Succulent plants refer to plants whose leaves, among the three nutritional organs of roots, stems, and leaves, are thick and succulent, capable of storing large amounts of water.

They possess at least one fleshy tissue, which is an active tissue capable of storing usable water.

In situations where soil moisture deteriorates and plant roots can no longer absorb or provide necessary moisture from the soil, these tissues allow the plant to temporarily survive independently of external water sources.

Roughly estimated, there are over ten thousand species of succulent plants worldwide, belonging to more than 100 families taxonomically.

Propagation of succulent plants is relatively easy due to their well-developed meristematic tissue. Common methods include grafting, cuttings, sowing, root insertion, division, leaf insertion, and intercepting growth points.

Among these methods, seed propagation is more common in the Cactaceae family; leaf insertion is the most efficient method in the Crassulaceae family and widely adopted by most people; and grafting is most commonly used in the Cactaceae family.

Guidelines for caring for succulent potted plants:

1. Ultraviolet (UV) Light:

Most succulent plants require sufficient sunlight. This sunlight should not be filtered through glass or screens, as they block a significant portion of UV rays.

However, it's not about blindly accepting unobstructed sunlight but rather exposing the plants to as much unobstructed sunlight as possible during the spring and autumn growing seasons, when the surface temperature ranges from 3 to 30 degrees Celsius.

Succulent plants grown in areas with sufficient UV light will have thicker leaves, while insufficient UV light can cause elongated stems and sparse foliage.

2. Temperature Difference:

To have succulent plants with vibrant colors, besides sufficient UV exposure, temperature differences are necessary. Without temperature differences, even strong UV light cannot change their dull green appearance. Succulent plants exhibit better colors when the temperature difference between day and night exceeds 15 degrees Celsius.

This is why outdoor cultivation results in more vibrant succulents compared to indoor cultivation, with spring and autumn yielding more vibrant plants than winter and summer. During summer, when temperatures exceed 30 degrees Celsius, most succulent plants should be moved to cooler indoor locations, while during winter, temperatures below 3 degrees Celsius should be avoided to prevent exposure to cold drafts, ideally placing them in the best-lit indoor areas.

3. Watering:

The secret to lush succulent plants lies in one thing—letting them thirst for a while and then watering generously. Watering should be thorough, waiting until the potting soil is dry and the pot feels lighter before watering again.

Thorough watering ensures that the roots can absorb water while watering just a few drops every two or three days not only leaves the roots thirsty but also increases the risk of fungal growth due to prolonged soil moisture. Succulent plants dislike standing water, as prolonged moisture can deprive the roots of oxygen, leading to stunted growth or even death. Therefore, resist the urge to overwater.

Watering during twilight hours in spring and autumn (when temperatures are lower but not too low, conducive to water evaporation without subjecting the roots to sauna-like conditions) is advisable, watering until thoroughly soaked. In summer and winter, watering approximately every three weeks along the edge of the pot with a couple of circles helps maintain the minimum required moisture for survival.

4. Potting Mix:

Succulent plants require a well-draining potting mix.

Common options include peat moss (retains water and nutrients), coconut coir (light and hydrophobic), perlite (retains water), vermiculite (improves drainage), pumice (improves aeration), sand (improves aeration), organic compost (used sparingly as base fertilizer), rice husk charcoal (adjusts soil pH), and slow-release fertilizers (provides long-term nutrients).

For sowing, a mixture of 60% peat moss and 40% granules (with half consisting of horticultural vermiculite and the other half consisting of 1-3mm perlite and 0.8 mm-2 mm river sand) is recommended. This seeding formula increases the proportion of granules and further adjusts the size to prevent damping-off. It has been proven effective in usage.