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Tips on Caring for Succulent Plants

Succulents are quite popular these days because they not only make beautiful ornamental house plants, but they are easy to grow and care for. However, these hardy plants also need expert love and care to grow healthy and vibrant.

Here are tips for those who want to care for succulents in their small apartment.

  • Always use containers with drainage. The best material for a pot to grow succulents is terra cotta, but you can use ceramics or plastic as long as there is a hole at the bottom of the pot. This will allow excess water to drain from the soil.
  • Do not keep the succulents in their original pots. Sometimes the sellers are not aware of the specific soil types that are best for the plants, especially if you bought them at a supermarket. Transfer the plants into terra cotta pots with absorbent planting soil.
  • Consider the size of the pot when transferring the plant. Remember that the smaller the pot, the less chance for the plant to grow, similar to how bonsai are grown. Plants take the shape and size of the container they are planted in.
  • Water the soil, not spray the plants. Spraying will not deliver the needed water to the soil, so use a watering tool that can deliver the water directly.
  • Use only the type of plant soil that has quarter-inch particles. The finer the particles in the soil, the better the drainage. One common mistake in growing succulents is soaking the soil in too much water. When you buy a potting soil at a flower shop in Singapore, look specifically for succulent-friendly type.
  • If you can only find gardening soil, you can modify it for succulents by mixing perlite or pumice. Alternatively, you can also make a mixture of crushed granite, pine bark fines, and turface to the gardening soil.
  • Succulents need a minimum of six hours of sunlight daily. This means your small garden should get plenty of sunlight daily, preferably in the mornings. If you do not have a yard or a balcony facing the sunlight, place the succulents on windowsills where it can get sunlight.
  • Watering should only be done when the soil looks dry. Never ever water a succulent if the soil is still moist or damp. Ideally, wait for five days after you water the plants before you can water them again. Five days is the average for succulents, but it also depends on the volume of the pot and how fast the water drains from it.
  • Extreme weather conditions are bad for succulents. But you don’t have to worry about them dying in a Singapore climate. They can stay healthy with plenty of sunshine outdoors and occasional watering. If the weather is going to be too hot, however, you can move the plants inside your home to provide a bit of shade.

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