If your succulents refuse the longed-for flowering splendor, the houseplants missed the winter break. Only a species-appropriate overwintering puts the exotic jewels in the mood for a lavish abundance of flowers in the coming season. Here's how to do it right this year.
Succulents should be cool and dry in winter
Dry coolness is the secret recipe for the winter time
Succulents come from regions of this earth where rain is scarce, even during the winter. In order to overwinter the exotic bon vivants properly and at the same time to motivate them to induce flowering, a combination of dryness and a drop in temperature is important. That is how it goes:
- Move succulent plants to a bright, cool spot from November to February
- Ideally place at a temperature 5 degrees Celsius lower
- Water only occasionally during the winter so that the substrate does not dry out
- Do not fertilize from late October to early March
Large succulents can be watered for the last time in early November. Under normal conditions, this water supply lasts until February. Water small succulents in sips, provided the substrate has dried well. To protect against dry heating air, spray the leaves regularly with lime-free water.
For winter-blooming succulents, the dormant period is reversed. Poinsettias, for example, start dormant in spring. If indoor plants experience a drop in temperature to 14 to 15 degrees Celsius for 4 to 6 weeks during this time, combined with a reduced water supply, they put on their flowers again just in time for the next Christmas.
tips
In order for hardy succulents to overwinter outside, they need protection from moisture. Even a simple superstructure made of 4 posts and a translucent Plexiglas roof protects cacti and other succulent plants from dying in the cold. Furthermore, stop watering completely from November to February.