Succulents are quite popular in the garden field, one of the typical reasons is their unusual and vibrant color. These blue color succulents with a rosette shape look stunning in your living rooms and balconies. 

Interestingly, your succulent is more likely to lose its color in perfect conditions. Succulents show the best results when provided with slight stress in growing conditions. Read on to find out the most important reason why your succulents lose colors as well as some tried and tested tips on how to maintain succulent color.

What factors affect succulents' color?

Primarily, succulents change their colors based on available sunlight, water, and temperature. You can easily adjust these conditions accordingly to maintain succulent color. Here’s how these factors affect your plant.

Sunlight:

One of the major factors that affect succulents' color is sunlight. Succulents show colored leaves when placed in sunlight. This is basically a protective mechanism from harsh UV rays and sunlight. Hence, when you take away the sunlight, succulents change their color to pale green. Early morning and sunset sunlight provide ideal conditions for their growth of color.

Many people believe indirect sunlight from windows is the same as direct sunlight. This is not the case! If you have placed your succulent on a windowsill facing East, consider changing its location to somewhere where it gets at least 4-hours of direct sunlight. But do not change the former environment at once, a gradual way is recommended. Otherwise, you'll kill them.

You can also replace sunlight with artificial light. Just make sure you are providing the right amount of light and you should be good to go. If you have no idea, recommend learning how to use growth light firstly.

How to Care for Succulents with Artificial Lights

Water:

If you are watering your succulents perfectly at regular intervals, like every week, this might be the reason why your succulents lose color. These tiny plants need to be exposed to stress from time to time in order to exhibit their true colors. 

If you are currently watering your succulents every week, try cutting it down to once every 1.5 weeks, then 2 weeks. However, keep a close eye for any signs of dehydration.

Moreover, you need to plant them in appropriate pots with draining holes at their bottom to ensure the soil does not become soggy. The right potting soil mix is also essential for healthy, colorful succulents. You can either use cactus soil, or make your own by mixing together soil, gritty rocks, and perlite for a well-draining mix. 

Temperature: 

Since bright colors attract heat, succulents change their color into lighter shades in warm conditions, thus preventing over-heating.
Your succulents will show the most vibrant colors during winters in temperatures between 70 to 40°F, and start appearing pale when the Spring starts.

The difference in temperature between day and night can lead out the color in a fast way. So try to create an environment that has a difference in temperature between day and night if you want to see the result as quickly as possible. 

The best way to lead out or maintain succulents’ color:

The best way to lead out succulents’ color or maintain it is to provide a proper environment for their growth. This applies to the amount of sunlight, water as well as temperature conditions. 

1. Appropriate placement:

You need to place your succulents at a location where it gets at least 4-hours of direct sunlight. Move your newly planted succulents to shade when the sunlight gets too harsh, and gradually increase their sun hours.

2. Proper container:

Choosing the wrong container for your plant may lead to soggy, rotten roots which may cause their death. Make sure you drill holes at the bottom before planting or choosing succulent planters with drainage holes.

3. Right potting soil: 

Using the right soil is as crucial as choosing the right container. You need to use well-draining soil such as our succulent soil for your succulents.

4. Adequate watering:

The best way to water your succulents is to soak them completely when the topmost layer of the soil is dry. You should be able to see the water running through the drain holes at the bottom. Leave it for a week or two and repeat the process.

5. Temperature:

Create an environment that has a different temperature between day and night.