When the pandemic took hold of New York City in March 2020 and Well+Good’s office closed, I never got the chance to collect my pride and joy: a small, ridiculously cute cactus that lived on my desk. But, when I finally went to collect my belonging six months later in September, I gratefully found it clinging to life. It withstood neglect of human care, but it clearly didn’t like it. While very much alive, the cactus was skinny from using its water reserves. Contrary to popular belief, I realized, some succulents and cacti need more attention than many of us realize.

“When I first became a plant parent, I kind of went overboard with cacti and succulents because I heard that they were some of the easiest to care for and they thrive off of neglect,” says Maryah Greene, a plant expert and stylist who also goes by the Plant Doctor. “However, I didn’t realize that there are so many differences between the different types, and that some prefer more water than others.”

“There are so many differences between the different types of cacti and succulents, and some prefer more water than others.” — Maryah Greene, plant expert

Greene shares what you should know about succulent and cactus care in the latest episode of Greene Thumb by Well+Good, YouTube series all about plant care. We often treat these plant varieties as a monolith, which Greene says is wrong and can lead to improper care.

“There are over 6,500 species of succulents,” says Greene. “Long ago in evolutionary history, cacti actually had leaves. But over time, they evolved to transition so that they could live in their changing climate. As their climate changed and became more dry, they started storing water, and they dropped off their leaves, and eventually, they started shifting in shape, which is why they look a bit taller and rounder like they do now.”

In this episode, Greene debunks common myths and shares some good-to-know succulent- and cactus-care facts. Check them out below

The 3 most important things to know about succulent and cactus care

1. Succulents need water

“A pretty common misconception is that succulents rarely need water,” says Greene. “It actually depends on the type of succulents and the region, that it originated from.” For example, some succulents such as aloes and haworthias evolved in regions that got a lot of rain at one period of time followed by periods of drought.

Fairy Washboard Haworthia 2.5" Pot — $6.00

Hedgehog Aloe — $10.00

“This aloe vera plant is a perfect example of a succulent that can hold a lot of water in its leaves,” says Greene. “You might have seen them grow pretty big and deserts, but even at home, they can get pretty large and leaf size.”

In addition to considering the type of succulent you have, you also have to adjust watering for the time of year. “This will dictate how often and how much water it should receive,” she says.

2. You should always water succulents first thing in the morning

“Another misconception that I hear from my clients all the time, is that succulents can be watered just about any time of day,” says Greene. “They actually prefer to be watered in the morning, especially before the sun becomes the strongest.”

Cesun Indoor Watering Can with Long Straight Spout Small Metal Watering Can for Houseplant Succulent — $25.00

3. Succulents don’t need to be repotted that often

“[Succulents] don’t need to be repotted as often as other houseplants,” says Greene. “Most succulents grow pretty slowly, as you might know. But they also don’t want to go into something too big because too much soil will keep the plant way too moist…soil needs to be dry.” For smaller succulents, consider a small planter with a drainage hole, like the below pot that’s four inches wide and three inches tall.

Tierney Kreider Curvy Terracotta Planter — $30.00

You’ll also want to make sure you’re using the right soil. “You can often purchase your own succulent cacti soil for if you’re feeling adventurous, you can make your own,” says Greene. “You can use regular house bare soil, and just add a little bit of perlite sand or an extra drainage stone.”

Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix - Classic Blend (Mini Bag) — $20.00

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