Succulent care

Simple care for happy succulents.

We mostly work with succulents and cacti because they are easy to care for. We want our clients to take home a planter and reap the rewards of watching their succulents grow.

Of course, some people have the opposite of a green thumb. While we aren't miracle workers, we can offer some practical guidance to help you care for your succulent.

What is a succulent?

A clever plant built to store water.

Succulents are plants with thick, fleshy leaves, stems or roots that store water. This allows them to survive dry periods where many other plants struggle. A cactus is a type of succulent, but not every succulent is a cactus.

Succulents occur in dry and seasonally dry habitats across the world. South Africa is especially rich in them, from the Succulent Karoo in the Northern and Western Cape to indigenous aloes, crassulas, euphorbias and haworthias found across different regions.

Wonderfully weird facts

Living stones: Lithops disguise themselves as pebbles, helping them avoid being eaten in their dry Southern African habitat.
Night shift: Many succulents conserve water by opening their pores at night rather than during the heat of the day.
Prickly family rule: Cacti have small cushion-like structures called areoles. These are what make a cactus a cactus—not simply the presence of thorns.
Mostly American: Almost all cacti originated in the Americas. The mistletoe cactus is the famous exception with a natural range beyond them.
Built to shrink: Some succulents can visibly wrinkle during drought and plump up again after receiving water.

How to care for them

Start with the plant, not the calendar.

Pot size, drainage, season, temperature and light all change how quickly soil dries. Use these tabs as a guide and check the plant before acting.

How often should I water?

Always check the soil first. Water only once it is dry all the way through—not simply because a week has passed.

For a tiny gift planter without a drainage hole: about one tablespoon once a week can be a cautious starting point in warm, bright conditions. Use less in winter or a cool room. If the soil still feels damp, wait.

For a pot with drainage: water thoroughly until water runs from the hole, let it drain, and then wait until the soil is completely dry before watering again. Never leave the pot standing in water.

Still unsure? Send us a clear photo of the full plant, its leaves and the soil on WhatsApp. We will help where we can.