Yes, succulents can survive the winter. Here are five tips to make sure your succulents remain healthy during the coldest time of the year.
How Can Succulents Survive The Winter?
Hardy succulents, such as sempervivums and hardy sedums, can survive outside during the winter with little to no extra care required. Soft or tender succulents, however, will need to be brought indoors in locations that may experience frost and snow.
Many homeowners assume that succulents can’t survive a frost, but this is not true for hardy varieties. Succulents originate from desert climates, meaning they experience wide temperature fluctuations. In fact, most desert climates are known to have sub-zero temperatures at night. Succulents are well adapted to sudden and intense changes in temperature. Use these five tips below to help your succulents survive the winter.
Tip 1. Water Deeply But Not As Often
Succulents will store water in their leaves and won’t require as much watering as most other plants. While all plants need less water during the winter, this is especially true of succulents. These plants need the soil to dry completely before the next watering.
Waterlogged soil will almost certainly kill any succulents. It’s recommended to water your succulents once per week, ensuring the soil is completely dry ahead of time. The frequency of watering undoubtedly depends on the climate, potting mix, and type of succulent.
As a general rule, succulents should be watered every week or every other week during the winters. If you live in an area featuring lots of rain in the winter, it may be wise to move your potted succulents indoors.
Tip 2. Trim Off Any Dead Leaves
By trimming any dying or dead leaves, the succulent can focus its entire energy on survival instead of supporting dead leaves. This is actually true of all plants, so trimming often heading into winter is essential. You want to give your succulents plenty of time to recover energy. It is possible for succulents to suffer from frostbite if dead leaves are left on them.
Tip 3. Cover The Succulents
The best way to protect your succulents from snow or frost is to cover them with either store-bought snow protectors or blankets. Make sure to apply the cover ahead of any colder weather that rolls into town. This added layer will stop the frost from hitting your succulents.
Tip 4. Moved To Sheltered Area
Hardy succulents will simply need to be moved to a more sheltered location. This is a simple process with a succulent container garden because you can move your pots away from any exposed locations on the ground. A sheltered spot atop a garden wall or a patio table will give your succulents the best chance of survival during harsh climates.
Tip 5. Bring Succulents Indoors
If you happen to have a yard that is very exposed, it may be easiest to bring the succulents indoors. Growing them in a greenhouse or treating them as indoor succulents may be the best way to survive the winter. Once temperatures begin to rise consistently, you can return them to the outdoor location.
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