The Only Succulent Fertilizer Guidebook You Need

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Thick, supple, and firm leaves are the ultimate features of a healthy succulent. Watering your succulents and keeping them out of too much sun will enhance their growth. Keeping it thriving is the ultimate goal. To achieve that, it helps if you feed your succulent with the best succulent fertilizers.

The key is to balance the fertilizer for your succulents and the water you feed them. Excessive watering will flush out all the nutrients within the fertilizer. Too little water and you may create problems with the roots and leaves from the fertilizer.

And watering is only one thing to care for. There are many more to notice. Should you use succulent fertilizers? What makes a well-rounded fertilizer for succulents? How to apply it? When, how much, and how often? … This article has everything sorted out. Let’s dive in!

What Happens If You Don’t Use Succulent Fertilizers?

We all know succulents – the plant type thrives under harsh conditions like drought and sunny deserts. It won’t matter succulents if you use fertilizers or not. If you want succulents to grow bigger than their standard form, fertilizers are encouraged. Sometimes, the plant grows far too quickly than expected, you will need to trim/ behead it to support a new life.

If you are planning on having terrariums, or a garden of cute little succulents, you should avoid fertilizers. The only necessary thing is the right soil mix. The good news is we can make our soil mix at home. That’s enough for succulents’ growth.

For succulent fertilizer components, you will only need to know the succulent fertilizer ratio of N (nitrogen) – P (phosphorous) – K (potassium). The ratio of NPK needs to be equal, for example, 10-10-10. This ratio is usually stated clearly on commercial fertilizers’ packaging. Make sure that you read the instructions carefully before purchasing!

Q: ‘Can I use all-purpose plant food for succulents?’

Yes, you can. With the right amount.

How To Fertilize Succulents

Before fertilizing, you should make the soil wet. This will help the distribution of fertilizers better when applied. After the dirt is wet, dilute the succulent fertilizer with water and pour the mixture into the soil until it drains through drainage holes. If fertilizers are pellets, spray them evenly on the soil and water.

Make sure to follow Succulent City on Facebook, Pinterest & Instagram for more informative & interesting content about succulents & cacti 🙂 Happy planting, and live the moment, my friend!

When To Fertilize Succulents? How Much & How Often To Fertilize Succulents?

Timing for fertilizing succulents is essential. Not every season is suitable for this activity. If you fertilize in winter, when most succulents are dormant, there will be no progress. The best time to do it is springtime. When the daytime temperature reaches 15 degrees Celsius (~ 59 degrees Fahrenheit), it’s the best time to perform the technique.

You should only use half the amount written on the package for liquid fertilizers. If you use succulent fertilizer pellets, spread them evenly in small amounts and then water them thoroughly. Using too much-diluted fertilizer or too many pellets can cause succulent burns. It’s recommended to fertilize succulents once a year, during springtime. You can do that monthly or quarterly using organic fertilizers like manure tea.

An interesting read: 199+ Positive Succulent Quotes For Succulent Lovers (A Collection).

Easily-Bought But Adequate Commercial Fertilizers

Now, you know how to deal with commonly manufactured fertilizers. Here are my 2 recommendations for easily-bought commercial fertilizers at fine quality:

#1. Leaves & Soul Succulent Fertilizer Pellet

  • 13-11-11 slow-release fertilizer pellets (180-day release period).
  • Contain all essential nutrients.
  • Suitable for any succulent, cactus, or epiphyte plant, from orchid to bromeliad.
  • Also suitable for seedlings and mature plants.
  • Durable Packaging

*Note: We will earn a small fee when you purchase through any of the above affiliate links at no additional cost to you.

#2. EarthPod Premium Bio-organic Cactus & Succulent Plant Food

  • Enhance robust root growth, stem development & color vibrancy for cacti, succulents & other desert plants.
  • Good smell.
  • No measuring spoons needed.
  • Easy to apply.
  • Eco-friendly, pet-friendly, and child-friendly.
  • 100% made in the USA.

*Note: We will earn a small fee when you purchase through any of the above affiliate links at no additional cost to you.

Organic Alternatives For Succulent Fertilizers

Don’t want to feed your succulents with commercial fertilizers? We have organic options. The most common solution is manure tea. You must know how to prepare and use manure tea to do this. Worm casting is the less common method and is also harder to execute. Someone who is not a gardener they don’t dare touch those creatures (even if they are dead). For succulent organic fertilizers, we have the topic covered here:


Final Words

Did this article help answer your questions about succulent fertilizers? We sure hope so! If you still have questions, then look around our site. Here at Succulent City, we are a small team devoted to aiding all succulent lovers. We even created a line of ebook guides! Check out our in-depth tips on Replanting Practices to Keep Your Succulents Safe or even Best Lighting Practices for Succulent Growth today.

When you are planning to fertilize your succulents, there is one thing that you should keep in mind— the weather. In the winter, you will be giving your plants a break from the water, so it makes sense to give them a break from fertilizer too. Check out “How to Care for Succulents in the Winter” for a more detailed explanation. Make sure you fertilize your plants when you know they’re growing actively. This will prevent harmful salts from building up in the soil. This would ideally be in the summer when they thrive through the heat. Feeding your succulents with fertilizer three times a year is enough to ensure they remain healthy.

Choose the succulent of your choice and ensure that your succulents have all the proper nutrients to help them grow. It is rumored that these plants do not need any fertilizers added to the soil. They may survive without them, but survival is not enough. Give them the best possible chance to thrive with any of these six excellent fertilizers.

Thank you for reading! Make sure to leave a comment telling us which fertilizer works best in your experience. You should join us in our exclusive Facebook Group, Succulent City Plant Lounge, where succulent enthusiasts like yourself share experiences, tips, and photos to help inspire your inner- gardener!

Also, did you know we’re on Instagram and  Pinterest? Follow us for daily, inspiring, succulent content!

Happy Planting!

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ABOUT ME

Richard Miller

Salute everyone. It's Richard, the author of this Succulent & Xeriscaping blog. I am a traveler and a nature lover looking for a connection with the wild green. In my journey, I found a love for succulents and xeriscaping. What attracts me is the long-lasting & unique beauty of every plant I have the chance to see with my own eyes. Welcome to my little blog and let's enjoy a good time together!

Contact me: richard.succulentcity@gmail.com

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