How to Care for Outdoor Succulents

Succulents are usually considered indoor plants, charming on bookshelves and perfect on window ledges where they get just the right amount of light. However, succulents may also make great additions to outdoor gardens, depending on your climate and how they are planted—in the ground or pots. Even if you live where winters are harsh and temperatures fall below freezing, you can still enjoy succulents planted outdoors, such as sempervivums (hens and chicks), colorful sedums, agave, and Eastern prickly pear cactus. We spoke to a gardening expert who offers important tips on how to successfully plant or place succulents outside.

Can Succulents Grow Outside?

"You can grow succulents outside in almost all climates," says Marianne Hugo, director of several programs at Orange County Coastkeeper, a nonprofit conservation group. "If you live in colder parts of the country, it just takes a little more planning and rotating."

However, the vast majority of succulents won't survive a frost. Except for a few extra-hardy varieties, such as hens and chicks, which go dormant in freezing temperatures, outdoor succulents will die once cold weather moves in.

Planting in the Ground vs. Planters

Unless you live in the warmest parts of the country, it's best to plant your outdoor succulents in pots that can be moved inside once the temperature drops. Potting succulents also allows you to control how much water your plants receive. Although they're celebrated for being low-maintenance, succulents have delicate roots that can rot when overly saturated.

"There's only one way to truly kill a succulent, and that's too much water," says Hugo. "If you live in an area where it rains frequently, such as Portland, or if it's an unusually wet season, planters allow you to bring your succulents inside to keep dry."

Even in sunny Southern California, where conditions are ideal for succulents, Hugo finds planters helpful to prevent scorched plants in the ground. "When we're having a terrible heat wave, I move mine into the shade," she says. "Even succulents can get too much sun."

Caring for Succulents in the Ground

For all the advantages of pots, if you live in a perennially warm climate, consider planting some of your succulents in your garden bed. As desert natives, they tolerate weather extremes better than most plants, and are an easy way to cut down on wasteful water usage. When planting succulents in the ground, it's important to provide them with well-draining soil that will prevent root rot. Before planting, create a 6-inch mound using a lightweight, succulent-specific soil mix. Then, plant your succulent in this mound.

When planting succulents that like to sprawl, such as hens and chicks, be sure to allow enough space between plants. These petite plants spread generously as they mature. Once in the garden bed, succulents need little care. During extreme droughts or heat, you may consider watering if their leaves begin to shrivel. But keep in mind that thirsty succulents are better than drenched succulents. "When in doubt, if you're wondering if it needs water, it's better to err on the side of not watering your succulents," says Hugo.

Avoiding Pests

Although succulents don't attract many pests, those outdoors can become infested with the dreaded mealybug. These white, wingless insects are found in warmer climates and greenhouses, where they enjoy snacking on juicy plants-and there's no juicier plant than a succulent. If you observe mealybugs on your outdoor succulent, Hugo recommends removing the infested leaf or branch. If the bugs have invaded the entire plant, it's best to get rid of the plant.

Caring for Succulents in Planters

Succulents thrive in a variety of pots. Those that live exclusively indoors can occupy almost any type of vessel, from teapots to terrariums, provided the amount of water is carefully regulated. When outdoors, however, succulents can be soaked by heavy rains. For this reason, it's important to use pots with drainage holes. Terra cotta pots are ideal, as they naturally wick away moisture from the soil. Succulents should be potted in a lightweight succulent soil mix that allows for ideal drainage.

As with succulents planted in the ground, potted succulents living outdoors will rarely need watering. However, if it's unusually hot or dry, check in with your plants. Are the leaves shriveled? Does the soil appear dusty? If so, they likely need a drink. While it's true that most succulents enjoy abundant sunshine, some do best in partial sun or shade. Be sure the succulents in your planter have similar light requirements, and keep them in a portion of the yard that suits them best.

Moving Succulents Indoors

If you live in a cooler climate, your potted succulents will have to come indoors before your area experiences the first frost of the season. Before moving indoors, double-check for mealybugs. Remove any portions of plants that are infested because you don't want to introduce bugs to your indoor plants.

Indoor succulents require a generous amount of light. If you don't have enough sunshine to go around, Hugo suggests investing in grow lights. Some succulents go dormant over the winter and require little or no water. Others, however, continue to actively grow and will need to be watered as often as once a week. Research your plants to ensure that they enjoy a happy, healthy winter vacation indoors.