How to Water Succulents | Succulent Care Tips & Tricks

Succulents and cacti are some of the most satisfying plants to grow, but they can be a little tricky when it comes to care, especially watering. Whether grown in pots or grown in-ground, I share some of my succulent watering tips and tricks to keep your plants happy, healthy and alive!
Succulents are often called easy-care plants as they are quite drought tolerant, and can go for a long time without much water, but low-water doesn't mean no water, and people often find themselves giving too-much or too little water to their plants, causing them stress and in the worst-case scenario, rot or death.
Follow this easy advice for knowing how to recognize when your succulent plants need water, when they've had enough water and possibly even when to re-pot in a better pot or better soil.
Please feel free to ask me any questions in the comments, I'm happy to help where I can.
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[@pattimessenger6214]

Here in SoCal, we are in the midst of the longest drought that I have seen in the 38 years that I have lived here. A great source of water for your plants s your shower. If you’re like me, your shower is on the far end of the house from the hot water heater. Put the shower head in a 5 gallon bucket while you wait for the shower water to heat up. You will get 1-1/2 to 3 gallons of “free” water while you wait for the water to warm up enough to get in. Under normal circumstances, that water would normally go down the drain as waste. It is enough to water your succulents. The rest can be used for your flowers and vegetable garden. Every little bit helps! Thank you for your videos!

[@FreePlantsForever]

That is such a good tip, especially in this drought! Thank YOU!! ❤️🌵

[@sarajanelee2763]

It's a quarter before 6pm here in San Diego. It's the aftermath of Hurricane Hilary. It normalized with dry weather last Monday. How can I maximize the rain water I gathered for my succulents? Thank you.

[@bettyford5192]

Shall I plant mine in sand

[@karieberry1070]

I’m So Cal this year -2024-We got soooooo much rain!! My succulents are sad.

[@Heidi-Beth]

Your outside succulent garden is beautiful. Thanks for the info!

[@FreePlantsForever]

Thank you so much! 🥰

[@ashmarie1311]

You should do a video showing how the plants change during the seasons

[@lgdelsa]

If you love Aloe Vera this is my experience: I usually grow the babies in clay pots. I don’t let them to get to much sun light. Usually mines prefer shade. Finally, when the soil is completely dry is when I soaked them with fresh water!!!

[@theevolvingmindset333]

This was very helpful. Thank you!

[@lisascenic]

Very helpful, thank you!

[@MydNyteRayne]

Succulents are an addiction!! :)

[@FreePlantsForever]

They really are! Once you get the hang of it they can be so easy and satisfying to grow.

[@aprilfoote8700]

Succulents are beautiful plants.

[@victoriablue665]

Thank you!

[@ProgressiveDiscussions]

I use a wooden chopstick push to the bottom of the pot. you just pull the Chopstick out and make sure it's completely dry and there's no soil sticking to it. Problem solved. Succulents, like echeveria, also need strong direct sunlight so they don't get leggy and spindly.

[@bilumammen8856]

Thanks for sharing

[@DarMcCree]

I’m in ND and I am growing them and they are doing great. I water them often and they have been growing and look great! It’s my ones inside that I forget about and do not water often that I do not see as much growth.

[@catiegrace5792]

Oh my goodness, thank you so much, so helpful. Yeah ! Really well done 👍🏻

[@FreePlantsForever]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sosokso]

Thank you this video really helped me. I’ve always over watered my succulents but this video helped me realize to check for the soil to make sure it’s fully dried before watering.

[@Christine-tc1vg]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. I am in Canada and have just started growing and propagating succulents indoors as we get snowy, winter weather. You were very informative and easy to understand. So, Thank You very much!

[@30stmFantasy]

I recognized that So California dirt. Love your succulent variety.

[@FreePlantsForever]

Haha! Yes, clumpy clay California dirt 😅

[@shandyjohnson7577]

Beautiful plants. Just starting to learn. Happened upon your channel. Great tips. Thanks

[@FreePlantsForever]

So happy that this could be helpful!!

[@melissaalp5972]

Thanks for the information, great video !!

[@FreePlantsForever]

Glad it was helpful!

[@user-pw7rr2bd6q]

Very helpful 👍

[@johnberry1107]

Great content. Easy practical. Thank you.

[@FreePlantsForever]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lindam653]

This is a very informative video. Thanks so very much!😊

[@FreePlantsForever]

You are so welcome!

[@annieyahu676]

Thanks for Sharing ❤️

[@FreePlantsForever]

Thanks for watching and hope its been helpful

[@HoosierDaddy_]

Well. I didn't know hardly anything about my succulent plants until now! Thanks!

[@FreePlantsForever]

You are so welcome!

