My cousin said I was killing my succulents with kindness

I was watering my little collection every single morning, thinking they needed it in this dry apartment. She came over last month, pointed at my jade plant, and said 'Kelly, those leaves are mushy, you're drowning them.' I cut back to watering only once every two weeks, and after a month, three of them pushed out new growth. I had no idea succulents liked being dry so much. Has anyone else had a plant care habit that was actually doing more harm than good?

3 comments

3 Comments

jason_stone1mo ago

My basil plant got the same soggy death from daily watering.

davis.ivan1mo ago

That soggy death is so common... the real trick is the soil, not just the watering. I lost three basil plants before I learned they need dirt that drains super fast. A good pot with holes at the bottom is key, but it's not enough on its own. You have to stick your finger in to check if the top inch is dry before you even think about giving it more water.

lindareed24d ago

The soggy death thing really got me. I did the same thing with my first succulent, I was so proud of how often I watered it thinking I was being a good plant parent. Davis.ivan is totally right about the soil too, I had this one little pot with no drainage holes and I thought it was fine but the roots just sat in water and rotted. It's hard to break that habit of wanting to take care of something every day, especially when you see the top looking dry. I'm glad you figured it out before they all died, mine was a goner by the time I learned my lesson. That new growth has to feel really rewarding after all that.