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How To Stop Killing Your Succulents

If you are like me and can't keep a plant alive to save your life, here is everything you need to know

Jun 03, 2019

Marquette University

17

How To Stop Killing Your Succulents

cdn.pixabay.com

We all love succulents and cacti. They make our rooms look bright and trendy and personally they bring a lot of happiness into my life. Despite my love for these plants, I have a really big problem with killing them. The amount of dead plants I am personally responsible for is frightening. And because I feel the need to buy one every time I see them, I have purchased and killed far too many to count.

I finally decided it was time I do some research. It turns out there are only a few simple steps to keep these little guys alive, and the good news is it barely requires any effort at all.

Water

Succulents and cacti require very little water and only need watering about once every two weeks unless the soil is extremely dry. By overwatering them you can cause them to rot and die.

Sunlight

Succulents and cacti are full-sun plants which means they ideally need to be by a window that gets a lot of light. When they start to stretch out and look leggy, it is a sign your plants are not getting the amount of light that they need.

Soil

If you decide to re-pot your plant, you need to use special cactus and succulent soil that doesn't hold a lot of moisture. Also, it is important to choose a pot that has a drainage hole at the bottom to ensure that any excess water can get out in case you overwater.

Amazon.com : Espoma CA4 4-Quart Organic Cactus Mix : Succulent Plants : Gateway

Amazon.com : Espoma CA4 4-Quart Organic Cactus Mix : Succulent Plants : Gatewaywww.amazon.com

Fertilization

It is not necessary, but it doesn't hurt to fertilize your plants about every six months with fertilizer that can be found at any hardware or garden store.

Amazon.com : Espoma Organic Cactus Plant Food, 8 oz - 2 Pack : Gateway

Amazon.com : Espoma Organic Cactus Plant Food, 8 oz - 2 Pack : Gatewaywww.amazon.com

Amazon.com : Espoma Organic Cactus Plant Food, 8 oz - 2 Pack : Gateway

Propagating

Propagating succulents can be done by gently breaking off leaves and lying them in soil, lightly misting them daily until they form roots and sprout leaves.

How to Propagate Succulentsyoutu.be

For cacti, you just need to break off new growth with a clean gentle break and leave it in the open for a few days allowing the break to callus over. Then place it in dirt and treat as normal. It will form roots on its own.

How to Root a Cactusyoutu.be

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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