How Often to Water Succulents—and the Best Way to Do It

Succulents are known for being low-maintenance plants that can withstand periods of drought. But like any plant, succulents need the occasional watering to stay lush and healthy. While watering too often can lead to mushy leaves and root rot, watering too little will cause the leaves to turn brown and shrivel up. Striking the perfect balance will ensure these heat-tolerant plants stay happy. To keep you from over or underwatering your succulents, we spoke to gardening experts who shared their tips for how often to water succulents—and the best way to do so.

How Often to Water Succulents

How often you water succulents depends on a few factors, including the variety of succulent you're growing, environmental conditions, container size, and more. That said, succulents are very drought-tolerant plants that can withstand infrequent watering. "As a very general guideline, consider starting with watering once every 10 to 14 days or so," says Justin Hancock, horticulturist for Costa Farms.

The best way to create a watering schedule for your succulents is by testing the soil. Do so by sticking a wood toothpick into the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot. "If the toothpick comes out clean (no potting mix adhering to it), the plant is probably dry and could use water," says Hancock. "If it comes out with potting mix on it, then there’s probably enough moisture in the potting mix." If you're growing succulents in the ground, stick a finger about 1 inch deep into the soil and water if it feels dry.

Factors to Consider When Watering Succulents

How often succulents need water depends on factors like sunlight, soil, container size, temperature, and more.

Soil

Soil or potting mix has a significant impact on how often you need to water your succulents because different types hold on to water differently. Generally, succulents need well-draining soil. "I usually recommend that folks start out with a mix made for cacti and succulents before experimenting with other types of potting mixes," says Hancock.

Humidity and Temperature

The warmer and drier it is, the faster moisture typically evaporates, which will lead to more frequent watering. "Seasonality can definitely play a role in how often you water your succulents indoors," says Hancock. "A lot of people find their plants naturally use less water, and there’s less evaporation in the cooler months of autumn and winter."

Container Size

For potted succulents, the size of the container may dictate how often you need to water your plants. "Potting mix works like a sponge—it absorbs moisture, making it available for the plant," says Hancock. "The larger the container, the more potting mix, so the more moisture it will hold and the less often you need to water."

On the flip side, the larger the plant is relative to the container, the more roots there will be pulling moisture out of the soil, so you may need to water more frequently. This is why root-bound plants dry out faster.

Sunlight

Succulents exposed to more sunlight will need more water. "The more light a plant gets, the more fuel for photosynthesis, and the faster it will grow," says Hancock. "The faster it grows, the more water it uses." This is another reason people find they need to water their succulents a bit more in spring and summer (when the days are longer) than during fall and winter.

How to Water Succulents

There are three common ways to water succulents: bottom watering, top watering, and submerging. The method you choose is entirely up to you.

Bottom Watering

One of the easiest ways to water succulents is through bottom watering. For this technique, set your succulent in a shallow dish of water for 10 minutes or so and let it absorb water through the drainage holes. Then take the plant out of the dish, let it drip, and put it back in its place, says Hancock, adding that this is his preferred method.

Top Watering

Many people prefer to water from the top of the succulent, which is when you add moisture to the top of the soil and let it percolate down through to the roots, says Hancock. Try to avoid getting the foliage wet when using this method by watering around the base of the plant.

Submerging

Another method that's great for smaller containers is submerging. "Place the container in a sink and fill the sink until the water comes to the top edge of the container," says Linda Langelo, horticulture specialist at Colorado State University. "Let it stay there a few minutes. Remove the container and allow all the excess water to drain away."

Signs Your Succulents Are Being Underwatered 

When succulents are underwatered, the leaves typically turn brown and can sometimes wrinkle or shrivel up, says Langelo. Watering too often can also cause the leaves to fall off the plant. The soil or potting mix will likely feel very dry to the touch.

Signs Your Succulents Are Being Overwatered 

When succulents are overwatered, their roots suffocate and die, which usually causes the leaves to turn soft and drop off the plant. "As the plant continues to suffer, the stem (if the succulent has a stem) may also get soft and mushy," says Hancock. "If you pull the plant out of its pot to look at the roots, they’ll also be mushy and often discolored."