How to Grow Succulents (So They Thrive Instead of Shrivel)

Lest you forget, succulents are an arid climate plant (and a sister to cacti). While they’ll likely do fine in partial sun, for best results, you should place your succulent near a sunny window where they can bathe in sunlight all day long. “Pick a sunny and warm location for your plant. Window sills are a perfect place for smaller succulents and larger ones do great near south-facing windows,” Gaines explains. “They need a good amount of sunlight, around six hours per day, or you might notice stretching or bending stems.”

While many people cultivate their succulents indoors, you can also plant them outside. If you go this route, Gaines says to choose a location that gets full sun and good air circulation. "Don't be afraid of planting your succulent next to structures, as the roots tend to be on the shallow side. Hardscape materials like brick, stone and concrete do well next to your succulents, as they can take the extra heat.”

Stretching and bending stems may indicate that your succulent lacks light. To fix, Gaines advises rotating the planter. "The plant will bend towards the light, so to correct bending, rotate the pot 180 degrees, so the bend faces away from the window.”

Just because succulents are low-maintenance doesn’t mean you should skimp on their needs—especially when it comes to quality soil. The best type of soil for a succulent should be a fast-draining, sandy mix, according to Gaines.

“A good way to test is to squeeze a handful of wet soil in your fist and see if it stays together after it’s released. Ideally, it should crumble after being squeezed.”

To make your own soil, Gaines says that you can take regular potting soil and add perlite, gravel or sand to it, which will facilitate drainage.

Succulents don’t like soggy soil. They’ll be happiest in a vessel that breathes and, preferably, has drainage. Terrariums, while a popular aesthetic choice, aren’t actually great long-term solutions because the glass doesn’t allow for airflow. You’ll want to pick something with plenty of drainage holes or is porous, so that the soil doesn’t get boggy. Gaines recommends terracotta and fabric pots for their breathability. If you go for plastic, it will need drainage holes. Two things she says you should avoid? Self-watering containers—the environment is too wet for a succulent to thrive—and glazed ceramics. The glaze prevents air from flowing and there are usually an inadequate number of drainage holes. However, if there is a beautiful planter you just can’t pass up, here’s a hack: place your succulent in a well-draining plastic pot and place that in your preferred one.

Just like humans, succulents need space. Overcrowding your planter will cause the succulents to compete with each other, and ultimately, they’ll all suffer.

“You can plant multiple succulents together but, as with any plant, make sure they have enough room. I would recommend a wider and more shallow pot if planting multiple, small succulents together,” Gaines says.

You should aim to repot and divide root ball clumps every other year to keep your containers looking fresh and your plants at their most productive.

Overwatering is the number one killer of succulents. If you bog down your plant, it can lead to fungal issues and black spots—ick. On the flip side, too little water will make your succulent wrinkly and dry.

“Water every other week at the base of the plant. Don’t just sprinkle. Saturate the soil to let the water soak in,” Gaines explains. “This is also why the proper soil and container is a must, as excess water will not hold against the roots.”

As long as they receive a little bit of water, a good amount of sun and are planted in the right soil, you couldn’t ask for an easier houseplant. Try not to move them around too much or lavish them with attention.