How to water a succulent garden

4 years ago

Hi there!

Asking for recommendations. i purchased a succulent garden from our local BJ’s. The issue I’m having is getting the clear plastic pot with drainage holes out of the ceramic pot. i don’t want there to be water accumulation in the ceramic pot. Ideas??

Featured Answer

tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)

4 years ago

Cut a piece of ribbon or string and lay it across the middle of the pot before you drop the plastic pot back into the cache pot. To remove the pot the plants are in, grab both ends of the string/ribbon and pull the pot up far enough to get a grip on the edges of the pot. You might want to tie loops at the ends if using a string.

OR,

Drop a piece of wood, plastic container, or other item(s) into the bottom of the pot so the actual pot is stable and the rim of the plant's pot sits just high enough over the rim of the cache pot to get a grip on it with your fingers.

OR,

Melt 2 holes on the actual pot with a hot nail held with pliers. Fashion 2 hooks from pieces of wire. Slip the hooks through the holes and lift. Melting the holes will make them much stronger than if the holes were drilled.

When you water, try to avoid getting water on the leaves or anywhere where it can collect in any cupped leaves or nooks/crannies. Fungal spores need a continual source of moisture over varying periods to activate.

This is the disease tetrahedron. All 4 of the requirements must be met for a pathogen to infect the plant. By denying fungal spores the amount of TIME they need be continually wet, you eliminate one side ot the tetrahedron, which is all that's needed to prevent a pathogenic attack. This applies to plants other than succulents as well, which is why you so often see the advice to 'water in the morning' (so the water dries up quickly in the warmth and normally increased air movement that occurs during the daytime hours.

When you water, be sure the entire soil column has been moistened and at least 20% of the entire volume of water used during the session exits the drain hole. This ensures there can be no excessive build-up of dissolved solids (salts) in the grow medium, which can affect root health and root function. A healthy root system is a prerequisite to a healthy plant.

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Comments (9)

John (Zone 5b/6a, IN)
4 years ago
Pull harder.
Gita Kavala
4 years ago
the clear, plastic container is really tightly packed in. no space to get a finger in there!
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John (Zone 5b/6a, IN)
4 years ago
Tip it over and repot everything. There's a good chance the soil in there is extremely high in peat which is usually not the most ideal potting medium for succulents unless you love in southern AZ or Texas or somewhere equally hot and arid. Peat is typically great for water retention, not drainage.
Gita Kavala
4 years ago
Would it help if i just poured a little water into the pot? i can’t imagine repotting this. Not skilled at doing this or something similar at all!
John (Zone 5b/6a, IN)
4 years ago
Would it help what specifically?

Gita, I want it to be clear that I do not intend to come across as rude or condescending but I also acknowledge that I do come across that way sometimes.

There are some basics of plant care (which can be applied to succulent care) that are probably worth learning about. To that end, I'd suggest reading the information found here: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6167237/container-soils-water-movement-and-retention-8-26-21

And beyond that, the plants you have in that container will outgrow the space and need to be repotted. They are living, dynamic organisms that will change, not decorations that will stay frozen in time. The sooner you move them into a soil that allows good oxygenation and drainage, the better off they'll be.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years ago
"i can’t imagine repotting this. Not skilled at doing this or something similar at all!"

If you want to be the guardian of houseplants, specially succulents, you will need to learn :-)) And fast! The link John provided is an excellent place to start but I would also suggest perusing the Cacti and Succulents forum for soil media suggestions as well as care and propagation tips.
woodrose77
4 years ago
Gita Kavala Could you stick the blade of a butter knife between the plastic pot and the outer container and bend the plastic pot inward to loosen it? You can give your plants a little bit of water if the potting mix feels really dry. Water will expand the soil and make it harder to get the plastic pot out, though. I had the same problem with an Aloe plant and I think I let it dry out as much as possible before finally getting it out of the ceramic cachepot. Succulents don't need a lot of water, and mine do better if I force myself to leave them alone.

Do go over to the Cacti and Succulents forum and maybe they can help you.
User thanked woodrose77
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Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you Woodrose. i managed to get it out by grasping and pulling it out with a pair of blunt scissors! 😊