Succulent plants have the extraordinary ability to adapt to arid environments and store water in their tissues, but what happens in winter, when temperatures drop and the climate becomes colder? To cope with shorter days and lack of light, in addition to the drop in temperature, succulents need some care that will allow them to resist winter and reach spring.
Autumn: preparing the plants for rest
With the end of summer, succulents prepare for vegetative rest. Starting from the end of August, when the days start to get shorter, these plants progressively reduce metabolic activity, entering a transition phase in which they will accumulate energy to survive the winter season. In this period you will therefore have to slow down watering and suspend fertilization.
For the more delicate species, such as some varieties coming from tropical areas, it is already time to think about shelter: in this case you will have to move the plants indoors, or into a greenhouse that allows them to escape the first autumn frosts, in order to preserve the fabrics from temperature variations. Even desert cacti, which might seem more resistant to the cold, need special care: although they tolerate low temperatures well, they suffer from humidity, therefore you will have to place them in a dry and well-ventilated place, so that they can rest after the stress of the summer flowering and prepare for a new season.
Cacti and autumn rest
An interesting aspect of succulent care during autumn concerns the life cycle of the plants. Cacti, in particular, benefit from a period of rest after flowering, a moment of inactivity which will allow them to recover and also stimulate the production of new buds for the following spring: keep in mind that a well cared for cactus in autumn and left in ideal conditions during the winter it will produce even more abundant flowering the following year.
To obtain a similar result, you will have to gradually reduce watering until you suspend it completely once the temperature begins to drop: cacti store water in their stems and do not need further water supplies during the rest phase, and indeed, a an excessively humid environment could favor the proliferation of mold and fungi, which are dangerous for the health of plants.
The magic of Lithops: unique autumn blooms
Not all succulents stop blooming in the fall. Lithops, also known as “living stones” due to their resemblance to pebbles, are a truly surprising example of a plant capable of flowering in this season. These little plant jewels, native to the arid areas of southern Africa, produce brightly colored flowers between September and November, and after flowering, the fleshy leaves begin to wither, leaving room for new pairs of leaves that will emerge from the base of the plant during spring.
Lithops care during the fall requires close attention to humidity. In fact, we are talking about plants that are extremely sensitive to excess water, so remember to keep the soil dry and ensure good and constant ventilation.
Winter: the vegetative rest of succulents
With the arrival of winter, most succulents enter a phase of vegetative rest: growth stops almost completely, as does the care required, which will be very minimal. However, that doesn’t mean they can be forgotten. During the winter, the biggest risk to succulents is humidity, especially if they are outdoors. Species from mountain regions, such as some types of cacti, can tolerate temperatures below freezing, as long as they are protected from humidity and frost.
If you decide to leave the plants outdoors, you will have to make sure that they are well protected from rain and snow, perhaps using transparent covers or temporary shelters. Alternatively, succulents can be brought indoors or into a cool, well-lit greenhouse. Avoid too hot environments, such as rooms with radiators, as succulents require lower temperatures to correctly go through their rest period, and move to cool, well-ventilated rooms away from cold air currents.
Watering: reduce to a minimum
As already mentioned, during the winter succulents must be watered with extreme moderation. Most plants do not need water, as dry soil and low temperatures encourage dormancy, although some of the more delicate species may require light watering to prevent them from drying out completely. In these cases, it is advisable to check the soil and water only when it is completely dry.
A useful tip concerns the use of a container that has drainage holes to avoid water stagnation, which could cause root rot, one of the main causes of winter death of succulents. Watering should preferably be done in the morning, so that the water has time to evaporate during the day.
Repotting: the ideal time to renew
With the arrival of the end of winter, succulents begin to prepare for the spring awakening, and it is precisely at that moment that it will be possible to repot the plants that need it: repotting allows you to refresh the soil, eliminate any roots dead or damaged, and give succulents more room to grow.
The soil that best suits the needs of succulents must be well drained and poor in nutrients, therefore we recommend a mixture of sand, perlite and cactus soil, which will be absolutely adequate to ensure good drainage and prevent water stagnation.
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