[@SaarasGarden]

Very important content my friend 😘😘 thankyou for sharing this video

[@FreePlantsForever]

So glad you enjoyed it, thank you so much for your support 🪴

[@WednesdayJJ]

Such beautiful succulent garden, love from Colombia

[@FreePlantsForever]

Thank you so much, and thanks for stopping by my channel!💚

[@KAG1776]

When in pots I've found that after the 1st watering if u check the weight and also know what the dry weight is u get a nice idea of when all the water is gone...

[@FreePlantsForever]

Great tip!

[@beybslifeintheus494]

Beautiful my friend

[@FreePlantsForever]

Thank you so much! 🥰

[@Kevin-eh2wz]

This video was really helpful I just bought one today and it was dying and I got so depressed but I did a little research so now Ik I can save them

[@FreePlantsForever]

Yes! For sure they can probably be saved. Succulents are super resilient. Best of luck!

[@jugnoothelight8662]

thankyou for sharing

[@FreePlantsForever]

My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed this video.

[@lornaneilson5920]

Wow most beautiful ❤

[@FreePlantsForever]

Thank you! 💚

[@JazzMeUinFLUSA]

Pretty succulents you have there😮

[@FreePlantsForever]

Thank you so much!

[@fusion-music]

Beautiful garden, range of plants and pots. What makes watering more difficult is having different size pots. Small pots dry out far quicker. Great video.

[@FreePlantsForever]

Yes, true, and that's why a lot of my small pots look terrible! I need to pay closer attention to them.

[@wendymeade7509]

Thank you for your calm, helpful video! One question remains… tap or rain water??

[@FreePlantsForever]

Depends! Rain water is always good if you have it. We store rainwater, but it does eventually run out and we just use the hose then. Our water tends to be really hard, so rainwater is preferred, but I just use what I can! They definitely aren't as fussy as other plants, so no need for distilled or anything like that.

[@mokuho]

It's good that you show how to water it because in the videos they just talk and talk!😢 4:49

[@Balatac]

A moisture meter is a handy tool to determine when to water. I have used the most hi-tech meter for years. No fuss and a no brainer. I leave a bbq stick in all my potted plants. That's it. Simple.

[@brendamaun5455]

I just started doing that for my hanging baskets in PA.

[@lgdelsa]

Sorry about this, but What is a bbq stick?

[@brendamaun5455]

@@lgdelsa I use an inexpensive wooden skewer.

[@Taylorthegood]

​@@lgdelsaskinny wooden stick you use for kabobs

[@pamschmeltz2013]

Having problems growing stone succulent. Any hints to care for them?

[@mercedesortega516]

Thank you

[@FreePlantsForever]

You're so welcome!

[@dianearmoogan3326]

You have some beautiful 😍 🤩 succulents ❤😊

[@FreePlantsForever]

Thank you so much 😊

[@DarrinsDaffs]

I am so glad I found you! I have just started with succulents. I know, with your help I will be more successful than I would be without it! Thanks so much.😊

[@FreePlantsForever]

So happy to help where I can! Best of luck with your succulents 💚

[@intensivemanagement]

I transplanted my succulent I call it a pony tail one . The leaves when from shinny green to brown and I’ve given it plenty of water . What’s going on ?

[@donnat2793]

WOW! What a beautiful garden. That is what I would like to do, however, I can't keep my succulents alive no matter what I do. They grow tall, and all of the bottom leaves dry up and fall off and I'm not sure if I'm supposed to cut them and not let them get too tall or how to properly care for them. I love your succulents; they are absolutely gorgeous!

[@FreePlantsForever]

It sounds like your succulents aren’t getting enough light. They need to be in very bright light or they will stretch very long and tall. If they are indoors and you don’t have a bright spot for them perhaps invest in a grow light. There are lots of options these days for lamps that fit very need.

[@donnat2793]

@@FreePlantsForever Oh, I will try that. Thank you so much! 🙂

[@janereed4113]

I’m so glad i watched this. I thought my Aeoniums were dying but it is summertime here now. And I was wondering if I should water my jade plant thoroughly by soaking. Now I know it’s ok.

[@FreePlantsForever]

Right?!?! Aeoniums always look terrible in the summer, but they always bounce back.

[@KhalisKhayn]

I’m repotting all succulents since i’ve neglected them for the longest time. Thanks for all the tips ❤

[@FreePlantsForever]

You are so welcome!

[@damianmlegacy7311]

Very nice garden tho

[@snehabarad5547]

Hey, can we use only sand as potting mix for succulent?

[@FreePlantsForever]

I know a lot of people who do that - just make sure your sand to soil balance is good! Should work just great!

