Before we talk about care for your succulents, we need to talk about what they are. We believe that an understanding of how to care for your succulents comes from an understanding and appreciation for these plants as a whole.

What are succulents?

First, let’s address the cactus shaped elephant in the room. Nearly all cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. The word succulent comes from the Latin word “sucus”, which means “juice” or “sap”. Succulents are plants that have engorged or thickened parts that are meant to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. This leads us to the next important question we must ask before we dive into care-related details.

What is the most essential part of succulent care?

In real estate, realtors will often claim that the key to success is “location, location, location”. For succulents, it’s “lighting, lighting, lighting”, which comes down to the location you have in mind to place your succulent. Lighting is the most influential consideration when it comes to caring for your succulent, as you can have too much or too little.

For cacti, direct sun or LED full spectrum light is essential! For succulents (non-cactus), bright indirect light is critical. Six to eight hours of direct sunlight is ideal for most arid cacti. If you’re getting that much sun, please rotate your plant to prevent scarring. Many tropical succulents and cacti do best in indirect light. If your succulents start to elongate towards the light, move to a better lit spot.

What is the biggest differentiator for succulents?

The biggest difference between succulents and other houseplants is that they store water, but they don’t like wet feet. You and I both enjoy a tall glass of water on a particularly hot day, but I’m certain we don’t enjoy stepping into a puddle of water with our socks on. Succulents need to dry themselves out between watering. As their caretaker, you need to ensure their soil is dry before watering it. All purchases at our store come with a wooden skewer for this exact reason. You can use this skewer to determine if the soil near the succulent’s feet is wet. If you have a prickly succulent on your hands, sticking your finger into the soil may not make for a pleasant experience.

It’s better to be a month late, than a week early

Scott Adams, Owner of Fractal Cactus

In Summary,

• lighting, lighting, lighting, with most tropical succulents and cacti doing best in indirect light
• ensure soil is dry before watering, use the stick
• Check on specific species care for best results!