Succulent plant care – how to grow and plant succulents

Succulents are known for their hardiness and water wise habits, but succulents still need a little love and attention. Here are the simple rules to keep succulents looking their best.

Planting succulents

For ideal soil conditions use the planting mix specially designed for their nutrient requirements. Searles Cacti & Succulent Mix feeds succulents and cacti for 9 months and has a free draining soil. more about planting succulents

Watering succulents

Succulents positively flourish on minimal moisture, due to their internal mechanisms for water storage. In fact, if they are over-watered they generally die. Less watering means less leaching out of nutrients from their soil, so again they are very miserly on their use of fertiliser.

Fertilising succulents

A yearly scattering of complete plant food around their roots, or a monthly application of a soluble fertiliser such as Searles Flourish Cacti & Succulent Fertiliser during spring and autumn should provide them with all the food they need.

Pests & diseases of succulents

Succulents are remarkably resistant to attack by pests and diseases. Their tough leaves and stems discourage boring and sap-sucking insects and the dry atmosphere in which they grow makes it impossible for moisture-loving fungal diseases to proliferate. Plants grown indoors should be checked for scale, aphids and mealy bug.