They live! Succulents really are fabulous. Five tips for succulents

I brought the rest of my plants back from ‘the uni house’ on Friday, most of which were succulent plants. In fact, every single one of my indoor plants were succulents or cacti.

All of the succulents and cacti had been left indoors, in front of a window, without any human assistance, for three weeks – and survived quite well.

I say quite well, because they did look a little slimmer, as their leaves had shrunk slightly. But the next day, after each had been given a thorough watering, they all looked very happy indeed.

Here is some advice for keeping your own succulents happy and plump:

1.      Soil is key. Succulents need good drainage to thrive, wherever they are. You don’t need to spend a fortune on speciality soil – I never have. Mix three parts bog-standard soil with one part sand or another drainage improver to create a succulent-savvy soil.

2.      Sun, sun, sun. Succulents have their origins in the deserts, so give them what their ancestors enjoyed in bucket-loads: sun. Britain may not be known for its Sahara-like summers, but you can still pop your succulent in a bright spot. I did have a crassula argentea on the windowsill by my kitchen sink, which doesn’t receive sun for a great length of time each day, and it survived. Once in day-long bright sun, it began growing new offshoots, and thrived.

3.      Not all thumbs fit inside thimbles. Pinterest is absolutely stuffed with pictures of tiny succulents in tiny vessels, such as thimbles or shot glasses (you can guess which we have more of in the house). Be wary, though, that these succulents won’t want to stay in those little pots forever. If your plant suddenly looks feeble, weak, or paler than normal, it may be time to re-pot your plant. Choose a pot slightly larger than its current home (two sizes is the general rule).

4.    Thirsty? During winter, succulents and cacti need to be watered every fortnight or three weeks – at the most. During the summer, they’ll need watering more often. Whether the sun’s out or the snow is falling, you’ll know if your plant needs watering by simply checking the soil. Let the soil dry out between watering. The leaves may begin to shrivel and show signs that the water stores are declining, too.

5.      Love! The reason we all keep plants – of any creed – is because we love arranging them, taking care of them, and watching our efforts come to fruition. Have fun with making the succulents look pretty, in teacups, glass vases, or even toy trucks, and get to know what your plants like.