Beginners Guide to Succulent & Cacti Care

Often when you buy a succulent from a garden centre or local market, they’re planted in regular black potting soil. While this works for most houseplants, succulent and cacti, naturally grow in dry, sandy environments like the desert so thrive in the same type of soil. Sandy soils are the best match for these types of plants and provide optimal drainage, so they don’t get soggy. Pick up a bag of succulent soil mix from your local garden centre to ensure your new friend stays happy in its new home.

If you’re looking to go above and beyond to care for your succulent and cactus plants, you can feed the soil with special succulent fertilizer. Think of it as giving your plants a treat every once in a while. They’ll do fine without it, but a good fertilizer will nourish the soil and give your plants extra nutrients to help them grow big and strong. Don’t be afraid to use fertilizer, but do so sparingly in small doses as you don’t want to shock or burn the pants.

Like most plants, succulents and cacti love sunlight. Remember, they naturally grow in the desert which is pretty much sunny all the time. Pick a bright and sunny spot on a windowsill or tabletop to place your plant. If you live in a climate that doesn’t get a lot of sunlight - especially during cooler, winter months - you can simulate sunlight with a grow light. If you notice your plant has long straggly stems, it could be a sign that it lacks sunlight. Bathing it in the sun’s rays for a few hours a day on your balcony or front steps will do it some good. Even if it’s a few hours a day.

Speaking of new homes, with plenty of pots and vessels to choose from, as mentioned before it’s imperative that succulents have proper drainage. While picking a pot based on the look alone seems fun, succulents and cacti can rot if they sit in too much water. Look for pots with a hole at the bottom so water can seep out or try a classic unglazed ceramic pot that will absorb moisture.

When you’re shopping for a succulent or cactus, it’s essential to choose one that looks happy and healthy. You want to bring home a plant that has plump, green leaves or stalks with minimal imperfections. True, no plant is 100 percent perfect, so just try to avoid any plants that look dry, brown or wilted. While still good, these are signs that the plants were not cared for properly and may need a little more attention which we don’t recommend for plant newbies.

All plants need water, but succulents don’t need their thirst quenched as often as regular houseplants. As a desert plant, they thrive in hot, dry environments so can go without a good soak for days. A good rule of thumb is to only water your plant when the soil is parched, that means poking your finger down a few inches to make sure it’s not just the surface that’s dry. Once you’ve perfect its watering schedule, an expert hack is to water your succulents with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water. Mix two parts water with one part hydrogen peroxide to give your plant a boost of oxygen molecules which will help to oxygenate the soil giving it healthy roots and will kill any fungi or harmful bacterias.