If you been asking yourself how to care for succulents in winter here I tell you all about it.
Succulents are considered low maintenance plants.
Its leaves and stems are able to retain water, which makes them suitable for growing in arid and dry areas; for this reason, its extravagant shapes, and textures.
They are the ideal home plants to grow indoors throughout the year.
Most succulent plants and cacti become inactive when winter begins. They stop growing when temperatures and light fall.
It is no secret that most succulents do not withstand cold very well, much less frost.
That is why the question arises: What to do with succulents in winter?
How to care for succulents in winter
Feed them one last time at the end of the summer. Succulents will only need dilute fertilizer while they are actively growing. Once they stop growing, they must stop feeding during the year and go dormant, which happens when the temperature and light decrease. An excess of fertilizer causes succulents to develop weak leaves, which makes them prone to rot.
Place the dormant succulents in an area that receives 3 to 4 hours of light daily. In the winter they will need less light than when they keep growing during the summer. This way they will survive with indirect light.
Maintain room temperature between 10 and 13 degrees Celsius (50 to 55 Fahrenheit) in the winter. Many succulents, such as Aeoniums do not tolerate lower temperatures.
Pour water on top of the succulent container until the bottom drains. During the winter they should be watered more deeply but less frequently. Latent plants do not need as much water as when they are actively growing. Water every month or every two months.
Check the leaves every time, so that aphids or flake insects do not besiege them, they look like small cotton balls. Check well under the sheets. If succulent is infected, apart from the other plants. Spray, with a spray bottle, a mixture of 3 parts of alcohol and one of water, on the succulent to kill pests. Repeat the procedure until the pests have been completely exterminated. Keep infected succulents isolated for a couple of weeks, preventing insects from surviving the first spray.
Save leaf cuttings
If you are worried that your succulents will die in winter, do the following.
Many succulents are propagated by leaf cutting.
Peel off some leaves from the mother plant and place them on a tray with some dirt for cacti and succulents.
It is not necessary to bury them. Just place them on the surface.
Don’t water it until you see that the leaves are taking root.
You can then use a spray bottle to moisten the substrate when you think it is relevant.
Place the tray in a bright and warm place inside the home, but out of direct light.
Within a few weeks, the original leaf will eventually die, leaving only the new plant.
Benefits of having a succulent during winter
1. They Can Brighten A Home in Any Climate
Succulents make such popular houseplants because of their hardiness and ability to grow in a wide variety of climates.
In nature, one can find these plants growing in virtually any clime: from seaside cliffs and humid jungles to bone-dry deserts and frigid mountains.
In homes, they thrive in room temperature environments.
They will not only add green to your living space any time of the year, but they will also bloom in season, thereby splashing the canvas of your home with color.
2. They Can Help to Purify the Air
The article “Plants Clean Air and Water for Indoor Environments” describes NASA research using plants in a BioHome.
This research suggests that succulents can remove many volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air.
Plants emit water vapor, and that in turn generates a pumping action that pulls contaminated air down to the roots of the plant.
The succulent converts these contaminates to plant food, thereby purifying the air of your home.
3. They Improve the Humidity of Your Home
Because plants release water, they can enhance the humidity of your house.
Increased moisture, in turn, can improve common health complaints including:
- A sore throat
- Common colds
- Dry cough
- Dry, itchy skin
4. They Can Add Fresh Oxygen to Your Environment
Unlike most plants, succulents do not release carbon dioxide at night. Instead, they continue to produce oxygen.
This continuous burst of oxygen freshens the air in your house and improves your breathing – assuming, of course, you aren’t allergic to the plants.
It’s a good idea to position plants in rooms where you feel you need an extra breath of fresh air, such as the bathrooms or even your kitchen.
5. They Can Improve Your Focus
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 11 percent of American children have ADHD.
Many adults and children also have less severe issues with attention.
But as Richard Louv describes in his 2005 book Last Child in the Woods, which introduced the concept of Nature Deficit Disorder, regular exposure to nature – even in the form of houseplants – can help children to focus better.
6. They Can Increase Pain Tolerance
It may sound preposterous to suggest that the mere presence of a plant can curb your pain, but the idea has gained some support from horticultural therapy research conducted by the University of Kansas.
This research found that patients seemed to need less pain medication when they had plants in their hospital rooms.
7. They Enhance Memory
Psychology research conducted by the University of Michigan reveals many cognitive benefits to interacting with nature, whether that means walking in a park, growing plants in your house, or even just looking at photographs of flora.
In fact, memory retention was shown to improve as much as twenty percent after subjects spent an hour in nature.
Improved memory retention leads to enhanced work and school performance, so it’s a great idea to place succulents in your study or library, your home office, or in any room where your children typically do their homework.