Succulents, Oh My Succulents!

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Vintage beakers – photo + styling by Kirin Notebook

I killed yet another succulent this week and quite frankly, I'm baffled.  Everywhere I turn,  I spot another adorable idea on how to plant one; they seem to thrive in all sorts of various vessels from vintage flour sifters to typewriters, yet still, I can't seem to keep them alive.  The idea of keeping them alive seems quite simple.  They don't need much watering, just when they seem a little wilted.  But yet when I let mine get to that point, I water and a day or two later, it's sick, leaves falling off with just the littlest nudge.  Did I let it get too dry? Did I over water?  How much is enough?  Anyone?

I love this idea (above) using vintage beakers I found on Pinterest (via SAND). Photo + styling by Lara Cameron of Kirin Notebook from my post of 15 succulent ideas, some to buy, some to DIY on Babble.

Comments

Bianca said…
I have the exact same problem. I have a very sad looking succulent at the moment. Any tips for keeping it alive would be most helpful...
12:58 pm, October 16, 2011
Anonymous said…
I've killed several, too, but my most recent one seems to be flourishing. I think I planted it in cactus mix soil, but I water it more frequently than I used to think succulents needed to be watered, probably 1-2 times per week. Maybe that's the secret? I think at least some types do pretty well with plenty of water, considering that I've seen them growing outdoors in rainy Oregon. I think that good drainage is pretty important, though.
-Rachel
12:59 pm, October 16, 2011
Anonymous said…
Hello there! Hmmm... perhaps it's the dirt? Are you using soil that's specific for cactus? Also, I water my succulents from the bottom rather than directly on top. I set the pots in a shallow container and fill it with a little water. I hope this helps...
1:02 pm, October 16, 2011
Anonymous said…
Perhaps it's the sunlight that they lack. Succulents really should be easy-peasy to grow, but still... My boyfriend seem to be having trouble growing even these! So, you're not alone ;)
1:12 pm, October 16, 2011
Vintage Home said…
we only have them outside and bring them in just for a bit when having dinner or company......we do nothing but protect them a bit in winter...and if I forget to take precautions some even grow back!...so try just living with them outside ???????
p.s. If you have time I would love your advice on a lamp!...pop by?
1:22 pm, October 16, 2011
Jodi Anderson said…
I can't resist sharing why I can't grow succulents. I had to do a little spy work with my video camera to figure out why they were spontaneously hurling themselves across the room. This is from several years ago.

http://vimeo.com/1934998

:)
1:23 pm, October 16, 2011
Kristen said…
I always thought it was just me that couldn't grow succulents...it makes me feel a little better that there are others out there that are baffled about the care of these super easy (supposedly) plants.

Better luck next time (at least that's what I always think but it never works out for me).

Kristen
www.decoratingdiy.blogspot.com
1:32 pm, October 16, 2011
Emily Greene said…
I have a long answer, but I have had the same problem and given it a lot of thought. Everyone always says that they don't need much water, but I live in California where it doesn't rain at all in the summer, and pours in the winter, and over the past few years I noticed that the succulents that I have planted in containers outside seemed to thrive in the winter growing huge, and blooming, and would wilt away and seem frail in the summer(I thought they liked dry sunny weather, but mine seem to like wet overcast weather). This year I changed the soil to a better draining soil with pumice in the mix, and watered them much more than I had in years past, and they did so much better. I think they need more water then everyone says, it just needs to drain well.
2:07 pm, October 16, 2011
jensun said…
Thank you for this confessional. I, too, have killed succulents. It's a particular "talent" I have. I also kill African violets really well, too. I'm going to take a look at these tips here and try again. :)
3:12 pm, October 16, 2011
Erin said…
I have almost never had problems keeping succulents alive. When I have, it is usually due to no drainage, not enough water, not enough sunlight, or too small of a container. Don't wait for the leaves to wilt. Water them once the soil is dry. I don't worry about what kind of soil I plant mine in, but I always make sure the pot has drainage holes on the bottom so that excess water doesn't sit in the bottom of the pot and cause root rot and fungus. Also, the smaller the container, the more frequently you will have to water. The succulents I have in large pots, I soak every few weeks and they're fine. The ones in the small pots (8oz or so) need daily watering.
3:24 pm, October 16, 2011
Momichka said…
I have the same problem. I think it may be some problem with the light or watering schedule or something.

If you ever figure this out, please share it. I hate seeing my succulents die off.

Anyways, the idea with the planters is lovely.

Best,


Marija
3:50 pm, October 16, 2011
StephieB said…
I love the picture - what a cool idea!

All of my succulents are outside and they only make an appearance indoors occasionally. For me the phrase "treat 'em mean" seems to apply. They need next to no care and, if anything, can be killed by kindness!

