8 Tips to Help Succulents Weather the Winter
Photography by Mimi Giboin for Gardenista
We love succulents—but they can be tricky to keep alive. "I’ve never been able to keep succulents alive through an entire winter," writes contributor Ella Quittner. So she did her research. Here are Ella's winter-tested tips to help your indoor succulents survive the cold months:
Burro’s tail, aloe vera, snake plant, and hens and chicks can tolerate more fluctuation in temperature and sunlight; sstay away from living stone plants, aeoniums, and feather cactus.
1. Buy hardy succulents.
Succulents prefer not to be overfed in winter; in fact, they only require fertilizer during the warmer part of the year, when they’re actively growing.
2. Feed succulents sparingly
Find a spot for your succulents where they can have daily access to natural light (southern exposures are ideal) for at least three to four hours a day.
3. Find a sunny spot
Because succulents don’t actively grow in the winter, they don’t need as much water—once every four to six weeks should do the trick.
4. Withhold water
Look for terra cotta or ceramic pots with drainage holes, and use mesh tape or cheesecloth to keep the soil from falling out.
5. Arrange for drainage
A succulent’s lowest leaves will often dry, shrivel, and fall off in the winter months—but this is not a cause for concern!
6. Expect leaf loss
What looks like tiny cotton balls on the underside of the leaves are actually bugs and can be eradicated by spraying with a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water.
7. De-bug as needed
In winter, succulents prefer to be in a room that’s between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
8. Check the thermostat