Great Britain has long been a nation of avid gardeners but if there’s one positive that can be taken from the pandemic it’s that growing numbers have started to take a very real interest in all things biophilia… and we think this is fantastic news!

There are all sorts of benefits associated with being surrounded by plants and feeling more connected to the natural world, everything from lowering stress and anxiety (super important given the current climate!) to improving productivity and focus, reducing fatigue, boosting your mood… the list goes on and on!

We believe that everyone has green fingers of some kind but understand that it can be a little daunting to get going with growing. If you’re keen to start your own garden at home but aren’t sure where to begin, you might want to consider investing in a few succulents to see you get on.

Succulents are not just beautiful and interesting, with all sorts of different varieties to choose from, they also represent an amazing introduction to gardening because they’re relatively easy to grow, so you’ll see success quite early on and won’t be disheartened by lots of dead foliage.

But where to begin with it all? To help all you budding gardeners out there, we’ve come up with a handy little list of some dos and don’ts for succulent care. Got any tips of your own? We’d love to hear them, so get in touch to share your gardening stories with us.

1. Avoid overwatering

Succulents don’t need to be watered as much as other house plants and, in fact, you can actually kill them if you give them too much water! As a rule of thumb, only water them between spring and autumn, and make sure that the soil dries out before you add more water.

Of course, research the varieties you’re working with as well, to make sure they don’t have special requirements - but generally speaking, less is more when it comes to H2o.

2. Use mulch

Mulch is any material that you can lay over the surface of the soil or compost and it can work wonders for your succulents, because it prevents water from coming into contact with the plants’ leaves… so you can easily prevent rotting with this handy little strategy.

3. Don’t forget about sunlight!

While succulents aren’t water fans, they do love their light so make sure you keep them somewhere sunny if you’re growing them indoors. If you’re really struggling with light levels, you could consider investing in a grow light to help them out, especially during the winter months.

4. Don’t neglect the drainage

Good drainage is an absolute must when it comes to succulents, as they really hate sitting in water for a long period of time. This makes the roots absorb too much water and you could see rot set in. Only use pots with drainage holes and consider using a layer of pebbles, stones or rocks in the bottom of the pot to help drainage along.

Looking for an indoor plant shop in Brighton? Come and see us at Rooted & Co today!