As the winter season has arrived, you may be wondering whether your succulents will survive and thinking about ideas for taking good care of them this winter. Well, we have solved this problem for you. In this article, we have compiled 7 tips for how to keep succulents alive in winter indoors, so let’s get into it.
Can succulents survive in winter?
Succulents are of two types: hard and soft succulents. Hard succulents tend to thrive in cold, snowy weather, and they can easily tolerate extreme temperatures. Most of the hard succulents can survive in temperatures as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit, so they can live and grow outside throughout the year. However, soft succulents are sensitive to frost and cannot tolerate extreme temperatures, so they must be winterized indoors when the temperature falls below the freezing point.
When to bring succulents indoors for winter?
When to bring succulents inside for winter depends on your habitat and the succulents you are growing. Hardy succulents can stay outside all winter. However, you need to bring soft succulents inside before freezing temperatures hit. As a general rule of thumb, bring your succulents indoors before the first frost. The best time for bringing your succulents inside is when fall comes around, which is at the end of September for people in the US.
Preparing succulents for indoor living
Before bringing your succulents inside, you need to prepare them for indoor living. Winterizing succulents is crucial for their survival. First, spray an insecticide on succulents to make them pest-free at least 3 weeks before moving them indoors. This will prevent the spreading of pests and insects to indoor plants.
Then, remove leaves, weeds, and debris from the succulents and container because dead organic material can cause rotting of succulents or get them infected. Also, look for any sign of infestation, and if you find any flies gathering around the succulents, then you must change the soil. Otherwise, they will transmit to other plants when you move them indoors.
See also: The Best Self-Watering Planters.
7 tips for how to keep succulents alive in winter indoors
Follow these tips to keep your succulents alive and thriving. Let’s get started.
1- Start with well-draining soil
You need to start with the right base. The right soil mix is important for growing plants indoors. Your succulents will definitely thank you if you put them in a good soil mix. Porous and well-drained soil is crucial for preventing the rotting of roots in succulents.
Make sure to use well-draining soil while growing succulents indoors because it allows better airflow, and succulents require good air circulation to maintain healthy growth of roots. In order to increase aeration, it is suggested to add pumice or perlite.
2- Use a pot with proper drainage
Make sure to plant the succulents in a pot with proper drainage. Use a container with drainage holes and use cheesecloth or mesh tape to prevent soil from falling out. If you place succulents in a container without drainage holes and with soggy soil, this will lead to the rotting of roots as there’s less light to dry out the soil in the winter. This will attract pests, eventually killing the plants.
Therefore, proper drainage is important for the healthy growth of succulents as it allows moisture to escape and keep the soil dry to prevent the rotting of roots. Make sure to use terra cotta or ceramic pots as they are permeable and allow better air and water movement for succulents.
3- Provide succulents with enough sunlight
If you want your succulents to survive this winter indoors then you need to find a sunny spot for them inside the house where they have access to sunlight throughout the winter. Succulents get used to regular exposure to sunlight in summer, so you need to mimic these conditions indoors.
However, they will not need as much sunlight as they would in the summer. Winter days are shorter; therefore, the succulents require at least 5-6 hours of exposure to indirect sunlight. It is best to place your succulents near windows where they get exposed to indirect yet bright natural light. If you live in regions that don’t get much sunlight, you should consider getting a growth light for succulents.
See also: Your Amazing Year-Round Vegetable Garden Plan.
4- Maintain the temperature of your house
When you bring succulents inside the house, make sure to keep things warm and dry because succulents grow best in temperatures between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit in winter as compared to 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit in summer. Lower temperatures keep the succulents in a dormant state and help them to survive the winter.
5- Limit watering your succulents
Succulents don’t grow actively in the winter, so they don’t require much water. Thus, stop overwatering succulents in the winter as it will cause the rotting of roots and lead to the death of plants. The best time to water your succulents is when you see the soil is dry. Watering succulents once a week is enough. Water the soil directly and avoid watering leaves as it can discolor or harm the leaves. Water thoroughly, then let the excess water drain through the soil completely.
6- Feed your succulents sparingly
Succulents have the ability to store nutrients, and they usually grow in a low nutrient environment, so it’s best to not overfeed them in colder months. As a matter of fact, succulents only need fertilizer for growing actively during the summer. Succulents are in a dormant state during winter, so they don’t have any nutrient requirement. The use of fertilizer in winter can cause the leaves of succulents to get soft and fall off.
7- Regularly examine succulents for pests
During winter, homes are usually warm and dry, which is a perfect environment for insects, such as armored scale and mealybugs, to take up residence among succulents. So if you want your succulents to survive this winter, then you must check them regularly for pests and insects.
Be sure to examine both sides of the leaves of your succulents for pests. If you find an infested plant, move it away from the others. Take a spray bottle and fill it with 3 parts rubbing alcohol mixed with 1 part water, and spray the solution onto the plant to kill the pests. You must keep the succulent away from other plants and repeat the application of rubbing alcohol until all the pests are gone.
See also: The Best Cutting Board with Containers.
Final words
Winters can be really hard on succulents, but keeping them alive during winter is possible. If you follow the tips mentioned, there is a good chance that your succulents will make it through this winter. To summarize: Winterizing succulents is an important step before bringing them inside. You have to clean and change the pot and make the succulents pest free. Make sure to take note of the indoor temperature necessary for the survival of succulents.
Place your succulents in a sunny spot to replicate their outdoor environment. Also, make sure to limit watering the succulents and feed them sparingly because they don’t have many nutrient requirements during this dormant state in the colder months. So now you know that taking care of succulents in winter is not difficult and does not require much effort. It will only take you a little time, and you will see them survive this winter.