Gardening - Succulent Gardening

Resident Submission by Leyah Gammo, 11 years old

Succulents are one of my favorite plants — they’re cute and easy to take care of, even for kids!

The first thing to know about succulents is they should not be watered very frequently. Even in their growing phase, when they need water the most, watering once a week is enough. A mature succulent only needs water about once per month. Generally, succulents are very forgiving. If you forget to water them for a couple of weeks (or even months), they are usually just fine. In such cases, just resume watering as usual.

A good way to tell whether it needs water is to stick your finger down between the pot and the soil a little ways. If it’s moist and damp, you don’t need to water. But, if it’s dry, you’ll need to water it again.

Always water the succulent just a little over the top of the soil level and let it soak in. Extra rainy or extremely hot seasons will affect your watering accordingly. The main lesson is: don’t overdo it! I recommend keeping track of your watering schedule as well as the weather in a notebook or on a calendar.

Second, it’s important they have a well-draining pot, like terracotta. Also be sure to use a well-draining soil mix.

Third, if the temperature drops below 45 degrees fahrenheit, be sure to bring your succulents inside. The cold can kill them.

Lastly, some succulents are toxic to pets, so if you have a pet, be sure to check the variety! Pet-friendly succulents include the beautiful Zebra Haworthia, or the very pretty Blue Echeveria. Search online to find many more pet-friendly succulents. If you don’t have a pet, Snake Plant is a pretty air purifier and Aloe Vera is a great healing plant.

I hope you enjoyed learning about how to take proper care of a succulent; I also hope you enjoy keeping these pretty plants around your house!