How to Plant Succulents

The word "succulent" comes from the Latin word "succulentus," meaning sap or juice. "Succulents" is a perfect name for the diverse group of plants that store water in their thick, juicy leaves or stems. The plants are also characterized by a tough outer layer, which makes them unappealing to most insect pests and animals. Planting instructions for succulents depend on the plants' type.

The succulent group includes cactuses, such as the prickly pear (Opuntia "Compressa"), which is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9. All cactuses are succulents, but not all succulents are in the cactus family (Cactaceae).

Other types of succulents include flowering plants such as sedum (Sedum spp.). The cultivar "Autumn Joy" (Sedum "Autumn Joy") blooms in midsummer, and its pink flowers turn brown as fall arrives. Other varieties are grown for their foliage as well as their flowers. They include the silvery-gray "Frosty Moon" (Sedum "Frosty Morn"). Both of those sedum cultivars are hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9.

Rosette-shaped plants such as hens-and-chicks (Sempervivum spp.) are other common sights in succulent gardens. Hens-and-chicks are 6 inches tall or shorter succulents that spread and form colonies, and their foliage colors include a range of green and red tones. They are hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8. One variety, the cobweb houseleek (Sempervivum arachnoideum), develops hairlike growths that make the plant look like it is covered in spiderwebs. That species is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 8.

Although the term "succulents" refers to a large variety of plants, those plants have similar growing requirements. Most succulents require shelter from strong midday sunlight. Three to four hours of bright, filtered sunlight in the morning or late afternoon is enough for most species.

All succulents are designed to withstand drought conditions, and they grow best when planted in well-drained soil that doesn't hold water around the roots. Plant them on an elevated spot in the garden instead of in a depression where water can collect. If you plant on a slope, place succulents at the slope's top rather than its bottom.

You can also grow succulents in containers. Doing so gives you the opportunities to ensure the soil is well-drained as well as to grow succulents outside their USDA hardiness zones. Frost-sensitive succulents planted in a container can be moved indoors easily for winter to keep them safe. Depending on your location, container succulents may include spider aloe (Aloe humilis) and echeveria (Echeveria spp.), which are hardy in USDA zones 9 through 11.

In the ground, succulents grow best in a nutrient-poor soil with good drainage. Amend soil that drains poorly or is rich in moisture-retentive organic mater before planting by mixing it with crushed rock, decomposed granite, gravel or sharp sand. The resulting mixture should be one-third to one-half amendment and one-half to two-thirds good garden soil. After you water then touch the mixture, it should feel like a damp, wrung-out sponge.

Succulents grown in containers need very well-drained potting soil. Use a bagged cactus potting mix, or make your own by combining 1 part quality potting soil with 1 part pumice, poultry grit, perlite and/or coarse sand. Some succulents grow best in containers, and they include the zebra haworthia (Haworthia attenuata). It is hardy in USDA zone 11 and grows only 2 to 4 inches tall so might get lost in a larger planting location.

When purchased, most plants include tags that provide information about how far apart to space the plants and specific care requirements. As a general rule, space plants 12 inches apart if they are under 24 inches tall. Space plants 24 to 36 inches tall 18 to 24 inches apart.

Some succulents are sensitive to frost when young. So plant them in spring after the last average annual frost date in your area. When you remove a succulent from its container, gently loosen the plant's roots with your fingers. Dig a planting hole that is the same depth as the container and a little wider. Set the plant in the ground so it is at the same soil depth at which it grew in the container. Then fill the remainder of the hole with the soil you removed to make the hole. Water the planting site just enough to settle the soil.

Some succulents, such as cactuses, have sharp leaves or spines. Wear heavy gloves when planting and otherwise working with those succulents. Wearing eye protection as well is beneficial just in case a spiny piece snaps off while you handle the plants.

Underwatering and overwatering are two common issues when growing succulents. Even though they are very drought-tolerant, succulents need supplemental water in some cases, but the biggest problems succulents face in the garden are disease and rot caused by overwatering.

Looking at the plants is the best way to determine whether or not they have too much or too little water. When succulents need water, their leaves start to shrink or pucker and their surface turns dull. Don't water succulents that are in the ground unless you notice those signs of drought stress. Water container succulents often enough to keep their soil slightly damp so their leaves don't pucker. Depending on the time of year and the weather, succulents may need watering once each week or once each month.

Succulents that get too much water turn mushy. If that happens, stop watering the plants and/or move them to a location with better soil drainage. Succulents that are left in a location with too much water turn darker and their leaves develop a squishy texture as they start to rot.