Our care tips: Succulent plants
Succulents are fleshy plants capable of storing water in their leaves, stems, or roots. Native to Africa, South America, and Mediterranean countries, their water storage allows them to survive in these arid and very sunny environments.
Succulents or fatty plants do not constitute a specific botanical family, but are composed of nearly 12,000 different plant varieties , such as Agavaceae, Cactaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Begoniaceae and Geraniaceae.
Thanks to this water storage, succulents are plants that require little maintenance. At By Charlot, we have a multitude of succulents, from Miniature to Grandiose size, let yourself be seduced by La Coquette , Le Généreux or La Captivante !
How to care for succulents
What is the right watering for my succulents?
Succulents are easy to care for . Storing water in their leaves, stems and roots, watering is not very regular . In spring and summer, we recommend watering your succulents once a week. As autumn and winter arrive, we advise you to space out waterings and add water to your plants once every 15 days. Succulents are sensitive to overwatering, so be sure to wait for the soil to dry between waterings and always add water to your plants in small quantities.
How much water should I add to my plant depending on its size?
Our succulents are available in 6 different sizes , from Miniature to Grandiose. So you can find the right plant for you depending on the space available in your home.
To help you water your succulents, here are some watering tips based on their size:
- Miniature: add a tablespoon of water to measure the quantity and avoid putting any on the side.
- Small and Standard: The amount of water equivalent to an espresso, or 5 cl of water, is sufficient for these two plant sizes. However, you can adapt it according to the needs of your succulent.
- Large: a double espresso, or about 10 to 15 cl of water, will be enough to meet your plant's needs.
- Very Large: Add a small glass of water, approximately 20 cl of water.
- Grandiose: add a large glass of water, about 40 cl of water.
These amounts are recommendations and may vary depending on the plant's environment. Watering amounts and frequencies depend on your plant's exposure and the humidity level in your home.
Since plants are living beings, their maintenance is not an exact science, so it is important to observe them to take the best possible care of them.
What type of water should I use to water my plant?
Most indoor plants are sensitive to the limescale present in tap water. Therefore, we recommend watering your plant with rainwater whenever possible. This solution can be difficult when living in an apartment. Therefore, before watering your succulents with tap water, let your water aerate to reduce the limescale present in it.
How do I know if my succulents need watering?
Succulents are easy to care for . Storing water in their leaves, stems and roots, watering is not very regular . In spring and summer, we recommend watering your succulents once a week. As autumn and winter arrive, we advise you to space out waterings and add water to your plants once every 15 days. Succulents are sensitive to overwatering, so be sure to wait for the soil to dry between waterings and always add water to your plants in small quantities.
How much water should I add to my plant depending on its size?
Succulents are native to very sunny regions. Therefore, they require light, even very bright, exposure. The more natural light your plant is exposed to, the better and faster it will grow. However, be careful of direct sunlight, which can burn your plant.
Some succulents tolerate less light and can be placed in shadier areas. The Captivating, the Pampered, the Extravagant, and the Fiery are plants that can thrive in a room with a shady exposure. Even if your plant acclimates to this exposure, the lack of natural light still slows its growth.
Your home is really dark, but you absolutely want to get a succulent plant. We recommend the Extravagant, available in Grandiose size, this Zamioculcas Zamiifolia is the perfect plant for apartments and interiors with low light.
What are the ideal conditions for growing succulents indoors?
Living in arid and very sunny regions, succulents have become accustomed to our interiors. These plants can survive temperatures ranging from 15°C to 30°C . Be careful, succulents are sensitive to drafts! Be careful not to leave them too close to your doors or windows.
To help your succulents thrive all year round, we recommend adding a little natural fertilizer. Our Tropical Elixir is the perfect fertilizer for succulents and succulents. From March to October, during your plants' growing season, add 2 drops of liquid fertilizer to your watering water for every 250ml of water. You can add fertilizer every other watering.
I want to repot my succulent, how do I do it?
To repot your succulent, equip yourself with your plant, potting soil, and a slightly larger pot (a few centimeters larger in diameter). Repotting is usually done in early spring before your plant's growth period, approximately once every two years depending on the growth of your plant.
Aerate your plant's roots by gently shaking the root ball. Add potting soil to your new pot and place your succulent inside. After adding soil almost to the top of your pot to allow for optimal watering, you can add a little water to your plant to settle the soil.
Your succulent is now repotted. Place it in a bright room and it will grow optimally!
Tips for pruning your succulent plant
Pruning succulents is limited because they grow rather slowly. However, pruning succulents is easy . If you want to prune your plant, equip yourself with a pair of gloves and clean, disinfected pruning shears.
You can prune your succulent if it becomes too tall or if some stems are growing unbalanced. You can prune them to maintain an aesthetic shape. To do this, cleanly cut the stem(s) in question as close to the trunk or central stem as possible. Be careful not to damage the main stem of your plant.
Most succulents do not require regular pruning and can maintain their natural shape without slowing their growth.
How do I propagate my succulent plant?
Succulents are among the easiest plants to propagate. In most cases, succulent cuttings are taken from the leaves. Remove one or more leaves from your plant and then immerse about 1 to 2 cm of the leaf in water. Change the water once or twice a week and rinse the roots to prevent rot. Within a few weeks, roots will develop and you can replant this cutting.
Succulents can also be propagated directly in the soil. Take one or more leaves from your plant and place them on top of the soil without pressing it in too deeply. Mist the leaf to keep the soil moist, and it will quickly develop roots.
How do I keep my succulents healthy?
My succulent is infested with small insects, what should I do?
Some insects can infect your plant: mealybugs and red spider mites . If you have a white mass on the leaves of your succulent, these are mealybugs. Mix a dose of black soap in a liter of water and spray the preparation on your plant. Once this is done, we advise you to remove the white masses with a damp cloth. Be careful, mealybugs can be transmitted from plant to plant. Keep your succulent away from your other plants while you are treating it.
If you have red spider mites on your plant, mist the leaves with water. These insects fear humidity and will disappear!
Are succulents pet friendly?
Not all succulents are suitable for pets. At By Charlot, we have succulents suitable for your pets: The Generous, The Coquette, The Captivating, The Rockstar, and The Fougueux will delight you and charm your four-legged friends.
How much water should I add to my plant depending on its size?
You may notice white marks appearing on your plant's leaves. This is due to limescale in your watering water. Succulents store water in their leaves, so limescale can sometimes appear as slight white marks. To prevent this from happening again, water your plants with rainwater if possible. Otherwise, before watering your succulents with tap water, let your water aerate to reduce the limescale in it.
To remove these traces of limescale, take a damp cloth and clean the leaves of your plant.
How to decorate your interior with succulents?
Focus on Peperomia By Charlot:
The Generous , our Peperomia Obtusifolia is the perfect succulent if you have a pet. The Generous will enchant your living spaces with its intense green leaves. The Sweetheart , or Peperomia Polybotrya for purists, will soften you with its pretty heart-shaped leaves.
Focus on Crassula By Charlot:
With its delicate and elegant curves, La Délicate , our Crassula Ovata seduces with its masterful sense of refinement. From Miniature to Large size, its airy silhouette will bring you serenity and softness. The Crassula Ovata Gollum, La Rêveuse By Charlot stands out with its graceful and slender appearance.
Decorate your interior with other plants By Charlot
At By Charlot, we have a wide variety of personalized plants to beautify your interior, whether small plants , large plants or XXL plants . But also personalized cacti and outdoor plants . The plant boxes , themselves, offer you the possibility of composing a combination of By Charlot products according to your preferences.
