What Is the Best Water pH for Succulents? - CactusWay (2023)

FAQs

What is the best water pH for succulents? ›

Aim for 5.5 to 6.5

During a recent Cactus & Succulent Society webinar, Ernesto Sandoval advised that the proper pH for watering succulents is approximately 5.5 to 6.5 (slightly acidic).

In his book on Cactus Culture he emphasizes that pH=6.0 is the proper pH for water for cacti. Buxbaum also shows pictorial evidence for the much slower growth of cacti at higher pH.

For most plants and succulents, the best type of water to use is rain water or distilled water. Tap water often contain lots of mineral like magnesium or calcium that can build up in the soil or appear on the leaves as white dot.

Cacti grow best undoutedly in an acid soil, with a pH value of between 5 and 6.5. If your plants are just not growing after say 12 months in a compost, it may be that you have water in your area which has a very high pH (Alkaline) and this water raises the alkalinity of your soil.

Watering is an essential part to how well your cacti or succulent grows. Overwatering will stunt growth, but under-watering causes shrivelling. Tepid rainwater should be used for watering, rather than tap water. This is because the minerals in tap water build up in the soil and can cause deposits on the leaves.

Most succulents like slightly acidic soil (5.5-6.5).

All succulents need lightweight, well-draining soil. Improve the planting area by mixing one part Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil for Cactus, Palm & Citrus with one part native soil. This will improve the soil density and add nutrition to give succulent plants a boost.

Like most outdoor plants, you should water succulents in the morning. Avoid tap water. Use filtered, rain, or distilled water instead. If you must use tap water, leave it out overnight to allow mineral deposits to dissipate naturally.

The pH of the growing medium can be more acidic, basic or alkaline, or neutral; so generally, plants thrive with a pH of about 5.5 to 6.5.

Besides being well-draining, the soil needs to be rich in nutrients in order for your succulent to grow faster. You can help the plant with a regular watering schedule. Add water as soon as the soil is dried out. No succulents like “wet feet”.

Is Epsom salt good for cactus and succulents? ›

Epsom salt works wonders as a fertilizer during the growing season and can help keep your succulents looking lush and beautiful for a long while. In addition, using an Epsom salt fertilizer is a great way to help encourage blooming in many succulents.

Don't use a spray bottle to water your succulents—misting can cause brittle roots and moldy leaves . You can also place pots in a pan of water and allow the water to absorb through the drainage hole. Once the top of the soil is moist, remove from the pan.

Potted succulents: A light feeding of manure tea, diluted fish emulsion, or an all-purpose granulated fertilizer help succulents grow lush and lovely. Be sure to dilute concentrated liquid fertilizers half-and-half with water. Not doing so risks damaging roots.

Cacti grow best in acidic soil with a pH between 5 and 6.5. Watering cacti with alkaline water slowly raises the pH of the soil and can cause inhibited growth.

A: Thank you for your question regarding Miracle-Gro Cactus Palm and Citrus Potting Mix. All of our potting mixes have an initial pH range of 5.5 - 6.2.

Many home growers have unknowingly caused damage to plants when watering cacti and succulents with tap water. If your tap water is from a municipal source (city water), it likely contains chlorine and fluoride, neither of which have beneficial nutrients for your plants.

Just give them a full water a few days later then LEAVE THEM ALONE! Make sure you place them wherever you get the best sunlight in your house, like a windowsill. Now just enjoy their presence, and give them a good soak every couple to few weeks.

They get by with little water, but not no water. Here's a rule of thumb when watering cacti indoors: let them completely dry out, and then water again. It's best if the pot has at least one drainage hole, so all the excess water flows right out the bottom of the pot.

Several people said their succulents looked healthier and bloomed more frequently. Those are just some of the benefits you can expect from fertilizing your succulents with coffee and paying attention to the pH levels of the soil! Coffee is acidic, but that's good for your plants!

Encouraging Root Growth in Succulents

Moreover, too much watering can rot their roots. Therefore, water them thrice a week to grow the roots healthier. Also, when you water your succulents, make sure to soak the soil completely; however, you must bed them in well-drained soil.

Do succulents like baking soda? ›

There are several safe and convenient treatments you can do with a succulent infected by Leaf Spots. You can either use an all-purpose fungicide or simply spray your succulent with a mild solution of bicarbonate of soda (baking soda), using ½ teaspoon per gallon of water.

For best results, feed your succulents every two weeks. In addition to feeding, other factors that contribute to growing healthy succulents include using a lightweight, well-draining soil and providing them with the right amount of light.

Copper sulfate is also a bactericide, and as such, is incredibly harmful to soil life. Anything with the Miracle-Gro label should be avoided entirely: Bagged potting soil and garden soil, 'Shake n Feed,' that blue stuff, and yes, even so-called “Organic” Miracle-Gro products should be entirely avoided.

What's the Ideal Pot Size for Succulents? The ideal pot size for succulents should be about 10% wider than the plant itself. If you are looking at shallow or deep pots, always choose the shallow pot. The depth of the pot should be 10% bigger than the plant.

The most important rule for watering succulents is this: Only water when the soil in the succulents' growing container is bone dry. We repeat, let the soil dry out completely between waterings. If the soil isn't crumbly, dry dirt, don't water it. See, most houseplants want their soil moist at all times.

Should I mist my succulents? No, do not mist your succulents. Doing so can cause spots and rotting. Remember, they come from arid climates with very little humidity, so they like dry air.

Instead of alcohol, you can also use soap such as dish soap diluted in water. Try using a few drops of soap in a cup of water and shake to mix well. Spray directly onto affected areas. It will take a few treatments to get rid of the problem.

