Succulents are a favorite amongst gardeners because they require little care. And when you think of little effort, the first conclusion to jump to is no effort at all. However, though they do need less attention than other plants, succulents do require proper care and maintenance. For example, even though succulents survive with little water, they still need it to maintain their appearance and overall health. Otherwise it will be hard for them to thrive and look well without drinking nutritious water! It’s common for first-time succulent owners to experience this problem as overzealous succulent lovers – both you and your garden can benefit from the correct amount of fertilization at the right time so that these fuzzy friends won’t get malnourished despite their ability to adapt to low nutrient conditions in general!
As a busy person, while you may not be able to feed and tend to these plants directly, the right fertilizer will provide a boost that helps your succulents grow bigger and look great! With good nutrition, these succulents are better protected against extreme weather or other harsh conditions. Keeping them topped up on the right type of food also ensures they can thrive in times of trouble and are even able to recover from pests.
Simply watering your succulents is important, but it’s equally as important to know how and when to water them. Some chemical plant food may burn the leaves of your succulent, even if it’s diluted at a quarter-half strength of the general recommended dosage. It’s best to go with an organic solution that appeals to the broad array of nutrients that succulents need for optimal growth. Fertilizer helps feed the soil your succulents grow in so they’ll have plenty of sustenance!
Vermicompost is rich in micronutrients and helps plants grow stronger and happier. But they also contain something that is great for succulent gardens: an enzyme called chitinase, which breaks down the chitin in an insect’s exoskeleton. Succulents that take in this chemical become resistant to many mealybugs, whiteflies, and aphids in their environment.
When we succulents, either in the ground or in a container, add vermicompost directly to the soil. For a small pot, add 2-3 tablespoons of the worm castings, and for large pots or plants in the ground, add 2-3 handfuls of the vermicompost. You can also make a tea of vermicompost to use as a soil drench or foliar spray. This gives plants excellent succulent fertilizer protection as well as 24/7 protection from pests like whiteflies and mealybugs!
For the stunning succulents and cacti, it’s important to invest in some organic fertilizer at least once a month. But don’t dole out too much or else your beautiful living plants will not be able to handle the amount of nutrition they’re getting.
