Winter Care Guide for Succulents
Our guide to getting your succulents through a harsh winter.
Start preparing for winter as early as September. Finish any repotting and propagation you had planned, slow down your watering and feeding, and decide where your succulents will spend the next several months. You may need to set up a cold frame for them.
Winter warning signs
- Temperatures below 10°C
- Strong wind
- Heavy rain
- Weaker sunlight and shorter days
Keeping succulents outdoors
If you are planting in the ground, prepare the area first: clear any weeds and make sure the soil suits succulents. Raising them off the ground, in a raised bed or a rockery, gives better growth. Most succulents like bright, airy conditions, but some prefer shade, so check what each plant needs before you choose its spot and its neighbours.
Unlike other plants, succulents can take very windy conditions and stay happy, thanks to their waxy, leathery leaves.
Many succulents can even survive below freezing if they have free drainage. You will usually find that on vertical free-draining walls, rockery beds or a dry, windy part of the garden.
Raise your succulents onto benches, tables or shelves so they are not sitting on cold or frozen ground. The ground stays colder than the air above it, so lifting them off it lowers the chance of your plants freezing.
Shelter your plants from the elements
Place your succulents near house walls or fences, or under cover, to keep direct rain and snow off them. A south-facing wall is ideal because it gets more sun and holds its warmth. A sheltered spot keeps off the cold and damp that can harm the plants.
If you get a lot of rain in winter, set the cover at a slight tilt so the water runs off instead of pooling around the plants.
Using fleece to protect your succulents
Horticultural fleece is a breathable fabric that protects plants from frost, wind, pests and harsh weather. Put it on when temperatures fall to 5°C or below, and during harsh weather such as hail.
To apply it:
- Cut the fleece to size and drape it loosely over the plants so some air can still get through.
- Hold the edges down with pegs, rocks or weights so it does not blow away.
- Don’t press the fleece tightly against the plants. It can break them and it stops the air moving.
- For extra protection, put hoops or stakes under the fleece to make a frame. This gives a mini greenhouse effect around the plants.
On warmer days, take the fleece off so moisture does not get trapped underneath, then put it back in the evening to protect against frost. At the end of winter, wash and dry it and store it somewhere cool and dry so you can use it again.
Voile d'hivernage de haute qualité | 60 g/m²
£22.50
Voile d'hivernage de haute qualité | 60 g/m²
£22.50
Reduce watering
Less sunlight and colder temperatures slow succulents’ growth in winter, so water less often to avoid waterlogged soil. As a rule, only water when the soil is completely dry, about once every 4-6 weeks depending on local conditions. With some plants and conditions, it may be best to leave them dry for the whole winter.
Don’t let water collect around the plant. Too much water can freeze around the roots and lead to rot.
Watering in winter
We often tell growers to follow the 3 D’s to keep their succulents alive and happy, but winter is a little different.
Keep your plants as dry as possible. If they show signs of drought, give them a little water. Some plants, such as Aeonium and Haworthia, grow through the winter months if conditions are right. Water these a little if their lower leaves look shrivelled.
If your soil becomes waterlogged, we suggest taking off 70% of the soil and leaving the plant to dry in an empty pot somewhere cool and bright. Once it is dry, repot it into dry compost.
Over-watering is one of the most common causes of succulent problems. How much water a plant needs depends largely on where you keep it, so think about that when you water.
The best way to tell whether a plant is dry is to pick up the pot and judge by its weight.
Without proper drainage, succulents can get root rot, especially in winter, so always check that the drainage holes haven’t become blocked. Good drainage gives them the desert-like conditions they need.
Keeping plants indoors in winter
To extend the growing season, you can move Aeoniums to a cooler, less sunny or shady spot to reduce dormancy.
Aeoniums can keep growing in winter, though more slowly. They do best at 12-16°C at night and 18-22°C during the day.
Light levels
Lower light levels in winter make most plants lose their bright colours, and some will stretch a little as they reach for light. Put your succulents in the brightest spot you can. You may even need grow lights to give them enough light.
Air movement
Moving air keeps your succulents happy and free of fungus, and a simple fan helps more than you might think. If the temperature allows, open a window or vent to let some fresh air over your plants, and remember to close it if it gets cold. The airflow also helps them dry out, which lowers the chance of rot.
Indoor watering
Indoors, let the soil stay mostly dry all winter. If the lower leaves look wrinkly, the plant needs water, so give it a little. Depending on how warm your home is, that might be once a month or once a week.
Temperature regulation
Your plants will stay healthier over winter at lower temperatures. For most succulents, 7-13°C is best: it limits unnatural growth while keeping the plant frost free.
Thank you for reading!
If you have any other care questions, email us at info@surrealsucculents.co.uk and we will be happy to help.
You can find more of our care guides in the Plant Care & Advice section.
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