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Succulent basics: From Watering Tips to the Ease of Cut Succulents, Everything You Need to Know for Thriving Plants
Succulents –– a category of plant with fleshy leaves, stem or roots, like jade, aloe and cacti –– are an amazing addition to any home. They come in a variety of colors, sizes, shapes and aesthetics, making them a stylish way to incorporate plants, elevate your interior décor, and add personality to your space. Additionally, they bring biophilic benefits like stress reduction and higher wellbeing. Many people are drawn to succulents because they have gained a reputation as a good “beginner” plant or as a low-maintenance option due to their drought tolerance. But, in reality, succulents aren’t intuitive to care for and can be killed. If you are looking to bring the dynamic interest of these wonderful plants into your home, we will cover the basics of care, tips for styling, the lowest-maintenance options that often aren’t discussed when it comes to decorating with plants. How to Care for Succulents: The Basics While many succulents need similar environments to thrive, the key to care is that no two varieties are the same. There is not one golden rule for all succulents, even the same plant may behave differently in different environments. Always look up your specific plant to see what it requires, and as you apply advice, carefully watch your plant and how it responds to make adjustments. Light conditions In general, succulents like sunlight and don’t do well in full shade or dark rooms. But a common misconception is that succulents like direct sunlight all of the time. In truth, succulents are like people: they can get sunburned and need to get used to the sun. So if you have a plant that has been neglected in a dark room or are getting a new-to-you plant, try putting it in the sun for a couple of hours a day and gradually increasing sun exposure until you reach the recommended window for your variety. Watering As plants that evolved to live in dry conditions and survive drought, succulents do not need constant watering. Instead, wait until the top layer of soil is dry (test by putting in your fingertip to your first knuckle) and then water it generously. How much water and how frequently you water will depend on the plant variety, the size of the plant, humidity, season and type of pot, so you will have to adjust watering throughout the year. Soil Succulents are particularly picky about their soil, and need the perfect mix of drier soils that drain well. This means a succulent or cacti-specific mix, layering in rocks at the bottom of your pot, and even considering mixing sand in with your soil depending on the variety and the soil you have available. Otherwise, with soil that has a high moisture retention, succulents can literally rot from the inside out. Tip: You may need to repot your succulent immediately if you are getting a new plant, as some nurseries grow or display succulents in soil which is not suitable long-term. Pots Proper succulent pots are another factor in maintaining the right moisture level. That starts with having the right sized pot for your plant –– too large and you will risk rot. Stick to the right size and commit to re-potting when necessary. It is imperative to have a drainage hole at the bottom to release excess water. That means you may also need a plate or tray to ensure water doesn’t get everywhere as it drains (some pots will come with matching saucer). Terra cotta is a great material for a succulent pot as it helps excess moisture leave the soil, but you can also use plastic, which can double as an insert for a more decorative container. If using plastic, be aware that it may retain more moisture. Extra resources There’s a lot of plant information floating around, and not all of it is reputable. In addition to looking at online resources from professionals like us, we can recommend a couple books that will help you on your succulent journey. Misa Matsuyama’s “The Gardner’s Guide to Succulents” takes you through over a hundred types of succulents and their characteristics. And Debra Lee Baldwin’s “Succulents Simplified” takes you through design considerations and outdoor planting advice, as well as an overview of 100 succulents and what they are suited for. 4 Tips and Tricks for Succulent Care from the Professionals We are professional plant designers based in Dallas with years of experience specializing in succulents. From jaw-dropping centerpieces to bespoke home plant designs, we think about plants every day. Here are our four top tips for making your first foray into succulents a success. Your best guide to plant care is the plant itself If you notice something unusual, your plant is asking for a change. Common signs include: Roots are coming out the bottom of your pot or a plant toppling over its container = time to repot Droopy leaves, wrinkly leaves or curling in on itself = more water Lots of tall growth with space between leaves = more sun Tip: Plants may grow less or little at all over the winter –– don’t be panicked if your plant seems otherwise happy and healthy but isn’t changing much. Especially here in Dallas where we have big temperature changes between the seasons, it may just be taking a winter rest. Getting a good plant makes a big difference Unfortunately, not every garden center sells high-quality plants. When you are shopping, it is best if you can go in person and look for plants that appear healthy, with no drooping or brown spots, kept in the right size of container. When you are there, ask questions and chat with staff about succulents and cacti specifically. Staff should be able to recommend plants for you and give you advice on care without being vague on details or pushy on making certain purchases. You can – and should – style your plants Even a thriving plant may not make the impact you want if it’s simply sitting in a plastic pot on the window sill. To get the full benefit of plants in your home, consider how to style your plants. Decorative pots and containers are one of the easiest ways to make an impact, with options that suit every style and price point (just remember drainage). Vary heights, colors and textures to create a dynamic arrangement with multiple