How Often to Water Indoor Succulents
Succulents are popular house plants for a reason. They don’t need high humidity and store water in their leaves, making them super easy to care for.
Still, it can be tricky to know when to water your indoor succulent. Overwatering is a common problem, but not watering enough can also cause your succulents to struggle.
In this plant care guide, I’ll share my tips on when and how to water your succulents, the signs of overwatering and underwatering, and more.
Need a succulent plant care refresher? Check out the Beginners Guide to Succulent Care.
Overwatering Succulents
Overwatering is the number one cause of succulents not surviving in our homes. Succulents are drought-tolerant plants used to dry soil and long periods of no rain.
Frequent overwatering can lead to root rot problems. If roots rot, they can’t supply any water to the leaves of the plant.
Remove affected parts, and adjust your watering routine going forward. If too much of the plant is affected, rescue any remaining healthy leaves or stems to propagate and start a new plant.
Water succulents very sparingly in winter. Water just enough to make sure not to let the leaves shrivel up completely.
Signs that your Succulent is Overwatered:
- leaves turning yellow or pale
- leaves drooping and falling off
- leaves feel soft and mushy
- soil feels moist
Most succulent plants stay small and like a lot of light. This makes them perfect to grow indoors on a sunny window sill. Continue reading to learn more about how much sun succulents need.
Underwatering Succulents
Succulents store water in their leaves. They don’t need water often. Some succulents can survive weeks, sometimes months without water.
But beware. The fact that succulents don’t need a lot of water has been the demise of many succulents. Dehydration can be a serious issue.
Signs that your Succulent is Underwatered
- leaves are wrinkly and thin
- leaves are drooping
- leaves feel soft
- soil is dry
Succulents growing leggy is not because of anything watering-related. If your succulent is stretching out and growing tall it is looking for more light. Read more about leggy succulents and what you can do about it!
When to Water Succulents
Water succulents only when the soil is completely dry, or when the leaves start to shrivel.
Stick your finger two inches below the surface of the soil. If it feels moist, don’t water but wait one or two days and check again. If the soil feels dry, go ahead and water thoroughly.
It’s hard to say exactly how often to water your succulent, but check the soil every 2 to 3 weeks. More in summer, less in winter.
If in doubt, don’t water yet. It’s easier to save a succulent that has been underwatered, than one that has been overwatered. If you are uncertain, you can use a moisture meter to help you with when to water.
Further reading: How to use a moisture meter.
How to Water Succulents
In their native habitat, most succulents go through long dry spells followed by heavy rainfall. When you water, you are mimicking that rain, so water thoroughly and saturate all of the soil. Don’t be stingy. Then allow the soil to dry before watering again.
This is called the “soak and dry” method. Give the soil a generous soak and let it dry before watering again.
Allow all excess water to drain out of the bottom of the pot. Make sure the pot has drainage holes on the bottom. This is a must. Without those, excess water has no way to get out and will drown the roots.
Use a watering can with a long spout to reach the soil and not get any water in the crown of your succulent.
No misting your succulents. They do not need high humidity.
How much to water your succulents is easy: A lot. But not too often.
Bottom Watering Succulents
You can water from the bottom to make sure your succulent is getting a good soak.
Bottom watering can lead to stronger roots by making them reach for the water.
- Pour some water into a shallow bowl or cachepot a bit wider than the plant’s pot.
- Place your plant inside to soak up the water through the drainage holes on the bottom of the pot.
- Let it sit for about 20-30 minutes, or until the soil is saturated.
Further reading – 6 Easy steps to bottom water your plants!
Fertilize Succulents
Feeding your indoor succulent with a good fertilizer helps with growth, colors, and flowering.
Use a diluted succulent fertilizer during the growing season in spring and summer. Once a month or once a year depending on the type of succulent. Don’t fertilize in winter when the plant goes into dormancy and growth slows down.
Too much fertilizer can be worse than none at all.
Never fertilize your succulent if it is having issues. Fertilizer is not a plant medicine. It will only stress out an already stressed-out plant. Analyze, adjust, and continue your normal care routine when your plant recovers.
How to Water Succulents Without Drainage
A lot of succulents get planted in cute mugs, glass jars, or other containers without any drainage holes.
I do not recommend this. Without drainage holes on the bottom, any water left behind is trapped and can cause root rot. So drill some drainage holes, or repot in another pot with drainage.
I don’t believe in just water very carefully. Watering succulents without drainage might work for a while, but in the long run, most succulents will be overwatered this way.
Porous clay terra cotta pots are preferable for succulents. Plastic pots trap moisture inside, and clay allows the water to evaporate through the sides. This lets the soil dry out faster which prevents root rot.
What an informative article. Learned so much . Just started growing succulents.
More pictures of different succulents would be nice. Thank you.
Hi Linda, thank you for your kind words, much appreciated! I will add some more photos with the next update of this article. In the meantime, you can see more types of succulents in the category page all about succulents.
Overwatering being the most common problem rings true; I’ve lost a few succulents that way. The signs of over and underwatering side by side make this really practical.