How Often to Water Succulents

I personally had a lot of trial and error when figuring out how often my succulents need watering.

I found that the generic advice I read about online was not satisfactory as, in my opinion, how often I needed to after each of my different succulents needed a bit of tailoring to each succulent as I found there were several variables at play, such as the maturity of the succulent, the size of the pot, the time of year and even the succulent variety.

After some personal experimentation on my own succulent plants, some research in books, and actually speaking to some specialist succulent growers, I finally have understood the tricks and methods to good succulent watering for all scenarios.

In this article, I share with you the secrets, tips, and hacks I have learned so you can determine exactly how often to water your succulent…

However, as a general rule…

Water succulents once every 2 weeks. Succulents are drought-resistant plants that require the soil to dry out between bouts of watering. Water succulents thoroughly so that the soil is evenly moist, then wait for the soil to dry completely before watering again.

The key thing we need to remember is to not water succulents while the soil is still moist as this causes root rot.

For those of you in a rush…I created a quick table so you can understand how to water properly in different conditions…

Keep reading for how to water succulents at different times of year, in different conditions and climates, and to learn the best method for watering succulents…

How Often to Water Succulent Plants (Indoors and Outdoors)

We need to acknowledge how succulents grow in their native environment to appreciate how often they like to be watered…

Succulents are adapted to growing in climates that experience frequent drought in gritty, well-draining soils with infrequent rainfall that tend to fall as a deluge followed by weeks of dry weather.

Therefore, to water succulents properly, it is important to recreate the watering conditions and the levels of soil moisture to which succulents are adapted in their native environment.

Whether your succulent plant is indoors or outdoors, we can do this by letting the soil around the roots dry out completely before watering again.

A good rule of thumb is to Water indoors and outdoors succulents once every 2 weeks on average, with a good soak. Ensure the soil is dry around the roots of the succulent before watering again to meet the succulent watering requirements and to avoid root rot.

Succulent plants have developed many survival strategies to cope with drought with their characteristic thick fleshy leaves, roots, and stems able to store water so they do not have to rely on consistent moisture for their environment like most plants.

This means our succulents need to be watered much less often than our monstera plants!

As succulents are so well adapted to drought, they do not tolerate overwatering and consistently moist soils which can quickly result in the leaves turning yellow, brown, or black with a mushy texture, indicating root rot.

I can tell you from experience that it is much easier to revive an underwatered succulent than an overwatered succulent, so if you are not sure, delay watering until the soil feels dry or the succulent leaves start to shrivel slightly.

I should note that good watering practices should be in conjunction with planting succulents in the appropriate, gritty well draining potting soil which emulates the soil conditions in the succulents native range.

Have you potted up your succulent in normal potting soil? (I personally made this mistake when I first grew succulents!)

Normal potting soil retains moisture for too long for succulents to tolerate, which can also cause the symptoms of overwatering and cause the succulent to die back, which is why the appropriate potting soil is as important as how often you water your succulents for succulent growing success!

(Read my article on the best soil for succulent plants indoors).

My Tips for Knowing When to Water Succulents

As we discussed, the key to watering succulents is that you should only water your succulent plant when the soil has dried out and delay watering if the soil is still moist.

Whilst watering our succulents once every 2 weeks is a good general rule, how long it takes for the soil to dry out in your home or garden should determine how often you should water your succulents.

From my experience, the most important factors that affect how often you water succulents are:

• The typical humidity and temperature range of your climate. (Higher humidity reduces water loss from the leaves and soil, so you should water the succulent less often).
• The size of the succulent pot or container. (Larger pots contain more soil and more moisture, whereas smaller pots dry out quicker).
• Whether the succulent has significant airflow from air conditioning, forced air, near or a source of heat when indoors or in full sun. (Excess wind and heat can sap moisture from the leaves and soil quickly).
• The rate of drainage of the soil and how long it holds onto moisture. (Succulents require gritty, well-draining soil that mimics the soil in their natural environment and die from root rot when in soils that retain too much moisture, such as ordinary potting soil).