pots. Consider other elements you can put on top of soil as well –– stray away from anything that will retain too much moisture, but try rocks and even gems, sand and dried or reclaimed wood elements. Live succulent arrangements are beautiful, but very tricky Grouping succulents together is a popular way to get drama and texture into your plant selection, but different varieties have different requirements. That means troubleshooting problems is harder, and making sure every plant is healthy takes practice and patience. While it is absolutely possible to grow a thriving succulent arrangement in a single pot, for beginners we recommend either doing one per pot or, for those in Dallas, trying our cut succulent options which give a beautiful variety with zero maintenance. Plants Made Even Easier: Custom Cut Succulent Arrangements in Dallas Cut succulents are real succulents that are harvested at the peak moment to give you long-lasting beauty that requires zero maintenance. They last for months and are a great option for someone who wants the look of a perfectly styled mature plant without any care requirements. Our premade cut succulent arrangements come in a variety of styles to match any home and aesthetic, and include decorative elements like sand art, driftwood, gemstones and moss for a magazine-worthy piece. You can explore our cut succulents online or stop in to our showroom in Dallas to see our rotating options. For custom succulent arrangement options, we work closely with homeowners to create something that truly reflects your individual style and elevates your home. Whether you are looking for a mantlepiece decoration, entryway arrangement, dining table centerpiece, succulents for your office or even kitchen, we can create something that adds boldness, color, texture and drama. Our Dallas clients can expect to wow their friends, family and neighbors with creative design. Cut succulents are a great way for people who are busy but still want the benefits of plants, who want to change arrangements with seasons and occasions, or who just want more opportunity to express their style in their own home. Our professional designers work with the highest-quality plants to give you something special, rotating every few months. Custom Plant Arrangements and Residential Maintenance Options in Dallas For those who want more than a centerpiece, Urban Spikes provides custom botanical design services for bespoke designs that make your interiors showstopping. We can include not only cut succulents arrangements but potted options, custom plant arrangements and even bespoke moss art to put the finishing touches on your space. For indoor/outdoor living, we provide container plant options, including faux with UV protection that withstands even the hottest Texas summer. And if you are doing a renovation or outfitting a new build, we can work with your designer or architect to ensure all your styling is picture-perfect. We offer a residential maintenance program for our custom arrangements where we ensure everything looks incredible and rotate out cut succulents and arrangements as necessary. We can work with you to create a schedule that best benefits your bespoke designs, and usually service our Dallas clients every other week. So no matter how busy you are, or how much you have struggled to care for greenery in the past, your houseplants and plant styling will always pop. Whether you are just getting into succulents and want an easy, low-maintenance arrangement or looking to enliven your entire home with bespoke design, we would love to hear from you or have you drop by our Dallas showroom to explore our offerings.
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Why cut succulents?!
I get asked all the time “what’s the deal with using cut succulents instead of rooted plants?” Well I have the answers! There is reasoning behind the madness of buying a plant just to watch it die (trust me). Maintenance Free – We all hate caring for something, and then waking up one day to discover we killed it. Caring for cut succulents, on the other hand, is truly easy, because there’s nothing you need to do. Literally, nothing to do. Water-free - Human nature causes us to want to water and tend to plants, but cut succulents live a long time with absolutely no care. They even die nicely in most cases. The succulents tend to flatten out and turn a lighter green so you can kind of ride the wave as long as you want. Long Lifespan – Cut succulents live two to six months, and some types - especially the hardy aloes - last even longer. You don’t have to stress about caring for the plants, and you get to enjoy their look for a long time. Easy to Replace – Replacing cut succulents is simple, and you don’t have to ruin your arrangement in the process. When replacing planted succulents, most times the arrangement has to be completely remade. Not so with these guys. You simply take the old one out and pop a new succulent on in its place, saving your beautiful arrangement to be used time and time again. Expanded Creative Process – Dirt and roots inhibit how much you can do with a plant. We can make beautiful, sharp sand designs, and then glue succulents on branches, because they are rootless and don’t need to be in dirt. There’s a lot of artistic leeway that takes place without the constraints of regular plant design. Aesthetic – When you water a plant, it grows, and the look of the succulent changes. Planted succulents often get leggy when watered, misshaping the original design. This look is fun for outdoors, but probably not your dining room table. When decorating indoors, the tight rosette of a cut succulent is clean and sharp looking. Due to all these factors, cut succulents are a no-brainer. Urban Spikes’ vision is to create amazing arrangements that require no maintenance, while allowing you to bring life, color and texture into your home. And with the endless design possibilities and easily replaceable cuttings, you can allow your arrangement to evolve with you. What more could you ask for? Discover our full range of succulent and botanical services in the Dallas area. If you're looking to add beautiful biophilic design into your commercial or residential space, let us know.
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