Succulents are one of the most common plants used for indoor and outdoor decoration. These plants are extremely popular for their looks and bright colors.
However, there is some confusion when it comes to succulents. Many people live under the impression that these plants don’t require fertilization. Many others don’t know when and how often to fertilize succulents.
There are, as such, no tell-tale signs to determine when to fertilize your succulents. It’s best to do it during the spring and summer. Ideally, it should be before the growing season of your plant.
Do succulents need fertilizer?
Succulents, like all other plants, require additional nutrients to grow. However, if you propagate your succulents every two years and give them the required amount of nutrients, you don’t need to provide extra fertilization to your succulents.
However, regular fertilization will greatly help your plants if that is not possible. Though succulents gather some nutrients from the soil, additional fertilization enhances their colors. It’s important to avoid using strong fertilizers on your succulents. Otherwise, they will get a chemical burn.
How Often to fertilize succulents?
You can fertilize your succulents once every month using homegrown fertilizers, like ground coffee or manure tea. However, if you use store-bought fertilizers, you should use them on the plants yearly.
Yearly fertilization is enough for indoor succulents. Fertilizers also reduce the level of growth in succulents which causes the plants to stretch without sufficient light.
It’s best to shift the succulents outdoors towards indirect light after fertilization so they can stay compact and enjoy the nutrients. Even if you keep them indoors, make sure they have sufficient light.
When should I fertilize my succulents?
It’s best to fertilize your succulents during spring. Many succulents start their growth season during this time and thus have a high requirement of nutrients.
However, if it’s a succulent variety that grows actively during winter, it’s best to fertilize it before fall.
Indoor succulents Vs Outdoor Succulents
The fertilization needs of indoor succulents are higher than those of outdoor succulents. Indoor succulents are grown in pots, have a limited soil supply, and do not benefit much from rainwater.
Such succulents will have to use the nutrients available in the soil. On the contrary, outdoor succulents have plenty of soil available to support their expansion and benefit from the water.
Thus, it’s understandable that indoor succulents require more nutrients compared to outside succulents.
Season
To ensure proper growth of your succulents, you will need to determine their growing season; if the plants are a summer variety, you can fertilize them during the summer or spring to boost their growth.
However, many experts advise against winter fertilization unless the succulents are dormant, like Aeonium, Aloe, or Anacampseros.
How Often Should you fertilize baby Succulents?
It’s best to fertilize your baby succulents during summer, once a year, as you would for other plants.
Winter fertilization should be completely avoided. It’s also best to use homegrown fertilizers for your baby succulents than the store-bought options.
How much fertilizer using?
Succulents live a slower life than other plants. They require low use of water, sunlight, and also fertilizers. Thus if you are using a store-bought fertilizer, make sure you dilute the level by mixing two parts of water.
It’s advisable to apply this mixture to the soil around the plant and not directly on it.
While using solid fertilizers, mix them on the top layer of the soil, and try not to disturb the plant. For outdoor fertilizers, you need not worry much. They have enough soil to keep them fertilized; however, fertilizers sparingly will help these plants grow.
How do you fertilize indoor succulents?
Though the fertilization needs of indoor succulents are higher than the outdoor varieties, you should not go overboard with fertilization. It’s best to dilute the fertilizer using a store-bought option.
Once diluted, apply the mixture to the soil around the plants and not exactly on the plants. It’s best to avoid fertilization during winter.
What fertilizer is best for succulents?
Many types of fertilizers are available in the market, from chemical fertilizers to worm castings. Succulents can easily adapt to all of these and use them.
Opting for a commercial fertilizer with a higher phosphorus level than nitrogen is advisable.
Though both these nutrients are important for plant growth, nitrogen is available in the soil.
However, the concentration level of phosphorus in the soil is low. Many experts also recommend daily using homegrown fertilizers like tea manure or diluted fish emulsion.
What fertilizer for baby succulents?
It’s best to use homegrown fertilizers for your baby succulents. These include manure tea, liquid humus, and compost tea. These fertilizers are safe for baby succulents and help them grow into big happy, healthy plants.
However, most people find it difficult to make these homegrown manures and thus opt for commercial fertilizers. Even if you use store-bought options, you must dilute them before use.
Can you over-fertilize succulents?
Yes, you can, and it must be avoided. It’s best to under-fertilize than over-fertilize succulents. When the plant is already nutrient-loaded, and more nutrients are added to the soil through fertilization, the plants simply absorb it.
Besides, when the soil is loaded with nitrogen, the plants can’t consider it, leading to root burn. The process ultimately kills the roots and, by that, kills the plant.
To avoid such a situation, it’s best to fertilize your succulents once a year and dilute the fertilizer to a good extent.
What Fertilizers to Not Use?
It’s best to avoid fertilizers for your succulents high in nitrogen. Though nitrogen addition makes a plant grow faster, it does attract pests.
Thus it’s important to dilute your fertilizer whenever possible. Chemical fertilizers should also be avoided as they cause roots and leaves to burn.
Conclusion:
Succulents look wonderful when they are well fed and conditioned. It’s not extremely difficult to grow succulents. Once you know the basic steps and stay on top of a few things, your succulents will grow beautifully.
Hopefully, now you know how often to fertilize succulents, and if you find this article to be useful, please consider sharing it with your friends as well.
