The Dull Club, 2730 park Street, New York, NY (2025)

12/21/2025

She’s been thriving and I’m so happy.

12/21/2025

How to Water Succulent Plants

Succulents are not like most other plants. So naturally, if you try to water them like other plants, especially other house plants, they aren’t going to survive!

However, this doesn’t mean you can neglect them completely.

These two extremes are what make it seem like succulents are hard to grow. But with this simple watering method, you’ll be able to give you succulents enough water to thrive.

How to Water Succulent Plants (indoors and outdoors)

The best way to water succulents is with the “soak and dry” method. Soak the soil completely then let the soil dry out completely before watering again. And make sure the succulents are in a well draining soil in a pot with a drainage hole (more on that in a minute).

Pretty simple, right? See this method in action:
For indoor succulents, it is generally best if water doesn’t get on top of the leaves. If it sits on a leaf for too long it can cause rot.

Use a small spout watering can (this one is fantastic) or a squeeze bottle.

This isn’t as much of an issue for outdoor succulents because there is more airflow and the water will dry out quicker.

If possible, just pour water onto the soil around your succulents until it is completely soaked. DO NOT water your succulents again until the soil has dried out — from the top of the pot to the bottom.

Succulents do not like to sit in wet soil for more than 2-3 days.

How often should I water my succulents?

Succulents should be watered only when the soil has dried out completely. There is no universal watering schedule that works for every succulent in every climate.

Many indoor succulent growers find that watering 14-21 days is a good frequency to keep their succulents alive. Use this timeline as a starting point and adjust as needed.

Why does this watering method work?

Succulents are generally native to areas where the soil drains quickly and water is heavy, but infrequent. Think about cacti (a subcategory of succulents) out in the desert… They get flash floods of water, with storms lasting 24-28 hours, followed by weeks without any water at all.

While your succulents, especially indoors, don’t need a watering schedule this extreme, they will benefit from the “soak and dry” approach.

With a deep watering the succulent has plenty of access to water. During the “drought” between watering, the succulent will begin to grow new roots, searching for more water.

The soak and dry method helps the succulent develop a large, healthy root system which will enable it to withstand longer periods of drought than most other plants.