The Importance of Sunlight and Succulents

Succulents are a beautiful addition to any household both in the yard and inside your home. Many of us love them so much we would like to add them on every surface and in every corner of our homes but it’s important to keep in mind that these plants do need plenty of sunlight to be healthy. In their natural habitats they grow in places that get full sun parts of the day or bright indirect light.  It is less common to see them growing and thriving in full sun as this can be too much stress on the plant and they could burn. The best way to keep your plants happy at home is to try to replicate these conditions.

How Much Light do Succulents Need?

Growth For indoor Succulents 

Pretty much all succulent varieties can be grown indoors as long as they are getting enough sun. Emphasis on AS LONG AS THEY ARE GETTING ENOUGH SUN! Luckily there are certain succulent varieties that do well with low light such as members of the Aloe or Haworthia family. These succulents can be kept in places with lower light but keep in mind that in that case you will need to reduce the frequency of watering as they will take longer to dry out. If your looking for the perfect succulent to put in your bathroom or on a coffee table far from any windows Aloe and Haworthias are going to be your best bet. Most other succulents, especially the ones with vibrant colors of blue, purple, and yellow really need more sun. 

Growing Succulents Indoors

If you are keeping your succulents inside, it is best to have them by a bright window that gets plenty of indirect light or full sun in the morning. A south facing window is ideal in most cases. Always keep in mind that the heat from the sun can be magnified by the glass so keep an eye on your succulents and adjust the distance from the window accordingly. 

Pretty much all succulent varieties can be grown indoors as long as they are getting enough sun. Emphasis on AS LONG AS THEY ARE GETTING ENOUGH SUN! Luckily there are certain succulent varieties that do well with low light such as members of the Aloe or Haworthia family. These succulents can be kept in places with lower light but keep in mind that in that case you will need to reduce the frequency of watering as they will take longer to dry out. If your looking for the perfect succulent to put in your bathroom or on a coffee table far from any windows Aloe and Haworthias are going to be your best bet. Most other succulents, especially the ones with vibrant colors of blue, purple, and yellow really need more sun. 

Is my succulent getting too much sun? 

If your succulent is getting too much sun you may notice a muted color or even dark spots on the leaves. Burn marks are easy to distinguish from disease because they will be unevenly distributed on the plants leaves and usually only on one side. Keep an eye out for these signs and make adjustments as needed. Also keep in mind that oftentimes when plants are purchased from big box stores or sometimes even nursery centers they have gone from a greenhouse to a warehouse and have not been acclimated to the sun. In these cases it is a good idea to gently introduce the plant to more sun. The last thing you want to do is shock your succulent by giving it too much sun right away. 

Is my succulent getting enough sun? 

The easiest way to tell that your succulent is not getting enough sun in the change in color. If you notice your succulent suddenly has a much lighter color in the center or on its tips this is a sure sign it is not getting enough sun and it will tell you right away. In a matter of days your dark purple echeveria will suddenly have a light purple center. Move it to a place that gets more sunlight. The second best way to tell that your succulent is not getting enough sun is that it will appear to be growing super fast. You will notice it getting taller and you will also notice more space in between the leaves. This is referred to as “stretching”. The plant is not getting enough sun so in a desperate effort it is reaching out to find more sun. This causes a change in the proportions of the plant and weakens the plant. Once your plant has stretched, that portion of growth will not go back to its normal shape so try to catch this as soon as possible. Remember the first indication is a change in color so keep an eye out for that when choosing a good spot. 

When you first bring your succulents home, remember that they like plenty of bright light and keep an eye on them to make sure they are happy in the place you have chosen for them. If you start to see signs of either too much sun or not enough sun make adjustments as needed but make them gradually. Once you have found a good spot for them succulents are the best plants because they give so much beauty and ask for so little. Happy planting.