So the question is, how much sunlight does a succulent plant need? Succulent plants are among the most interesting and least demanding house plants, attractive for their variety of shapes, colours, and hardiness.
They are linked to desert scenery and blazing sunshine, yet they enjoy sunlight, though not all of them can withstand the intense heat.
The main trick to growing healthy, colourful succulents is to understand the amount of sunlight required and how it is distributed, given the circumstances around them.
Optimal sunlight promotes short growth, deep colour, and extended sustainability, whereas excess or deficiency will cause stress and harm.
How Much Sunlight Does a Succulent Plant Need?
Sunlight Requirement of Succulent Plants
The succulent plants have evolved to survive in areas that receive a lot of sunlight and little rain. Their thick, fleshy leaves serve as reservoirs, allowing them to conserve water and resist the effects of prolonged droughts.
The succulents in their natural environment spend most of the day under bright sunlight, which is why they usually need 4 to 6 hours of direct or bright indirect sunlight day in, day out to live healthy lives.
Direct sun exposure on outdoor succulents, including aloe, agave, and echeveria, causes them to thrive to an extent of becoming thick and rich in colour.
The indoor succulents, on the other hand, enjoy bright light, which is filtered, e.g., the light of an east or south-facing window.
Understanding Symptoms of appropriate and inappropriate Light Exposure
Succulent plants portray their wellness through their appearance. Their colour, shape, and texture can be observed, which will help you know whether they are getting the necessary sunlight or not.
A succulent, which is not receiving sufficient light, usually becomes pale and loses its colours, growing thin and tall in search of light. The leaves become weak or lose their rigidity, and the general look of the plant becomes weak and leggy.
Excessive sunlight could, on the other hand, be just as detrimental. A plant with succulent leaves can develop sunburn spots, which are white, brown, or transparent spots on the leaves as a result of being exposed to direct light, particularly in hot weather.
Other plants also react to the high intensity of light by turning reddish or orange, a natural response to stress, which may be appealing in certain cases but disastrous in some.
In case a plant is overexposed to a large degree, its leaves may turn in, become withered, or even dry completely.
The compromise between Light Indoors and Outdoors
The necessary environment must be matched with the appropriate lighting place where your succulents reside. In the case of indoor succulents, one can really depend on location close to a bright window.
The south-facing windows get the most sunlight during the day, and the east-facing windows give other windows soft morning sunlight that does not pose much threat to the delicate leaves.
When there is not enough natural light penetrating your indoor area, you can always use artificial light.
Natural daylight imitating grow lights, usually in the 5000-6500 Kelvin range, are an excellent alternative. It should be maintained several to twelve inches above the plants throughout the day, not less than 12 to 14 hours to get a good, healthy, and balanced growth.
There are other needs of outdoor succulents. Most of the types used outdoors do well in full sun, although they also need acclimatisation. Plants placed directly in a dark interior environment and then placed in the sun may easily get burned.
The succulent also acclimates safely by gradually increasing the exposure during a week or two.
In extremely hot areas, it is very helpful to shade the plants in the afternoon or cover them with a thin shade cloth to keep them out of direct sunlight during the longest sunlight duration.
Light balance guarantees that the succulents do not overheat because of excessive heating and drying out of water.
Seasonal Sunlight Readjustments to Optimum Growth
The quantity and strength of the sun vary with the seasons, and the treatment of your succulent must vary. The succulents are in good bloom during spring and summer.
They have extended days and brighter light and therefore, grow good roots and rich colours. This is the ideal period for placing indoor succulents outdoors so as to obtain additional sunlight, as long as it is introduced slowly to the brighter light environment.
Around fall, the light is no longer as intense, and the days are fewer. Succulents naturally retard their growth, and their need for light diminishes.
Best Practical Advice on Healthy Lighting Maintenance
Keeping the appropriate light intensity of succulents is a continuous activity that requires important to be noticed and making several changes.
The brightness can be measured with the help of light metres or apps on phones; most cactuses will grow in a light intensity of between ten to and twenty thousand lux.
Plants should be moved around after a few weeks to absorb light equally and avoid uneven distribution of the plant. Maintaining the cleanliness of windows is also a surprising difference, as dust and dirt may prevent a large portion of sunlight into the room.
Above all, you will be observed most, and you will know more than you measure.
Observing the response of your succulent would allow adjusting the light conditions to the correct ones and make sure that the plant grows small, spacious, and full of lively colour.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do not to have a leggy succulent in my house?
To avoid stretching, one should increase the level of light to the plant. Making it more towards the window that has a lot of light or installing a grow light can make a significant difference. It is also good to regularly rotate the pot so that all the sides of the plants are allowed to be exposed to light, so that the plant does not assume the shape of the pot.
Are there too many sunrays with succulents out?
Yes, too much sun may cause sunburn and leave one dehydrated. The introduction of succulents to open light should be progressive, particularly when they have been kept harvest in the houses. They can be provided with some shade on hot afternoons to ensure they do not get damaged.
Do succulents grow well enough under artificial light?
Considering that natural light may be limited, artificial light is capable of supporting the growth of succulents. The sunlight is well replicated by the use of full-spectrum LED grow lights that have a daylight temperature of five to six and a half thousand Kelvin. By having the lights on between 12-14 hours per day, the plants are assisted to continue their growth cycle.