When I lived in Southern California, I noticed my aloe vera leaves shriveling a week after watering at the height of the summer high temperatures, so I increased my watering frequency to once a week for this period, and my aloe plant rebounded.

However, the following year I moved to New York and the same aloe plant would start to show signs of overwatering if I kept up the same watering schedule and it thrived on being watered once every 2 weeks all year round!

This experience taught me the importance of tailoring how often you water succulents to not only the specific succulent but also to your climate.

Fortunately, I developed a method that successfully determined how often to water my succulents regardless of the variables…

Pro tip: The most reliable way to establish how often to water succulents in your climate, is to feel the soil at the bottom of the pot through the drainage hole in the base to detect whether the soil is still moist or dried out.

If the soil still feels moist, then I delay watering for another day or so, but if the soil feels dry, this is the perfect to water your succulent.

Once I found out how long the soil at the bottom of my succulent pot typically takes to dry out, I was able to establish the optimal watering schedule for my succulent plant according to my specific climate and the conditions in my home or outdoors.

Remember what we said about how succulents grow in their native environment?

This style of watering effectively mimics the -deluge of rain followed by a period of drought- cycle of watering that succulents experience in their native environment and ensures the succulent plant has enough water to stay healthy with plump leaves yet also allows the soil to dry properly so that you avoid problems with root rot which is the main cause for a dying succulent.

I would advise against using a moisture meter to dertmine your succulent schedule. I bought several moisture meters and various water gauges and tested them all and I found that they were not sensitive enough for succulents, which risked overwatering. Therefore I recommend sticking with my tried and tested methods that I outlined above.

Signs your Watering Succulents too Often or not Often Enough

If your succulent is underwatered, its leaves typically appear thinner, droop, shriveled, or curled inwards, depending on the type of succulent.

This is because our succulents store water in their leaves, so when they are underwater, they draw upon their moisture reserves, which causes drought-stressed succulent leaves to turn thinner or droopy as their moisture stores are depleted rather than their usual plump appearance.

This is a clear indication that your succulent is not being watered often enough or that you are watering it too lightly (succulents need a good soak every time you water).

However, we need to remember that the reason for a succulent appearing underwatered may also be environmental rather than a specific problem with your watering schedule.

Consider whether your succulent is near a source of heat if indoors, or perhaps the pot is very small and heats up quickly in the sun, which causes the soil to dry out especially quickly.

I had a problem once when I kept a succulent outside (I was living in Southern California) in a narrow pot. It heated up in the Summer sun in a matter of hours and dried the potting medium quicker then the succulents roots could draw up the moisture. My remedy was to repot it to larger pot and it bounced back!

If your succulent appears to be underwatered with thinner leaves that can curl inwards (which is the case for aloe vera) or leaves that droop, What I love to do is give the succulent a good soak in a basin of water for around 10 minutes, then leave the soil to dry out completely before watering again in another 2 weeks or so.

This allows the succulent to replenish its moisture reserves yet also avoids root rot for overwatering and the succulent should recover in 2 or 3 cycles of watering.

This for me works like a charm (and I have tested a few methods of reviving underwater succulents)!

If the succulent leaves are turning yellow, brown, black, translucent with a soft mushy texture or dropping off then this is an indication of overwatering, slow-draining soils or soils that retain too much moisture and a potential warning of root rot, which is more challenging to solve.

For this reason, I wrote another article on how to revive a dying succulent plant to explain how to save succulents that are suffering from overwatering.

How Often to Water Succulents in Summer

As a general rule, I water my succulents once every 2 weeks in Spring and Summer months. Always water succulents in Summer with a generous watering, then wait for the soil to dry completely before watering again to meet the watering requirements and avoid root rot.

From my experience, watering once every 2 weeks meets the watering requirements of most succulents in Summer, however, as I wrote about previously I have had to adjust how often I watered my succulents according to your specific climate, conditions, and temperature.