[@ibkristykat]

So how would i get my aloe to thicken her leaves and be greener? Same technique with the soaking? And then i presume the aloe gets watered only when the soil fairly deep down feels dry as he** right? Lol i usually do it 1x wk regardless. It's indoors in an east facing window so it's mostly sunned in the morning until the sun goes above thw house around 11 or so. No trees are near our windows where aloe and her cousin African violet live on the kitchen table. Violet is doing great! Aloe is sick off and on. 😢

[@FreePlantsForever]

I’m guessing the Aloe needs more light, they are from South Africa and like very bright, desert conditions. They also don’t like soggy soil, so really only water when very dry and try to get it brighter light for around 8 hrs a day. If it needs to stay indoors, you could try a grow light perhaps?

[@ibkristykat]

@@FreePlantsForever ahhh thanks. Yeah some of the center leaves are more green but most of the tips of most every leaf is like a light tan brown color. Ok. Thank you so much!!!!

[@itsAngryKitten]

It’s so tough in NorCal sun this sun is CRAZY STRONG 😅 I’m either covering with burlap for a little decrease in strength or shading! Then watering oh god I need to kick it up it’s so hot 😢

[@pascuadodti105]

Mam ,I want can you give different colours and kinds of

[@vanschermerhorn7167]

Watching your video on watering succulents , you put plants in a plastic container and watered from above . Is that standard for you or can you put water in the container an water from the bottom ? Maybe watering from bottom would be over watering ???

[@FreePlantsForever]

You can definitely bottom water! That is probably a really good way to ensure that you're not overwatering. I usually just "top water" as in my mind that's what happens in nature. I keep it in the tray to get the best of both worlds. I leave the plants in the drip tray for about an hour as any water that isn't absorbed by then isn't needed, and that way we avoid overwatering.

[@peacelily7751]

How do you propagate the Ionians?

[@FreePlantsForever]

Aeoniums are super easy to propagate, but I've found it's best with a stem, I haven't had much luck with leaf propagation. All you need to do is stick a stem in soil (you don't need any leaves!) and it will start rooting and growing. Such a great plant.

[@pambaughman1579]

Hello, what r the two orange ones

[@FreePlantsForever]

They are called Coppertone Sedum - they get extra orange in hot, direct sunlight... will be pale green in the shade.

[@mokuho]

If there is some humidity leave it, it does not need more water😮

[@angellee9307]

Perlite and cat us dirt helped me not to kill them.🤣😳👍🏽

[@FreePlantsForever]

Yes! It makes such a difference when you've got the right substrate.

[@debbi137]

I’m just watching this video and notice webbing on some of the plants. Did they have spider mites?

[@FreePlantsForever]

I don't think it's spider mites, but could be mealy bugs. Unfortunately I do have a lot of those in my plants.

[@vanschermerhorn7167]

If tips of succulent have a brown spot can you trim it off ?

[@FreePlantsForever]

I wouldn't recommend cutting the tips of succulent leaves as that could make them more prone to rot. If they have a brown spot it could either be sunburn or rot. You might be best off removing the whole leaf. Or if it's just an aesthetic thing, maybe just leave it.

[@screwyou2]

They need to be kept outside the minute the frost date has passed in full sun and left alone for Mother Nature to care for them. Winter is for resting for ALL plants. A LITTLE water once a month till it's time to go back outside. ALL of your tropical houseplants will thank you if you get them out of the house in spring, summer & fall.

[@damianmlegacy7311]

Have you been to guatemala? The soil is wet and succulents are growing like crazy explain that?

[@FreePlantsForever]

As long as there is adequate drainage and the roots aren't sitting in standing water many succulents do well in moist soil. In fact, some succulents do better in wetter environments. "Succulent" is just a general term for a huge variety of plants with differing needs.

[@ferbylima8869]

What is the yellow one called pls?

[@FreePlantsForever]

I believe you're talking about the Coppertone Sedum - turns bright orange/yellow in direct, warm sunlight, will be pale green in the shade.

[@dmitrimikrioukov5935]

The plants seem to have a lot of webbing. Is that spider mites?

[@FreePlantsForever]

Not sure where you're seeing the webbing. I don't generally get spider mites on my succulents, they do suffer from mealybugs sometimes. Could be that?

[@debbi137]

I noticed that too and I have the same question.

[@adriennefloreen]

Most of those succulents are from South Africa and they like more water than desert cacti, if you want I can tell you what most of those species are except for the echeverias, there's too many similar looking echeverias and I can't identify some of my own. Did some of your plants come from Monterey bay nursery? They sell plants to plant selling stores all across California and most of their species names are spelled wrong. I just made a video about the plants I got that were all labeled with misspelled names in Northern California and half were from that company! I'm wondering because you have many of the same plants as me.

[@FreePlantsForever]

Yes, true... it all really depends on the individual succulent, they all have different needs for sure. Most of my plants were not bought but were propagated from dropped leaves or given as cuttings from other people, so it's possible they originated from Monterey Bay 🤷‍♀️

[@adriennefloreen]

@@FreePlantsForever You can see some of the weirdest plants I have gotten from them and another company that apparently buys seeds from their source and also spells everything wrong in my most recent plant video. I still don't know what the unidentified one really is.

