Succulents, when they remain green, do not look as appealing as they do when they are in all their colorful glory with vibrant hues! Follow these Secret Hacks for Colorful Succulents to make sure you have the best display of them!
Check out pretty succulents that change color here
Secret Hacks for Colorful Succulents
1. Pick the Right Variety
If you are fond of colorful succulents, then buy a variety with vivid shades — pick your favorite variety from 50 colorful succulents here. However, you can make them more colorful by following these given hacks!
2. Keep them Slightly Stressed
There are several environmental fluctuations that cause succulents to change color. These are:
Change in temperature and season
Alteration in sun exposure
Change in water levels
Any type of mentioned succulent stress results in a change of its formation of anthocyanin. When it receives more sunlight, the production of anthocyanin increases to fight potential harm due to UV rays. This results in the plant taking a vivid hue, which makes them more colorful.
The flavonoids in succulents provide protection from falling temperatures, which is why some succulents change color when the temperature reduces.
Also, when you decrease watering, the formation of anthocyanin increases, making their foliage full of colors!
Not all succulents change colors when they are stressed. Some of the popular ones that do are Sedums, Aloes, Kalanchoes, Crassulas, Euphorbias, Aeoniums, Sempervivums, and Echeverias
3. Keep them Slightly Root Bound
Keeping succulents in a root-bound stage puts them under stress, and they become colorful in such situations. In large containers, the plant focuses and puts energy into producing more roots. Big pots also stay overly moist, which is a strict no-no for succulents as this promotes root rot.
4. Location is Important
Depending more on the variety, most succulents require a mix of sunlight and shade as 8-10 hours of full sun can burn the foliage, and on the contrary, lack of it can turn them lanky and stretched. If you want to make your succulents more colorful, acclimate them to more sunlight gradually as sudden change can burn the leaves.
Colorful succulent varieties such as paddle kalanchoe, aeoniums, echeverias, and sempervivums need at least six hours of sun in a day to stay colorful. Lack of sunlight causes a faded hue, whereas heat and cold (not freezing) bring out darker shades.
Some succulent varieties become more colorful in winter months, some in spring when they receive sunny, warm days and cool nights.
5. Move Them Outdoors
Take your indoor succulents outdoors in warmer months. Allow them to bath in rainwater as it contains oxygen and trace minerals which plant doesn’t get from tap water. Succulents will also benefit from air-circulation that indoors they lack.
Note: Do not place indoor succulents in full sun as the sudden changes in light can burn the foliage.
6. Temperature Change Do Wonders
Temperature plays a vital role in enhancing the color of succulents, as some varieties change the shade in cold weather. Similarly, warm temperatures also impact the hue of these fleshy plants. You can experiment with the temperature to find out how your succulent changes color.
7. Fertilize Right
Feed your succulents once in 3-8 weeks in the growing season from spring to early fall, with succulent or any balanced fertilizer having equal NPK diluted to one-quarter of its recommended strength. Frequency on the type of succulent and its size! Avoid fertilization during winter or when they have dormancy.
Following these tricks can help your succulents achieve their most beautiful vivid hue. If you have more tips, please share them in the comment box!
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