How Do Seasons Affect Succulents?

Succulent plants go through different cycles of growth throughout the year. You can expect your succulent’s growth levels and care requirements to change depending on the temperature and amount of sunlight available. Here’s a breakdown of how succulents behave in each season.

Spring

Spring is the start of the growing season, when the days start to get warmer and the days are longer. This signals the plant that it should start to become more active in preparation for the summer growing season. Some new growth may start to emerge in the spring. If you want to repot your succulent or add fertilizer, the best time to do this is in the late spring before the summer growing season begins.

Summer

Summer marks the period of the most change and activity for succulents during a year. There may noticeable growth during this time, including new leaves and branches, or the plant growing taller and wider overall. You may choose to move your succulents outside for the season. Because of the warmer weather and increased sunshine, succulents will need to be watered more often. Many succulents will produce flowers in summer months.

Autumn

Weather starts to cool and the days gradually become shorter, which triggers the plant to prepare for the winter months ahead. Growth slows down and the plant will require less water than it did during the hot summer months. Succulents that were moved outside for the summer should be brought back indoors to avoid having them get damaged by cooler temperatures.

Winter

Winter is the period of slowest growth for succulents. Indoor plants do not experience a true period of dormancy, since temperatures are kept too warm for that, but they do become much less active. During this time, succulents usually require very little water and will not produce new growth. It may be necessary to supplement the available sunlight with a grow lamp if your area has especially short daylight hours during the winter.