Succulents are hardy plants with solid vitality, making them perfect for beginners. However, despite low maintenance requirements, those purchased online can become very sensitive after traveling hundreds or thousands of miles. Therefore, succulents bought online require more attentive care. So, what should we avoid when taking care of these succulents? How should we handle the succulents we bring home? Let's find out!

What Not to Do After Receiving Your Succulents

Keep Succulents in the Package Box

After receiving the succulents, you should take the succulents out as soon as possible after receiving them. If the succulents are kept in a sealed box, they will likely be unable to breathe correctly, and mold will grow due to the enclosed air and dark environment.

Mix New Plants with Existing Ones

After receiving new succulents, they should be placed separately from the Existing plants. This process must last at least two weeks until you are sure new succulents are healthy and free of pests (such as mealybugs). This ensures that your succulents will not transmit new diseases or insects to the Existing healthy plants.

Repotting Immediately Upon Arrival

The succulents you receive have often traveled long distances and need time to adapt to their new environment. Repotting new succulents too soon can stress their root system, harming plants health. Please wait at least one week before repotting to give succulents time to acclimate.

Move Succulents Too Often

Even in the same room, the light levels in different locations vary greatly. Therefore, too much movement will cause constantly changing light conditions, interfering with the succulent's adaptation process, causing the plant to feel stressed and affecting health. So, after receiving the plants, fix them in a well-ventilated, shaded area.

Place succulents in Direct Sunlight

Before the succulents arrived, they were kept in a dark box for several days, making them particularly sensitive and fragile. If they are suddenly exposed to intense light, they may become stressed, wither, or even die. Instead, succulents should be placed in the shade or indirect sunlight first. After a few weeks, gradually increase the intensity of plants' light to help them acclimate.

Water Succulents Without Checking the Soil

After a long shipping period, succulents' metabolic capacity may be reduced. If watered immediately, succulents may not absorb water effectively and are prone to rot. Therefore, after receiving the succulents, you should check whether the soil is dry before watering.

Fertilize immediately after receiving succulents

Long-term shipping can leave succulents stressed and fragile. The roots may also suffer some damage. Therefore, fertilizing succulents right after unpacking can easily cause root burns.

Propagating Newly Arrived Succulents

Many succulent plant novices can't wait to propagate more plants after receiving their succulents. Leaf propagation is a standard method of propagating succulents. However, we do not recommend immediate propagation, especially leaf propagation, because most succulent leaves are wilted and lack water at this time, making it difficult to propagate successfully.

What to do After Receiving Succulents

First, you should unpack and check if the succulents are healthy.

If the succulents you received have serious quality problems, such as rot, pests, etc., you must take photos and contact the merchant.

But generally, the succulents you receive are healthy. However, you will likely need to remove 2-3 regular dead leaves at the bottom of the succulents and the soil overflowing during transportation.

Then you can follow the following guidelines according to different succulent types:

When Receiving Potted Succulents

Potting succulents are received with soil and pots; we can keep succulents in their original pots. You can repotting after the succulents have adapted to the new space.

Adaptation Period: Water and Light

After receiving succulents in good condition, place them in a spot with indirect light and ventilate them for 2-3 days.

After a week, you can check the moisture level by inserting a wooden stick into the soil. It is time to water if the stick shows that the succulent soil is dry.

Also, the intensity and duration of sunlight for succulents can gradually increase after a week.

Repotting: Planter and Soil

Choose a pot with drainage holes, ensuring it is at least 10% wider in diameter than the succulent to promote better root establishment. The drainage holes will help remove excess water and prevent root rot.

For soil, use a mix of general potting soil with a 7:3 ratio of nutrient soil to particles, which typically includes vermiculite and perlite. The ideal mix may vary depending on the succulent’s type, size, and growth stage. For high-quality, well-draining pre-mixed soil, visit our website.

Repotting steps:

Step 1: Remove the succulent from the pot. Use a brush to remove any soil remaining on the roots.

Step 2: It is recommended to soak the succulent's roots in a fungicide solution, such as thiabendazole or other plant disinfectants, and then let the succulent plant dry in a ventilated, cool place for 2-3 days.

Step 3: Fill the new pot with succulents. Mix soil about 2/3. Place the succulent in the middle.

Finally, more soil must be added to cover the roots completely. Make sure all leaves are above the soil level to prevent rot.

When Receiving Succulent Cuttings/Clippings

After receiving the succulent cutting, it must be planted. Succulent cutting can be used for DIY projects such as succulent arrangements or planted outdoors to decorate your garden.

Check the succulent cutting

First, check if the base of the cutting has healed. If the cutting has unhealed cuts, place it in a well-ventilated area for 2-3 days until it has healed.

Repotting Succulents

The soil for succulent cuttings can be prepared with a ratio of 2:1 of peat soil and perlite, and then water with a sprayer to ensure that the soil is slightly moist but not wet.

Insert 1/3 of the succulent plant with healed wounds into the soil. Place the cuttings in a well-ventilated, cool place with sufficient indirect light.

After about 20-30 days, the cuttings are taking root. No watering is required before rooting.

How do you know if it has taken root? You can gently pull up the succulent cuttings. If you encounter resistance, the succulent cuttings have taken root.

Maintenance requirements

Light: Gradually increase the light time and intensity, and finally fix it in a suitable position. Generally, succulents must absorb 4-6 hours of bright direct or indirect light. Morning sunlight is ideal for succulents because it's gentle. Direct sunlight in the afternoon and noon is too intense and harmful.

 Watering: Succulents only need watering once the plant has established roots. Once the succulent plant has established roots, you can begin watering thoroughly only when the soil is arid.

When Receiving Bare-root Succulents

You receive bare-root succulents without pots and soil. The succulents are not provided with any source of nutrients during transportation, so the leaves may shrink and wilt slightly.

After receiving bare-root succulents, if the plants have unhealed wounds, it takes 2-3 days for the wounds to heal.If the succulents are healthy and the roots are healed, you can plant the succulents in a pot with good drainage and drainage holes.

The succulents, after planting, need to be placed in a relaxed and well-ventilated place for 2-3 days. After that, check the soil's moisture with a stick and water thoroughly only when the soil is arid. Gradually increase the light after 2-3 weeks to help the succulents adapt to the new light conditions.

When Receiving Succulent Plugs

Plug tray succulents are ideal for DIY enthusiasts or those with outdoor planting needs.

Soak Up After Their Delivery

After receiving healthy succulents, place them in a location with indirect lighting and good ventilation for 2-3 days to help them recover from transportation stress. If the succulents are completely dry, use the bottom watering method by placing the entire pot in a shallow tray of water. This allows the roots and soil to absorb moisture from the bottom up.

Repotting

After 3-4 days, the succulents should have adjusted to their new environment, and you can proceed with arranging and transplanting them.

Prepare well-draining soil by mixing it with succulent potting soil. Gently push each plug out of its module, dig a hole slightly larger than the plug in the center of the new pot, place it in the hole, and compact the soil around it. Ensure that the new pot is well-ventilated.

Avoid watering the succulents for a week after transplanting. Place succulents in a well-ventilated, fresh location and check the soil after about a week to see if it has dried. If it is dry, water thoroughly.

Final Thoughts

The above are the precautions to take after receiving succulents. Maintenance needs may vary by type, but generally, you should:

1.Check their health.

2.Give them time to adapt.

3.Gradually increase light intensity and water as needed.

Succulents are remarkably low-maintenance and resilient, making them ideal for both beginners and experienced plant enthusiasts. Their unique beauty and minimal care requirements make them a rewarding addition to any space. If you have any insights or questions, feel free to leave a comment below!