the product photos all year round. Ground cover plants like our hardy Sedum often have many roots on the trunk.

You can find more information about the care of succulents on our blog.