General Succulent Care Instructions

1. Light - Find a sunny spot such as a south-facing window, outside or 12-17 hours under grow lights.

2. Water - Try to wait to water only when the plants have new roots and show signs of dehydration, e.g. wrinkled and soft leaves and dry soil. Generally succulents will want water about every two weeks, but this can vary greatly depending on environment and time of year. For fully rooted plants, water until until water runs out the drainage holes of the pot. For plants with spare roots, water more carefully until more roots are established.

Remember that the amount of light your plant receives will also impact the amount of water its roots absorb. Plants in a high light environment will absorb more water to use in photosynthesis as they grow. Plants in a low light environment will use less water, therefore it will be easier to overwater them. Overwatering can lead to fungal problems and root rot.

3. Soil - I recommend using cactus and succulent soil or another fast-draining soil amended with perlite, vermiculite, pumice, or lava rocks to make the soil more gritty. Gritty soil mixes provide greater air circulation and dry faster.

4. Pot - In general, terra cotta pots are ideal for succulents. They provide for greater air circulation and allow the soil to dry out faster. If you find that your plants are drying out too fast, you may want to try a plastic or glazed pot instead. Drainage holes are essential. Also, try to use a pot that has an opening as wide or wider than the base of the pot - that is, do not use a pot that tapers in towards the top, as less soil will be exposed to the air, and it will dry more slowly.

In terms of pot size, pick a pot that is the appropriate size for the amount of roots your succulent has. If you purchased a fully rooted 4in plant, start it in a 4 inch pot. If it is an imported plant with sparse roots, start it in a small 2 inch pot or a shallow pot to minimize the risk of overwatering. Once the roots grow to fill the pot you have them in, you can move the plant up to a slightly larger pot.

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What should I do after receiving my succulents?

For Echeveria, Crassula, Graptopetalum and Aeoniums: Plant the succulents in soil as soon as possible to encourage new root growth. For succulents with established roots, plant in gritty mix and wait two days before watering. For imported succulents that have short stems or sparse roots, I recommend using a less gritty cactus & succulent soil first - the higher level of moisture and organic matter in the soil will encourage new root growth. Water sparingly until more roots have developed. Once a significant amount of roots have developed, replace the soil with a more gritty mix.

For trailing succulents including Senecio, Peperomia, Othana and Ceropegia: Plant immediately in a cactus/succulent soil amended with about 50% pumice or perlite. If the lower leaves are wrinkled and the roots are dry when you receive the plants, give them a drink after planting. Wait for the soil to dry before watering again.

 

How should I dispose of the packaging materials?

Please consider recycling or reusing the packaging materials as much as possible. The cardboard box, newspaper and shredded paper can be recycled. Tissue paper and toilet paper can be composted. The polyester fiber can be reused or saved and shipped back to us once you have saved up a box full of it. Just contact us at succielife@gmail.com and we will provide you with a prepaid label to send us the fluff.

How do I keep my succulents stressed and colorful?

Vibrant colors are achieved by stressing succulents. Stress can come from a variety of sources including light, infrequent watering, and a gap between daytime and nighttime temperatures. Exposure them to direct sun for a few hours a day (after acclimating them to the sun gradually), or use strong grow lights. Water only once the succulent displays signs of dehydration (lower leaves wrinkling), and use a gritty soil. Cool nighttime temps of 40-50 degrees will also add color.

How are Succulents Packaged?

We carefully wrap our succulents with both tissue paper and polyester fiber to minimize the risk of damage during transit. Some succulents are more delicate than others, and some leaves may drop during transit. 

Most plants are shipped bare root without soil or pot. Some smaller plants and trailing plants may be shipped in pot to minimize the shock of shipping. 

When do you ship plants?

In general, we ship all plants on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday so that the plants are in transit for the fewest number of days possible. If you have a preference for when your plant is shipped, please contact us to make the request.

Shipping times depends on dryness of the plant roots. Please allow 1-5 business days for us to process your order.

In general, orders placed Tuesday-Friday will be shipped the following Monday. Orders placed Saturday-Monday will ship the following Tuesday.

Do you offer large quantities of plants?

Absolutely - we can provide large quantities of a variety of 2" and 4" succulents, for whatever the occasion.

To get started, just send us a message and let us know what you need.

 

I just placed an order, but I want another plant, can I combine my orders?

Yes - we are happy to combine multiple orders and refund the excess shipping costs you were charged. Simply send us a message noting that you would like your orders combined, and we will take care of the rest.

What should I do if the plant arrives unhealthy or damaged?

Slight damage including dropped or bruised leaves is to be expected when plants are being shipped cross-country. However, if your plant was significantly damaged during shipping or arrives unhealthy, please contact us within 48 hours of plant arrival and send pictures of the plant and the box condition. We promise to make it right.

I’m in California - Can I pick up?

Absolutely! We are in San Juan Bautista , CA. Please select “Pick Up” at checkout and reach out to us for the address if you would like to pick up your order.

 

I’m in the Bay Area - Do you offer succulents for landscaping?

We can! We have access to many large succulents that aren’t practical to ship, and we offer them at very competitive prices. Please reach out to use if you’d like a large quantity of plants in any size - 2in, 4in, 6in, 1 gallon, 2 gallon or 5 gallon.