[@emilyalmansa4497]

@@adriennefloreen As an old teacher I might suggest that the reason for the problem you point out here, "also spells everything wrong" is that the signs might be written by non-English learners.

[@cascadianroots]

I successfully kill off many succulent and cacti 😫 trying to revive my aloe right now. (I know it's not a succulent though 😅)

[@FreePlantsForever]

Aloe is a kind of succulent! Succulent is just a broad term for drought tolerant plants that retain moisture in their leaves. Most people end up overwatering their succulents and cacti and not giving them enough warmth and light. If they’re indoors move them to a bright windowsill or invest in a grow light. Depending on how they’re doing, it could be worth chopping and re-propagating them.

[@cascadianroots]

@@FreePlantsForever yes, we are mid progress in the callousing over stage so I can repot him... Hoping I've watched enough videos to successfully revive him! 😫

[@FreePlantsForever]

@@cascadianroots I'm planning to post an aloe video soon. Wishing you good plant vibes! 🪴

[@cascadianroots]

@@FreePlantsForever thank you! Looking forward to watching when you do👍

[@mollypitcher9380]

BUT sometimes over and under watering symptoms look the same. I’ve killed succulents both ways.

[@FreePlantsForever]

This is why I find checking the soil is really important. If the soil is wet... definitely don't add more water. Something as simple as a chopstick is good to check if the deeper soil is wet too.

[@Wewillbeokay8]

But mine always die even when I don’t over water

[@FreePlantsForever]

What are the conditions like? Are they getting enough light and warmth? Is the soil well-draining? There are many factors to make these plants happy.

[@Wewillbeokay8]

@@FreePlantsForever I think they’re getting enough light. I’m not really sure. Could definitely be the soil.

[@partlycloudyoptimist809]

I’m apparently the only person on earth that can’t get a succulent to root.

[@FreePlantsForever]

Not sure what your conditions are like, but they might need more warmth! They also don’t want to be in direct sunlight, but are better off in the shade (if outdoors) or in bright indirect light indoors.

[@Heidi-Beth]

You are not alone.

[@HadalBlue]

Hi, I’m not sure what climate you live in, but, in case you live in a hot humid country like I do, I feel that leaving the leaves outdoors in a bright but shaded area seems to help a lot (as opposed to indoors) so that they receive sufficient indirect sunlight to prevent an early rot of the leaves. Hope your climate allows you to so the same and let me know how it goes! Good luck

[@Heidi-Beth]

@@HadalBlue Thamk.you

[@HadalBlue]

@@Heidi-Beth Most welcome, hope it helps you somehow ❤️

[@midgethorn4083]

Interesting. I’d sworn off succulents and bought fake ones. I may give it another go.

[@FreePlantsForever]

They can be tricky! But they can be really resilient and worth owning once you get to know the process.

[@user-tk4ey1id5d]

Beware of chickens I love to eat this plants

[@peacelily7751]

Aonians

[@mariec2882]

I watched this video and still don't understand how much water to put, you where too general and not specific enough.

[@carolelliott6646]

How much do you water a donkey tail I finally found one after looking for a year. I'm afraid to water it as I usually over water everything.

[@FreePlantsForever]

That's just it, there is no correct "amount" it depends on the situation, the pot, the soil, the conditions etc. My main advice is that as long as your soil is dry and your plant looks thirsty, give it a LOT of water. Let it sit in the water and soak it in... but don't let it get soggy, keep an eye on it. I keep my plants in a drip tray for around an hour until the soil is really saturated, then I don't water again until it is fully dried out. A large pot or an in-ground succulent is going to require a lot more water than a succulent in a tiny pot. I hope that helps!

[@conniesilva3547]

Your plants not happy they needs water mind is verry happy

[@FreePlantsForever]

This video is all about how to water plants so...😉

[@sallyreynolds8340]

Fantastic u were superb☺️

[@FreePlantsForever]

Thank you!

[@jajanesaddictions]

Do you feed succulents and cactuses? What is a good fertilizer for them? #Freeplantsforever @FreePlantsForever @Free Plants Forever

[@Lord_Nemesis8]

You don’t have to wait till it’s completely desiccated and the leaves are falling off😂😂😂😂

[@Lord_Nemesis8]

Succulents is to Orchids as Recess is to Calculus🤨

[@FreePlantsForever]

Yes, true... but sometimes life gets busy and I realize... oh, I should probably water my plants! The beauty of succulents is that I can leave them a while and I won't kill them 🤣

[@veronikagertheis4159]

Thank you!

[@FreePlantsForever]

You're welcome!