Common Problems Caring for Succulent Plants

Planting Issues

• Inadequate drainage is the major problem with succulents. Outside they thrive in open areas with well-drained soil. When growing succulents as houseplants, use a sterile pot with drainage holes. Add sand or perlite to sterile garden soil to make a potting mix with adequate drainage. Additionally, succulents have fragile, easily broken roots. Take care when handling them and do not plant them too deep.

Watering and Fertilizing

• The most common problem in succulent care is over-watering. If the soil remains moist for too long, the roots rot. Eventually the rot extends into the plant body, making it soft and discolored. When this happens, the plant cannot be saved. During dormant winter months, water very sparingly. Even though the succulent requires more water in the spring and summer, it should still be allowed to dry out between waterings. Also, avoid over-fertilizing the plants as they have low nutritional needs. Fertilize once or twice a year during their growing season. Use a fertilizer that is more phosphorus than nitrogen, and dilute it to half strength.

Insects and Diseases

• Although succulents are not particularly susceptible to insect problems, they can be infested by mealybugs, scales and spider mites. Mealybugs are gray or brown and are hard to see because of their small size. The females nest inside white fluffy balls that can sometimes be seen on the pots. Dab mealybug infestations with rubbing alcohol. Scale insects look like brown scales on the leaves and stems of the plant. Control scale infestations with insecticide sprays. Spider mites are extremely small and thrive in dry conditions. They leave brown spots on the plant, and webbing sometimes appears. Spray spider mite infestations with insecticidal soap. The main diseases affecting succulent plants are fungal and bacterial diseases. While maintaining dry conditions is the best way to prevent a fungal disease, spraying the potting mix with a fungicide may also help.

Light

• Since succulents require plenty of light, this can sometimes pose a problem when trying to grow them as houseplants. If adequate natural light from a sunny south or west window is not possible, supplement with artificial light. When supplementing with fluorescent light, place the fixture 6 to 12 inches above the plants, and keep the lights on for 12 to 16 hours a day. While succulents grown as house plants can be moved outside for the summer months, moving them directly to a sunny location can be a problem. Give them a chance to acclimate to the outdoors by first placing them in a semi-shaded area, then moving them to a sunny location.