Hugs, Stephie x
3:52 pm, October 16, 2011
Donna || HEYLADYSPRING.COM said…
Maybe you need to increase the watering cycle a bit. Like once a week (every Sunday so you don't forget). Succulents still need water albeit in very small amounts :)
4:15 pm, October 16, 2011
Angel Funk said…
I agree with Emily! Soil needs to drain well, succulents do not like "wet feet" (the stems will rot). I let the soil in my inside succulent pots dry out in between waterings (I water every 10 days or so) and they do fine. My outside succulents (planted in the ground) do fine with no extra water at all, even after a very hot Southern U.S. summer (I live in Nashville).
5:10 pm, October 16, 2011
Pinecone Camp said…
this is so cute! I basically ignore my succulents, and water only when really dry. I have them planted in shallow containers and some sandy soil. Seems to work for me.
5:45 pm, October 16, 2011
Kimberly said…
Be sure you're using proper well-draining soil, most nurseries sell a potting soil specifically for cactii. Also, if they're all dying or shrivelling up, you may have root mealy bugs.
5:50 pm, October 16, 2011
Anonymous said…
I've never tried to grow a succulent, or much less know what they are. I remember my dad growing them in our greenhouse in Alaska. I would love to use this idea to spruce up my very dreary dorm room!
8:56 pm, October 16, 2011
Jan Halvarson said…
Well I'm glad I'm not the only one with this problem and also glad there are many of you so successful with good tips! I think I let them go too long perhaps, low sun (we have no sun usually) and then water too much in the end. It's inevitable apparently.
: )
10:25 pm, October 16, 2011
Amanda said…
There are different ones that need different care. They can go too long without water and then be overwhelmed with a good watering. The best suggestion I can give is: put them in a window sill (or close) and put them on a water schedule. Water every 10 days, not a lot, just enough to moisten the soil (if at the 10th day it's not dried out yet wait a couple more days or only water just a little). I have over 15 succulents and don't have much trouble at all. Also, you might not totally have killed them. Let it dry out and see if anything perks back up. I thought I killed one and it looked like it was rotting from the roots up so I cut it off and let the end dry a little and then put it back on top of the pots soil (dry soil). In a week or so I started to see new roots growing.

I have a lot of post about them on my blog too :)
7:50 am, October 17, 2011
Mev said…
I used to have this problem, too, but I discovered an interesting thing for people who are trying to grow succulents out of their natural habitat - they have very distinct growing seasons. If you water them when they're dormant, they can rot. This is the guide I use:

http://www.highlandsucculents.com/culture_guide.htm#dormancy

Good luck!
8:18 am, October 17, 2011
Coco Cake Land said…
Woh. this post happened the DAY my terrarium succulents both succumbed to... dryness mixed with one day of overwatering blast!!

thanks for all the tips, everyone!
9:56 am, October 17, 2011
Melinda Mahaffey said…
Agree with transientexpression and Emily Greene - they need more water than you think and the best ones I too have ever seen were growing outdoors in Oregon and San Francisco. I water mine (on a windowsill during warm weather, now indoors) thoroughly as soon as the very top is completely dry, which was every 6 days or so, now longer. It's also in a pot within a pot so it can drain out. Seems to be working.
12:49 am, October 18, 2011
Lee May Foster-Wilson said…
Some great advice here...I will be taking some notes! I Managed to kill one earlier this year, and my green fingered friend told me that perhaps I was over watering. She said they need just enough water to remain succulent.

I have another that was looking a bit sorry for itself outside too, but I re-potted it with some gravel at the bottom of the container for drainage and put it inside in a sunny window and so far it seems to be rallying.

It seems to me that they need as much sunshine as possible and watering every week to 10 days. I haven't killed one yet on this regime, even with my black thumb!
2:02 am, October 18, 2011
Pinon Coffee said…
This is a helpful thread. Thanks for the advice. I've just been growing nearly-indestructible scheffleras, but I might branch out. :-)
6:32 pm, October 20, 2011
Laurel said…
I have been successfully growing succulents for a few years now. I killed many a plant before I figured out what they needed. The number one thing that a succulent needs is a pot with drainage. If there are no holes in your container, don't bother. It breaks my heart when I find a cool container I want to use but it has no drainage.

My second bit of advice is to research each family. Learn to grow one plant family at a time and then move on to the next. This slow approach has helped me keep my succulents alive and thriving for years. Some die here and there, but overall, my plants are fab.
11:00 pm, February 14, 2012
Anonymous said…
I love succulents, but although I am generally pretty good with plants, the succulents I have boughts tend to die sooner or later. So I started picking up the native species of succulents I find in my area, when I go on hikes in the mountains (I live in the Pyrenees, around 1200 m high above the sea level. Would believe there are not succulents, but there are, and many!). So far I have collected 4 different species, and guess what? They are all very happy and thriving on my balcony. When I'll have enough of them, I'll make a nice, modern, minimalist composition like the one you suggest using vintage containers. Cool.
12:38 pm, April 17, 2014
Jan Halvarson said…
Greenfern - that sounds amazing!
12:54 pm, April 17, 2014
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