Because of their unusual forms, hues, and low maintenance needs, succulents are incredibly popular. However, a common query among fans of succulents is: how quickly do these plants grow?
The growth rate can vary significantly between different succulent varieties, as well as being impacted by environmental conditions. In this in-depth guide, we’ll explore the factors that influence succulent growth and provide some general timelines for popular succulent types.
What Determines How Quickly Succulents Grow?
Several key elements influence the growth pace of succulent plants. Understanding these can help you provide the optimal care for healthy, expedited growth.
Light Exposure
Native environments of succulents are extremely intense, direct sunlight. In comparison to lower light levels, simulating those strong light conditions indoors or in shaded gardens will accelerate development. Inadequate sun exposure causes succulents to stretch toward the light source and develop etiolated, weak growth.
Water Needs
Overwatering is one of the top ways to stunt succulent growth or even kill these drought-tolerant plants. However, providing just enough water during active growth periods encourages succulents to grow quickly and develop new leaves/stems. Finding the right balance is critical.
Temperature
Most succulents prize warm, even hot temperatures in the 70-90°F range. Once nighttime lows dip below 55°F, growth begins to slow significantly. Hot summer conditions mirroring the succulents’ natural desert environments are prime for rapid growth spurts.
Soil and Nutrients
Fast-draining soil formulated for cacti and succulents prevents moisture from lingering too long around sensitive roots. Supplementing with a gentle, balanced fertilizer during spring/summer can give growth an extra boost as well. Poor soil leads to stunted growth.
Maturity and Age
Growth rates are highest when succulents are younger, smaller plants. As they reach mature size over the years, growth naturally slows down. Older specimens may have infrequent, very gradual growth.
General Succulent Growth Timelines
Keeping those crucial elements in mind, let us examine some broad growth rate recommendations for several types of succulents:
Fast Growers (up to 6+ inches per year)
• Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)
• Christmas Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana)
• Zebra Plant (Haworthia attenuata)
• String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus)
• Burro’s Tail (Sedum morganianum)
Moderate Growers (2-6 inches per year)
• Echeveria Varieties
• Aeonium Varieties
• Graptoveria/Graptosedum Hybrids
• Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum tectorum)
• Most Sedums and Sempervivums
Slow Growers (under 2 inches per year)
• Most Haworthia Varieties
• Living Stones (Lithops)
• Tree Euphorbias
• Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii)
• Many Cacti Species
Of course, these are just general guidelines – individual growth rates can vary based on the specific care provided and other environmental conditions. Let’s dive deeper into some of the most popular succulent varieties and their typical growth patterns.
Fast Growing Succulents
Jade Plant
The smooth, fleshy leaves and strong, woody stems of the jade plant are reasons for its popularity. It is regarded as one of the succulents with the fastest growth rates; given the correct growing circumstances, it can grow more than 6 inches in height annually. Jades relish hot, dry air and should only be watered when the soil is completely dried out. Bright, direct light exposure is a must for these sun-lovers.
String of Pearls
Named for its trailing stems covered with pea-sized “pearl” leaves, this flowing succulent can grow over a foot in a single year given an ideal environment. String of pearls requires excellent drainage, high heat, and very bright light to thrive. With these needs met, its pearls will multiply rapidly along the stems.
Burro’s Tail
The long, rope-like stems of burro’s tail succulents enhance their already rapid growth rate. Once mature, this trailing plant can grow over 2 feet long in a single year, producing numerous hanging stems. Bright light, warm temps, and allowing the soil to fully dry between waterings creates optimal growth conditions.
Moderate Growing Succulents
Echeverias
Echeverias grow at a moderate, but still fairly fast pace compared to most succulents. Their fleshy, colorful rosette shapes can expand several inches per year when given ample sunlight, warmth, and a fast-draining soil mix. Sunburn and excessive heat can limit growth.
Aeoniums
These large, branching, tree-like succulents grow steadily into impressive sculptural specimens over time. Each rosette can increase by several inches in diameter annually, expanding gradually over the years into a full shrub form. Their growth can be limited by cold temperatures.
Sedums
Stonecrops like sedum are a very diverse group, including some trailing varieties as well as upright growers. Most sedums grow at a moderate 2-6 inch per year rate, developing an abundance of chubby leaves. Their growth is maximized by providing plenty of sun exposure and letting the soil dry completely between waterings.
Sempervivums (Hens and Chicks)
Like their name implies, hens and chicks offset rapidly by producing numerous small offsets or “chicks” from the central rosette “hen.” While each rosette grows gradually, the rapid propagation results in full, clustered growth over time. Poor soil or intense heat can restrict growth for these alpine succulents.
Slow Growing Succulents
Haworthias
Most haworthia varieties are very slow growers, adding less than an inch in height each year. Their growth rate is further slowed by inadequate light or improper watering. However, they readily produceoffsets that form clusters over an extended period.
Lithops (Living Stones)
As one of the slowest growing succulents around, lithops may only increase their diameter by 1/4 inch annually. Their goal is to remain beautifully camouflaged as pebbles in their native habitat. Excessive water or potting mix can easily cause lithops to split, rot, or cease growing entirely.
Tree Euphorbias
The striking, armored branches of tree euphorbias grow gradually over many years. In ideal circumstances, they may produce a few inches of growth per year until reaching their full mature dimensions of 3-10 feet tall. Intense sunlight is required to maintain healthy growth and prevent stretching or etiolation.
Crown of Thorns
Despite its name, the crown of thorns’ growth rate is modest at best. Established plants may only increase their branching spread 2-3 inches annually. Their growth requires very bright light, significant heat, and an extended dormancy period each winter when growth halts completely.
Applying These Growth Insights
Whether your succulent is a fast grower or more of a slow-growing type, it is imperative that you provide it the right care in line with its natural development habits.
You can identify any possible problems, such as inadequate light, excessive watering, bad soil, or other environmental variables impeding development, by keeping an eye on each plant’s pace of growth.
If your plant grows quickly, you might need to give it a bigger container every year or practice regular pruning and propagation to keep it from spreading too quickly. Slower growers just need more time to mature; they just need patience. However, succulents always repay their caregivers with a distinct beauty and tenacity, regardless of the growth rate. You can appreciate these remarkable plants to the fullest extent when you are aware of their natural growth cycles.