I purchased my succulent Pork and Beans on the first of April. I would normally never write a post about only one of my succulents, but I just love this little plant more than anything! When I brought it home, it looked like this:

In a little over a month and a half, it has tripled in size. (You can see it now sitting in the middle of the planter box in the first photograph, and in the photograph below.) I am able to track its growth on a daily basis. Never have I ever had such success with any of my other succulents. Mine tend to grow slowly but surely, rather than rapidly and heartedly. One of my followers on Instagram recently asked me what my secrets are to growing succulents. While I touched upon it here, I didn’t go into great detail. Now, I want to tell you what I told her. Here are my essential tips for keeping these types of plants.

A Growing Guide For Successful Succulents

1. Do not bother to invest in pre-packaged, expensive soil. Rather, choose soil from your garden, or preserve the soil that the succulent came with. Top it off with rocks.

2. Always keep your succulents in small clay pots, even if it looks as if they are outgrowing them. Make sure the pot has a drainage hole.

3. Place your succulents in bright, but indirect lighting. Although they may look resilient, they can also burn very easily.

4. Keep your home at a warm temperature. They do not do well in cool temperatures.

5. Do not water them more than twice a week. Keep in mind, though, that each succulent is different. Based on trial and error, I have learned that certain succulents of mine require watering two times a week, while others are on a biweekly schedule. The majority of them, however, I water them once a week.

6. That being said, make sure that your water has either been distilled or is rain water. Water straight from the tap will not help your plants. Store it at room temperature. 

7. I often read that succulents will need to be fertilized once a month. I tried this once with about six of my succulents, all of which ended up dying shortly thereafter. I do not recommend fertilization, but you may have success with it.

8. Try to have fun with them. Experiment in different succulents, and monitor them each day to see how they are doing. Rotate them when you notice them leaning towards the sun. Water them less often if you see that they are turning black, or more often if they appear to be drying up. Remember, while this list may help you grow your succulents more successfully, it does not guarantee their survival. Try not to stress over them too much, because in the end they are only plants. Even my little Pork and Beans!

Emory