How To Take Care Of Succulent Ground Cover Plants

Whether you benefit from ground cover from succulents depends on picking the right plant for your area. Some plants are suitable for certain climates and not others, while others will serve you better in certain places than others. If, for example, the ground you want to cover is susceptible to forest fires, get a non-flammable succulent to cover the ground. If the soil is bare in a slope you want to be covered, get a plant with spreading roots to hold the soil in place.

Environmental conditions in your area also help you determine which succulent ground cover is most suitable for the plant.

You need to know the following things about growing succulent cover plants. Before you can take care of these succulents, you need to propagate them. Propagation can be by seeds, cuttings, offsets, or plant division. While many plants produce seeds, not all of those seeds are viable. Cuttings are usually a great option, especially for succulents with branches, while plant division and offsets usually work best for clustering and tufted plants like Candelilla. Follow the usual propagation method depending on the plant you are propagating, and then consider the factors below for husbandry.

Soil

Succulents generally prefer breathable, well-drained soil. This is necessary because their roots require a good oxygen supply to remain healthy. It should be possible for water to pass through the pottage fast as this will only leave moisture on the pottage leaving the plant free of root rot, which is susceptible if the soil is waterlogged. Some succulents require more organic matter in their substrate than others, so you should find out how much you need.

Water

Ground-covering succulents require water, like all other plants. However, it would be best to water them sparingly to keep the soil from waterlogging. Using the soak-and-dry method is the most recommended watering method. Soak the substrate with water and wait until the compost is dry to water it again. Watering succulent ground cover succulents is a delicate process because watering them overhead will inevitably cause the leaves of these plants to come into contact with water. Having water lodge on the leaves can cause root rot. Drip irrigation is, therefore, the best method for this type of water. Also, it is vital to determine whether your ground-covering succulents are okay with tap water since some can die from the water treatment chemicals.

Temperature

Different succulents have different temperature tolerance, and it is essential to know the temperature your succulent prefers. For the most part, succulents are hardy and can survive high temperatures and intense sunlight. However, some prefer shade over indirect sunlight. Furthermore, some of these succulents are cold-hardy, while others are not. Knowing whether your ground-cover succulents are cold-hardy is vital to decide if it suits your location.

Light

None of the succulents listed above doesn’t prefer intense light. Some need more light hours than others. Ensure the succulent gets sufficient light because, in many instances, light is necessary for the succulent to flower. Exposure to direct sunlight sometimes alters the color of some succulent’s color. They typically have their usual color under shade but get different, usually reddish or bronze, when exposed to intense sunlight.

Fertilizer

Some of the succulents we use for ground cover need additional feeding, depending on their nutritional needs. Those that need additional feeding usually require it during their growing or flowering seasons. Some need to be fed only once or twice annually, while others may need some weekly during growing seasons. It is always necessary to feed your succulent ground cover succulents only during their growing season because then the plant will use them. Feeding it when it is dormant can lead to the accumulation of chemical salts which is detrimental to the succulent.

Dormancy

Succulents usually have growing seasons and dormancy seasons depending on their species. Care in dormancy is different from care when the plant is growing. For example, they require much less water and fertilizer.

Pruning and Trimming

You will unlikely need to prune your ground cover succulent too much. However, you may need to manage the growth of the plant. Some succulents can take more trimming than others. On the other hand, some of them require pruning to be healthy. Always ensure you use a sharp, sterilized cutting tool to prevent infections.

Pests and Diseases

Succulents may be affected by pests and diseases. It would be best to keep them at bay; the easiest way to protect the succulent is by keeping it healthy. However, there are various other methods of dealing with pests and diseases.

You can spray them with a systemic pesticide to make them unpalatable to the bests. Use organic pesticides to eliminate pests if you haven’t used a systemic one. Some pests, like domestic animals, require the creation of barriers. While others, such as slugs, require other extraordinary measures.

Root rot is the most common disease in succulents, and you can avoid it by using the correct substrate and watering it as appropriate.