EPA guidelines state that the pH of tap water should be between 6.5 and 8.5. Still, tap water in the U.S. tends to fall below that -- in the 4.3 to 5.3 range -- depending on where you live.

Plants differ in their preferences for soil pH, Miller said. In general, most plants grow best in a neutral soil pH, although there are important exceptions. For example, blueberries, azaleas and rhododendrons do well in an acidic soil between 4.5 and 5.5. Lawns favor a pH of 5.5 to 6.

Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate is naturally alkaline, with a pH of 8. When you add baking soda to your pool water, you will raise both the pH and the alkalinity, improving stability and clarity.

Do succulents need more water than cactus? ›

Succulents also include cacti, which generally need less water than other succulents. Rather than giving these water-thrifty plants little splashes of water here and there, give them a good soaking until water runs out the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.

Succulent Potting Soil

Occasional rain, plenty of sunlight, and lots of room to grow will result in bigger, faster-growing succulents. If you keep your plants indoors, make sure you do not have an overcrowded pot. Give your plants more space to grow.

Most cactus plants need lightweight, well-draining soil. Prepare the soil in the planting area by mixing equal parts native soil and Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil for Cactus, Palm & Citrus. It has Moisture Control® technology to help protect against over- and under-watering, both of which can cause problems for your cactus.

Coffee grounds are a great source of nitrogen, but also contain some amounts of potassium and magnesium. These are all great for your plants, and succulents are no exceptions. Giving them an environment rich in these nutrients can help lead to strong blooms and healthy leaves.

There is no scientific evidence that feeding plants sugar water is conducive to plant health, on the contrary, it can harm your plants and even kill them.

Watering A Cactus From The Top

Do not pour it over the top of the plant, because if it sits on there too long, it could cause black spots or tip rot. When it begins to flow from the bottom of the pot, you've added enough. Discard any that drains out, and never leave it soaking.

Underwatered. Succulents are super easy going plants that can survive months in drought condition. However, they can rot and die within a few days if given too much water.

A tea bag should be soaked in about 5 gallons of water for 24 – 36 hours until the liquid turns a golden-brown color. This water can replace tap water when your succulent is dry and needs a drink.

Succulents grow best in a porous sandy potting soil, so amending your potting soil with sand is super important. You could use any type of sand, but to ensure fast drainage for succulents, I recommend buying a coarse sand rather than the really fine stuff.

What time of year should I fertilize my succulents? ›

It is recommended to fertilize your succulents in spring. For many succulents, this is the start of their growth phase, when they will want to use those nutrients.

The ideal water for a cactus is rainwater or distilled water. Rainwater contains healthy minerals that feed a cactus.

Is bottled water good for plants? Well, yes. Plants need water to grow. And any type of water is good for plants.

If you want your cacti to grow, then water is vitally important. In a sunny location, which gives them plenty of heat during the day, you can give them water every week. The only rule is: Make sure the soil is dry between waterings.

for Succulent Plants

Most cacti and other succulent plants grow well in slightly acidic soil around pH6. A few succulent plants grow naturally on limestone soils with a basic reaction, but an alkaline soil is more likely to kill plants than a slightly acidic one.

Acid loving plants optimum pH range is 5.0 to 6.0. Potting mix pH is generally slightly higher in acidity (5.3-6.5).

A: Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix has an initial pH range of 5.5 - 6.2. The types of plants used, and the type of water they use (city water, rainwater, well water) will all change the pH as soon as they contact our product.

Ideal Water for Succulents

The ideal pH range is below 6.5, right at 6.0 for most succulents, which is acidic.

Alkalinity and pH are two important factors in determining the suitability of water for irrigating plants. pH is a measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in water or other liquids. In general, water for irrigation should have a pH b etween 5.0 and 7.0.

Soft succulents will enjoy anything over 32 degrees F. Preferably 40 degrees and up. Temperatures under freezing are simply too cold for these plants to survive. Their plump and fleshy leaves where they store water will freeze and rot the plant.

What does Epsom salt do for succulents? ›

Epsom salt works wonders as a fertilizer during the growing season and can help keep your succulents looking lush and beautiful for a long while. In addition, using an Epsom salt fertilizer is a great way to help encourage blooming in many succulents.

Using tap water to succulents on a regular basis may lead its soil to turn pale or whitish in color due to the harmful chemicals it contains that will sit in the soil. You can, however, avoid this by frequently changing the potting medium, and at the same time, closely watch out for any root rot.

Water contains atmospheric gases as well as carbon dioxide, and when the carbon dioxide dissolves it forms carbonic acid, which makes the pH of normal rain about a 5.6 on the pH scale.

Pro: Bottled water can be a great alternative to tap water, if the local water is not safe for plants. If bottled water is the easiest option for you, try to use bottled spring water as it contains natural minerals that help plants grow.

High media-pH (above 6.4) induced iron deficiency is the most common nutritional problem for certain iron-inefficient crops (Figure 1), including calibrachoa, diascia, nemesia, pansy, petunia, scaevola, snapdragon and vinca.

While watering your yard plants with bottled water may be impractical, using bottled spring water for your indoor plants will make a big difference for them. To give your plants the absolute best, rainwater and bottled spring water are your best options. Any water containing sugar or salt will hurt them!

Full grown succulents don't actually like to be misted. They thrive in arid climates, so when you mist them, you are changing the humidity around the plant. This can lead to rot as well. Use misting for propagation babes to lightly provide water to their delicate little roots.

Succulents do better with periodic long, deep drinks that soak its soil to the bottom of the pot than regular but timid waterings that wet the top inch or two of the soil in the container. So when your succulents' soil is bone dry, drench that baby. Let the soil dry out completely, then drench again. Dry out.