Essential Succulent Care: Light, Soil, Watering, Grooming, and Feeding

Exposure

Sun near coast, light shade inland. Introduce nursery-grown succulents to sun gradually to avoid leaf sunburn.

Soil

Fast-draining. Amend garden soil with pumice, decomposed granite, or coarse sand, or use nursery cactus mix.

Watering

Though drought-tolerant, prolonged dryness causes color loss, shriveling, or leaf drop. Water just enough to keep plants plump and attractive. Occasional deep watering flushes salts. When near thirstier plants, position succulents atop small mounds of amended soil so water drains away from roots.

Grooming

Many need little tending beyond removing spent flower stalks.

Feeding

One light feeding at growing season start suffices for most. For more vigor, feed several times at half the recommended dose. Larger, later-blooming, and container-grown plants may benefit from additional fertilizing.