As we now know, it is more important to avoid watering succulents too often as this promotes the conditions for root rot, but look out for signs your succulent is not receiving enough water in the hotter, dryer Summer months as watering once every two weeks may not be often enough for some climates.

I often go by eye during the summer months to assess whether my succulents need more water. Eessntially what I am looking for is whethhe the leaves have shrunken or the are nice and plump.

If the leaves are looking thinner, drooping or perhaps have a dried up, wrinkled appearance then this can indicates the succulent is not watered often enough for the specific environment and conditions.

In which case we need to give our succulent a thorough watering to revive it and perhaps increase how often you water the succulent.

However, you should always allow the soil to dry out around the roots of your succulent before watering again, as succulents cannot tolerate consistently moist soil, so monitor when the soil dries out by feeling the soil at the base of the pot through the drainage hole as a cue for when to water.

When you cgain experience, you can pick up our pot and assess the weight to see when it is drying out, but if you are a beginner then I recommend sticking to feeling the soil with your finger.

I learned this next point form a specialist succulent grower: It is important to note that some popular succulents such as aloe vera and jade plants can actually enter a state of dormancy in the Summer month when the temperature exceeds 80°F (27°C) for a significant period.

During Summer dormancy the succulent slows down growth to conserve its moisture reserves that are stored in the thick, fleshy leaves to cope with drought as a survival strategy in its hot and dry natural environment in countries such as Oman in the Arabian peninsula.

This reduces the demand for water, so water aloe vera and jade plants less frequently if temperatures are consistently higher than 80°F (27°C) for several days to reduce the risk of root rot whilst the succulent is dormant.

I have had to water my Aloe plants and jade plants with a good soak once every 3 weeks in excessively high temperatures due to this phenomena of summer dormancy, although I think you should look for any signs of drought stress (shriveling leaves or drooping) and adjust your watering accordingly.

Pro Tip: When watering your succulents during high temperatures, I advise watering them at night to allow the roots to draw up the moisture without having to conetned with the blazin sun and high temperatures which can dry out the soil before the succulent has had a chance to draw up the moisture. Since I have implement this tip my succulents fare much better in the summer.

Read my articles for more information on how to specifically water aloe vera and water jade plants at different times of the year and in different conditions.

How Often to Water Succulents in Winter

As a general rule, water succulents are used once every 3 to 4 weeks in winter. Succulents are in a state of dormancy in Winter and require less water. Water your succulent once every 3 to 4 weeks in Winter with a good soak to meet the watering requirements of succulents and to avoid root rot.

As with summer, our Succulents enter a state of dormancy in the Winter months in response to fewer hours of sunlight and a lower intensity of sunlight.

What that means in practice for us is that succulents generally do not actively grow in the Winter months, which reduces their demand for water.

The lower water requirements in Winter mean that the succulent is more susceptible to root rot if the soil is too moist, so we need to scale back the water and its crucial that the succulent is planted in well-draining porous soil that does not hold onto too much moisture (a specially formulated succulent and cacti soil can significantly reduce the risk of root rot).

However we must keep in mind that indoor conditions can influence how often to water our succulents during Winter due to sources of indoor heat which can dry out the soil and the leaves too quickly causing symptoms of drought stress.

If your succulent leaves start to look thinner, shriveled, or wilted during Winter, then feel the potting soil at the base of the pot through the drainage holes to check the soil’s moisture.

I once diligently scaled back my watering in winter and my succulent started to show signs of dehydration which initially baffled me!

What I worked out was that the radiator directly underneath the succulent on the window sill was increase the heat significantly at night and drying out my succulent!

When I checked the soil soil’s moisture it was completely dry, but rather then watr it more I though I’d move my succulent to a cooler area and the succulent perked up after its next 2 or 3 watering cycles.

(Note that there can be a few reasons why succulents shrivel, so I wrote an article on how to determine the cause of why your succulent leaves are shriveling and how to solve it).

How Much Water Does a Succulent Need?

Whilst many variables affect how often to water succulents, the amount of water a succulent needs is the same regardless of the type of succulent or time of year.

