Have you ever killed a succulent and then felt like you were completely doomed as a plant parent? That was totally me about eight years ago. I brought succulents home because everyone said they were the easiest, most foolproof plant. Yet I still managed to kill them. Naturally, I spent a lot of time thinking I was just a plant killer. However, I eventually learned that succulents aren’t fool proof. And if you’ve had your heart broken by one (or five), it might not have totally been your fault. Maybe it just wasn’t the right plant for you! Or you just needed a few key things to learn about how to keep succulents alive.

So I invited my plant friend and the succulent queen of Indiana, Abby Perry of Abby’s Garden Parties, to talk about the real reason so many people kill succulents, what they actually need, and how to figure out if they’re even the right plant for you.

 

In this episode, we learn:

• [00:00] Have you ever killed a succulent?
• [03:16] How Abby became a succulent expert
• [07:14] The #1 mistake: overwatering
• [08:47] What makes a plant a “succulent”?
• [09:56] Cacti vs. succulents: what’s the difference?
• [12:26] How and when to water succulents?
• [14:59] Grow lights and why succulents need strong lighting
• [15:25] Make someone’s special day unforgettable by gifting them Wind River Chimes!
• [17:12] Grow stronger, more resilient succulents with Espoma Organic Cactus Mix!
• [20:51] Low, medium, and high light succulent suggestions
• [22:05] How to tell if your room has enough light
• [24:22] Are there any succulents that can only go in high light?
• [25:19] Care tips for Strings of Things
• [26:26] What you need to know about color and succulents
• [27:37] Etiolation: what stretching means in succulents
• [29:11] Why soil and drainage are everything with succulents
• [30:52] Fertilizing your succulents
• [32:42] How to water succulents in terrariums with no drainage
• [34:01] What are the most common mistakes in succulent care?
• [35:36] Succulent matchmaking: best plants for each plant parent type!
• [42:15] Where can you find Abby online

 

 

 

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Why Succulents Get a Bad Rap

I used to overwater my succulents a lot… and only because I loved them so much! I thought I was doing the right thing by caring and tending to them daily, but what I was really doing was smothering them.

Succulents look simple, but they’re deceptively particular. And when you bring one home from the grocery store or the garden center and stick it on your coffee table far from any window, you’ve basically set it up for failure.

Abby sees this all the time in her Indiana-based terrarium shop where she meets people daily who say they can’t even keep a cactus alive. And again, it’s rarely their fault. It’s usually bad advice, bad soil, and bad lighting.

So let's reset the narrative!

 

 

What Succulents Really Need

Here are Abby’s three must-haves for keeping succulents alive and happy:

#1 Water

Succulents need a dry cycle. They are desert plants, so they store water in their leaves, stems, or roots. You cannot water them on a schedule like your tropical houseplants. You have to check if they’re dry first. Abby uses a wooden chopstick, sticks it in the soil, and if anything clings to it, doesn’t water it yet.

And when you do water, go for a deep soak. They’re used to torrential rains, not misting. And for the love of cacti, please stop misting your succulents because it does nothing.

 

#2 Light

Succulents are sun lovers. If you can’t comfortably read a book in the room without turning on a light, then it’s not bright enough.

Abby’s Tip: Snake plants and ZZs can tolerate low light, but they’ll grow stronger and even bloom if you give them more. Abby says that if you take that snake plant and put it in bright light, it will take off.

If you’re dealing with a low-light space, consider a grow light. Abby recommends one with 2,000 lumens for best results.

 

#3 Soil

Succulents need less moisture than regular potting mix can provide. They need a special soil that drains fast and dries quickly. I always use Espoma’s cactus mix (the orange bag!) now. It’s a blend of peat moss, sand, and perlite, plus Espoma’s signature Myco-tone for strong roots.

Another tip from Abby: If your terrarium or pot doesn’t have a drainage hole, add a drainage layer of sand or rocks at the bottom to help prevent root rot.

 

 

Not All Succulents Are Created Equal

If you’ve taken my Plant Parent Personality Test, you know that not every plant works for every person. Succulents are no different. Some need more light. Some can handle low maintenance. Some are total divas (like the string of things).

Abby and I did a succulent matchmaking session at the end, and I’m obsessed! Here are a few recommendations from her based on my plant parent personalities:

• Low Maintenance: Jade plant. They’re super forgiving.
• Curious Collector: Lithops because they’re weird and wonderful.
• Design-Forward: Echeverias are a nice statement plant.
• Mindful Plant Parent: Haworthias because they’re gorgeous and grounding.
• Urban Farmer: Agave. You can use the nectar to try making tequila.

 

 

So Are Succulents for You?

If you’re someone who loves checking on your plants every day and enjoys the process of watering, succulents might not be the best match… unless you pick the right variety or get clever with how you engage with them.

But if you’ve been scared of succulents like I was, I hope this episode encourages you to give them another try with the right succulent care setup. And if not, that’s okay too. You’re not a bad plant parent; you just need the right plant.

 

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Northwest Flower and Garden Show
• Guess that plant with @abbysgardenparties | Instagram
• Find Out Your Plant Parent Personality

 

 

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Wind River Chimes

Bring the gift of peace, serenity, and magic with chimes! Wind River is a Virginia-based company creating premium handcrafted and hand-tuned wind chimes for over 35 years. If you are looking for an amazing gift that can help you or your loved ones grow joy and find a moment of peace, a Wind River chime is the perfect option. Plus, you can engrave the wind sail on the wind chime with meaningful dates, names, or phrases!

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.

Espoma Organic

Set your succulents up for success with organic and nontoxic products in the garden! Espoma Organic is dedicated to making safe indoor and outdoor gardening products for people, pets, and the planet. They have an amazing variety of high-quality, organic potting mixes, garden soil, fertilizers, and pest control products that are organic and eco-friendly. To top it all off, they have a huge sustainability commitment with a 100% solar-powered plant, zero waste manufacturing, and eco-friendly packaging.

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

 

 

 

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