The size a succulent grows to is dependent on several factors. The most obvious of these is the vessel that they are planted in. Succulents, like most plants, need to be repotted the larger their roots get. The more space their roots have to grow into, the bigger the actual plant is going to be.
Make sure you are using the correct soil for your succulent and that it has proper drainage to avoid root rot. Make sure the soil mix you are using has the right amount of nutrients as well.
If your succulent is provided with all of the necessary components to thrive, it will grow into the biggest it can possibly become, dependent on the kind of succulent, of course.
Know your succulent
Before you assume your succulents will grow to massive sizes, temper your expectations and learn about your specific succulent type. Identify whether your succulent is small and slow-growing or big and fast-growing.
If you are aware of what your succulent’s name is, look up its maximum size and speed of growth on the internet. If you are unaware of the succulent’s name, try joining local Facebook groups that talk about succulents and gardening in general. You will likely find several members knowledgeable enough to identify your plant.
If you have identified your succulent, do ample research regarding its care. Know the kind of soil it likes, how often it needs to be watered, how much sunlight it needs, and how to properly prune and repot it. The more information you read on the plant, the easier it will be to care for it in the future.
Succulents thrive in the ground
Succulents are great indoor plants, but placing them in pots can be very limiting to some types. Succulents will flourish and grow most quickly when placed in the ground. Unfortunately, there are parts of the world that have harsh winters.
Most succulents will die due to frost and ice. Thankfully, there are ways to grow succulents indoors during the winter.
In an ideal climate, the succulent’s root system will have plenty of room to grow when planted in the ground. Make sure you plant your succulents in a part of the garden that does not hold pooled water. It has to be in an area with great drainage. Place a sun-loving succulent under the sun and place shade-loving succulents under a tree or anywhere with shade.
Succulents will typically grow well in the ground even in poorer soil, but if you use good quality soil, they will prosper.
Use a bigger pot
As with most plants, if the plant has room for the roots to grow, the plant will grow better. This is still dependent on the type of plant, but if it is a succulent that can become quite big, then it is going to grow. If it is a small plant that is naturally slow-growing, there is not much one can do to try to make it bigger.
If your succulent is an indoor plant, repot it to a pot that is designed for a plant three times its size. If it outgrows the new pot, repot it into another larger pot. Continue doing this until the plant is no longer getting bigger.
Repotting succulents into even a slightly bigger pot regularly will help the succulent because you are essentially replanting it in fresh and healthy soil each time. This way you can also periodically check its root health. Potting mix has organic matter, so it can harbor fungi and pests. Transferring your succulent regularly will serve as a monthly physical examination.
Give your succulent its ideal living situation
Succulents are relatively easy to care for: as long as you provide them with their basic needs, they will grow beautifully.
Most succulents love the sunlight. They have to be exposed to sunlight for several hours a day to grow and be healthy. This is why it is important to do your research regarding the plants you plan on owning.
For plants that need sunlight, you can place them in an area of your house or yard that gets ample morning light but is shaded in the afternoon. In the fall and winter, it may be best to take your succulents indoors, as these plants do not tolerate the cold well.
Know when your succulent is dormant
Some succulents become dormant in the summer, while others wait until winter. Know when your succulent goes dormant so you do not try and encourage it to grow when it literally cannot. If you know that your succulent is dormant, just let it be and it will keep growing when it is ready.
Keep your succulents safe as they grow
Because succulents have a rough, hardy look, most people think they are able to be constantly touched and moved. Succulents may be less delicate because of the places they originated from, but they are actually very sensitive to physical damage. This damage can greatly impact the growth process of your succulent. Sometimes, a scratch can take weeks, or even months to fully heal.
Keep your succulents out of your pet’s and children’s reach. Your pet might bite or trample it, while your toddler might play with it. This is especially important for succulents that have thorns and spines. Keep your succulents away from areas affected by strong wind as the pots may fall over and break.
Conclusion
The size of a succulent is still primarily dependent on the type of succulent it is. If it is a naturally large succulent, providing it with all of its needs by doing research on proper care should be enough. It will grow to its full potential as long as it is looked after. A small succulent, no matter what you do to make it grow larger than what is natural, will never grow bigger.
Identify your succulent and learn how to care for it, plant it in the ground if possible, repot it gradually to a bigger pot as it grows larger, know when it is dormant, and keep it safe from your pets and children.
Image: istockphoto.com / InnaPoka