Plants & Gardening, Women-Owned

Save Your Succulents: 3 Expert Tips for Indoor Plants

Posted on by Becs
02
Jun

Plants can feel like so much more than part of your home decor. They require their own tiny house (pot), water & nutrients, and plenty of attention. So imagine our collective devastation when our favorite plant babies succumb to wilt and decay. Fear not, brave growers! We have some ~sage~ advice to keep your succulents, cacti and most houseplants feeling happy, healthy and thriving.

With help from our friends at Succulent Native, we are ~pointing~ out some insider tips on keeping your spikey friends and drought tolerant companions healthy and thriving.

SUCCULENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Small succulents should be watered with one teaspoon per plant once a week.
  • Misting your succulents is the best way to water your succulents.
  • Succulents need full diffused light – window sills are perfect!
  • If succulents start getting pale yellow or leggy then they need more light.
  • Succulents also can get crunchies (dried up old growth) when growing. This is normal and healthy, feel free to pull those petals off the plant.

CACTI

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Small cacti should be watered with one teaspoon per plant once a month.
  • Larger cacti should be watered with one Tablespoon per plant once a month.
  • Misting near the roots once a month is the best way to water your cacti.
  • Cacti need some light, but can be pretty happy in high light or lower light.
  • If they start to look sunken or too skinny, add one extra watering and then wait for the container to dry out before watering again.
  • If they start getting too plump, take a break from watering for a few more weeks. 

House Plants

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Most houseplants we carry are happy in low to moderate light and like to be watered in the container and misted on their leaves once a week.
  • Another easy option for water is to place the plant container in a tray of water and allow it to hydrate from the roots – this can help reduce mold growth and insects.
  • If your houseplants seem to be attracting fruit flies or gnats – try spraying a mixture of neem oil and vinegar on your plant leaves once a week. Allow the mixture to absorb briefly then wipe down the plant leaves.

Consult YOUR local plant experts!

Austin is home to several local plant nurseries and horticultural enthusiasts, one of our all-time favorites being Succulent Native. Succulent Native is an adorably decorated woman-owned shop in Central Austin that hosts succulent planting parties & workshops. They also provide custom interior design to transform your home or office with the perfect plants.

Owner, Shannon Donaldson always knew that she wanted to do something uncommon with her career. With a degree in sculpture from Stephen F. Austin State University and a background in flower arrangement in the wedding planning industry, Shannon garnered a trained eye for making appealing arrangements.

In 2012, the cart we’ve all come to know and love, Flowers on the Fly blossomed and from there she locked down 3 locations to operate 4 days a week from 12 to 4. Thursday’s on UT campus at the SW corner of 24th and Guadalupe, Friday’s at the SE corner of 6th and Congress, and on Saturday’s and Sunday’s on South Congress in front of the famous Guero’s Taco Bar. 

In 2016, Succulent Native opened their first brick and mortar shop down town, but now have moved to a larger store in Central Austin where they’ve been keeping our city green since 2019.

5501N. Lamar Blvd. #101A | Tues. – Sat. 11-7PM  |  Sun. 11-5PM | Free Parking Available

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Disclaimer: Even the most experienced Cactus and Succulent care takers have had many plants die on their watch. Most of the time plant death comes from overwatering or not enough light. However, this is not always the case. Just like any other plants. It takes time to get to know the correct way to care for your plants. We do like to keep the plants with the best chance to live and be easy to care for, but sometimes plants die. We are not responsible for plants after you take them home, but let us know if you have any questions or concerns and we will help you the best we can.