The ease of taking care of succulents attracts many people to want them in their own homes or workspace. They add so much to a room in terms of lush flora and natural beauty, but they require a very low level of maintenance compared to other plants. 

Succulents are known as such because of the healthy, robust quality of their leaves. Many kinds of succulents store water within those leaves, creating a lush quality that enhances any space with their simple yet gorgeous aesthetic.

That said, there are also kinds of succulents that do not store their water reserves within their leaves. For instance, cacti often have few or no leaves, meaning that they cannot store their water there. Instead, cacti generally store water within their thick stems to be accessed when needed. These advanced water-storing capabilities contribute to the succulent family of plants being so simple to take care of.

As long as you give your garden the attention and love it needs, you can expect your succulents to stay with you and remain healthy for many seasons to come. But exactly how big can you expect your succulent plant to grow?

How Big Do Succulents Grow on Average?

The truth is that it can be hard to say exactly how big succulents grow, primarily because there are so many different varieties of succulents out there. Succulents are a plant family, so there is more information that has to be ascertained about the specific succulent before you know quite how big it will get. 

In order to be classified as a “succulent,” a plant must have developed a thick kind of flesh where water can be stored. In some plants, this flesh will be the leaves, while on others it will be the stem.

A succulent will always have a root system made specifically to take in necessary water even in the aridest or harsh climates. This is why they are so simple to take care of for those looking for a low-maintenance option. There are over 10,000 plants out there that fit these criteria and are therefore classified as succulents, but some of them are better known than others. Some of the most common succulents kept as houseplants include:

• Jade Plant
• Aloe Vera
• Agave
• Roseum
• Burro’s Tail
• Panda Plant
• Pincushion Cactus
• Zebra Plant
• Plush Plant

While these are all varieties of succulents and they share some defining traits, at the end of the day they are different plants with slightly different needs. They will also grow at different speeds, and to different heights. Establishing an exact growth rate among all succulent types is impossible, but it is fair to say that they grow slower than most other plant breeds.

Some succulents grow faster than others, meaning that you will see pretty significant growth over a several-month period. Jade plants and aloe vera are both in this category of succulents. In the wild, some succulent varieties can grow up to 40 feet or more, but that likely wouldn’t make for the best house plant.

It is also worth considering that succulents grow faster, slower, or not at all depending on the season. During the spring and summer succulents grow on the faster end, as the conditions are such that they can thrive. Meanwhile, the somewhat cooler temperature during the fall tends to slow their growth in preparation for the winter. Then, in winter, they will often halt their growth entirely.

If you are looking for a smaller succulent, it’s likely best to go with one that has a slower growth rate. That said, there are still steps you can take to ensure your succulent stays healthy and never grows beyond what you have space for.

How To Manage Your Succulent’s Size

In order to reproduce in the wild, succulents produce small buds. Normally, these buds fall off of the plant and spread to new spots where they would form another plant entirely. Since houseplants are of course not wild, these buds can accumulate and create a much bigger plant than you originally expected. 

To make sure you keep this growth in check, you can trim the new buds and remove them. Whether you plant them in new planters to become succulents of their own, or you compost or otherwise dispose of them is entirely up to you.

How To Help Your Succulent Grow

Before getting to a point where overgrowth is a concern with your succulent garden, you first have to cover the basics of caring for one in the first place. As established, caring for a succulent is thankfully quite simple. They only require a bit of watering, sunlight, and occasional replanting to stay healthy and beautiful.

Water Your Succulent the Right Amount

Succulents generally need to be watered every seven to 10 days, with some variations depending on the seasonal climate. Pay attention to the moistness of the soil. If the soil is completely dry, it is time to water. 

Lula’s Garden provides each succulent garden with a helpful dropper tool to ensure precise watering. Use this tool to water each plant with two to four full droppers. The water from the dropper will reach the root of the plant on its own, keeping the succulent healthy and hydrated.

Give Your Succulent Access to Enough Sunlight, but Not Too Much

The other most important part of succulent care is making sure it gets enough sunlight. These plants should receive about six hours of sunlight a day, and be kept in temperatures between 60 and 90 degrees. Keep your succulent in indirect sunlight to avoid sun damage, which can cause harm to your plant. On especially hot days, move your succulent to a shadier spot entirely.

Repot Your Succulent When Necessary

There comes a time in many succulents’ life cycles where they may outgrow their current planter. If this is the case, rest assured that you are doing something right in caring for your plant. Now comes the time to replant your succulent so it can continue to grow and thrive in its environment.

Lula’s Garden provides beautiful boxes that also function as effective planters. These planters will serve your succulents well through the first few months of their life, but after that, it will likely need to be replanted into a larger pot with an in-built drainage system. Repotting your succulent from one of our boxes is a simple process with only a few steps. Begin by wetting the pebbles in your garden for about ten minutes or until they are loose and easy to remove. 

Then, carefully remove your succulent from its box. Keep in mind that the removal process can result in some spilled soil, so be prepared for a small amount of clean-up. Your succulent’s new planter should be filled with either succulent or cactus mix soil so it can keep growing in a healthy way.

Growth for You and Your Succulent

If you have less space to grow your plant, consider a mini succulent with a slower growth rate. If you have a lot of room to allow it to grow how it pleases, you may have some more options in terms of which plant you want. Luckily, no matter what variety of succulent you choose, there are ways to manage its growth to work for you.

Sources:

What’s the Difference Between Cacti and Succulents? | The Spruce

Succulent | Britannica

How Fast Do Succulents Grow (and How To Grow Them Faster) | The Practical Planter