We must keep in mind that we should always water our succulents thoroughly so that the soil is evenly moist. Excess water should trickle from the base of the succulent’s pot to indicate water has infiltrated properly, so the roots can access the water they require to keep the succulent plant healthy.

This style of watering recreates that natural watering cycle of a heavy deluge of rain followed by a period of drought that succulents typically experience in their native environments, otherwise know as the ‘soak and dry’ method.

Watering with a generous soak encourages the roots of your succulent to grow stronger and establish in the soil which increases the succulents resilience to drought.

If you water succulents too lightly, then only the top inch or so of the soil is moistened, which means the roots grow thinner, less robust, and often cannot access the moisture, water, and nutrients they need, which causes symptoms of drought stress such as shriveling leaves and a drooping appearance.

(Succulent leaves can shrivel due to both underwatering and overwatering, to establish which is the problem for your aloe plant and to therefore implement the correct solution, read my article Why are my succulent leaves shriveling?)

How Often to Water Propagated Succulent Leaves and Cuttings

The watering method and frequency you should use to water propagated succulent leaves are very different from those of established succulents. Propagated succulents either have no root system or a small, developing root system, so it is necessary to water them far more often as they are more susceptible to drying up.

I water my propagated my succulent leaves once every 2 days using a spray bottle to mist the leaves and surrounding soil with generous watering so that the surface of the soil and the succulent leaves are moist.

I then spray the propagated leaves and cuttings with water again when the surface of the soil feels dry.

Succulents are able to absorb moisture through their leaves which is why it is important to specifically water the surface of the leaves with a mist as this can be its only means of absorbing water whilst the root system develops.

As several factors can influence how quickly the soil dries (such as temperature and intensity of sunlight), you may need to mist your propagated succulent leaves more or less often depending on the conditions.

There are two key ways to determine when to mist your propagated succulent leaves:

1. Use your finger to feel the surface of the soil to check whether it is still moist or whether it has dried (mist when it feels dry).
2. Whether the succulent leaf looks shriveled or not.

As our succulents store water in their leaves, when they draw upon the moisture reserves, they can start to appear shriveled if there is not enough moisture available, which is a good indication that you need to mist your propagated succulent leaves and cuttings more often.

With consistent misting the succulent leaf or cutting can revive from a shriveled appearance.

But we should note that our succulent leaf does eventually shrivel once its offsets has grown.

However, before watering at all, it is important to ensure that the cutting has calloused over on dry soil so that it does not absorb too much moisture and start to rot.

Propagated succulent leaves absorb moisture through the air (water vapor), which is why misting the leaves is a better mechanism for watering while the roots are still developing. This is also why watering cuttings more frequently than mature plants is essential.

Watch this helpful YouTube video for a visual explanation of how to water propagated succulent leaves:

Key Takeaways:

• Water succulent plants thoroughly once every 2 weeks during Spring and Summer and once every 3 to 4 weeks during Fall and Winter. Succulents are drought-resistant plants that require the soil to dry out before watering again to avoid root rot.
• Water indoor and outdoor succulents thoroughly once every two weeks so that excess water trickles from the base of the pot. Wait for the soil to dry out completely before watering your succulent again to avoid root rot.
• Succulents require less frequent watering in Winter as they are dormant and not actively growing. Water succulent plants thoroughly once every 3-4 weeks in Fall and Winter so that the soil is evenly moist. Always wait for the soil to dry out completely before watering again.
• As a general rule, water propagated succulent leaves with a spray bottle and mist the leaves and surrounding soil with water once every 2 days. Mist the propagated succulent leaf cuttings again when the surface of the soil feels dry or if the succulent leaves appear shriveled.
• Always water established succulent plants thoroughly so water trickles from the base of the pot to ensure that the soil is evenly moist. Watering succulents thoroughly promotes strong roots and a healthy plant with plump leaves. Watering too lightly can prevent succulents from accessing the moisture they require, which can cause drought stress.