Fast-Growing Succulents For Your Home

Succulents are a popular addition to any indoor garden. After all, they’re typically easy to care for and can add vibrant color to every room in your home.

And while some succulents will require more than one yardstick to measure how tall they are, the one true downside with these plants is how long it takes them to reach such majestic heights. If you lack patience, you may grow frustrated with your succulent well before it grows into maturity.

For those tired of playing the waiting game, consider fast-growing succulents. These plants will grow quicker than other succulents, and their growth spurts can be further aided with straightforward care tips.

How Fast Do Succulents Grow?

There are literally thousands of different types of succulents found throughout the world. That means it’s hard to generalize how quickly all succulents grow, as growth rates can range from hardly noticeable to practically pubescent.

Indeed, you may find some succulents that can add another half-foot or so to their size in as few as 12 months. On the other hand, some may need at least a year to grow an inch.

And, of course, the environment in which the succulents grow can have a significant effect. While succulents are known for their low-maintenance care needs, adapting to less-than-ideal environments can sap some of the energy needed to mature.

We should also note that even the fastest-growing succulents may not reach the growth rate of other plants. However, many of those climbers and creepers have much more strict care needs.

So, for the right balance of easy care and fast growth, make sure you’re choosing the right succulent and giving it everything it needs to thrive.

How to Make Succulents Grow Faster

Generally, the best way to coax fast growth from your succulent is to give it the proper care. That doesn’t mean you have to dote on it like an infant, but you should keep an eye on the plant to ensure it’s healthy and growing sustainably.

Find the Right Pot for Your Quick-Growing Succulent

The first step for a fast-growing succulent is to keep it in a pot suitable for its size. Pots that are too small can result in overwatering, and ones that are too small will halter root development.

Additionally, use well-draining pots that allow for the soil to breathe. There should be a hole at the bottom of the pot, so water doesn’t linger and cause root rot.

As your succulent grows, you’ll want to move it into a bigger pot to accommodate its new size. Keeping it in its original will hinder growth and keep your succulent small.

During repotting, you may also notice that the roots of the succulent have clumped together. Untangling them before settling the plant into its new home can aid growth.

Give Your Fast-Growing Succulents Enough Water — But Not Too Much

Succulents aren’t thirsty plants. This is one of the reasons they are so easy to care for.

However, a lack of thirst shouldn’t mean a complete lack of water. Watering the correct amount will help the plant sprout and mature without causing harmful side effects like pests and disease.

That means it’s generally better to underwater a succulent than overwater it. Overwatered plants may experience root rot, fungus gnats, and mushy leaves.

Each of these will inhibit growth if not outright kill the plant. So, if the soil still feels moist, wait to water.

In fact, a good rule of thumb for succulent watering is to wait until the soil is completely dry before thoroughly soaking it. Typically, this means watering your plant every week and a half.

Place Your Succulents Where They’ll Receive Light

Succulents like light. However, some may prefer low, indirect light, while others prefer to bask in the sun’s rays.

The place where you purchased your succulent should offer more specific advice on how much sun your plant needs. If not, a quick Google search can lead you to a less one-size-fits-all prescription for light.

But, in general, most thrive when given a combination of indirect and direct sunlight. And you’ll likely discover that your succulent needs at least four to five hours of light each day.

So, in most cases, succulents that receive morning sun and afternoon shade should get the light they need. Keep an eye out, though, for plants that receive direct sunlight all day long, as that could lead to sunburnt leaves.

Feed Your Succulents Fertilizer

Another way to nudge your succulent to a faster growth rate is with fertilizer. While succulents have evolved to grow in nutritionally poor soil, giving your plants the extra nutrients they need will allow them to thrive.

And one of the best ways to ensure your succulents eat their veggies, so to speak, is by using the right fertilizer at the appropriate time. You don’t have to go deep into the botanical sciences to uncover a unique formulation — something as simple as coffee grounds can help growth.

So, during the growing season, consider using fertilizer on your succulents. Even a small amount every couple of weeks when daytime temperatures stay above 60 degrees Fahrenheit can give your plant the extra kick it needs to grow more quickly.

How Fast Do Succulents Grow From Cuttings

The final step to put your succulent’s growth into high gear is removing offsets (sometimes called “pups”), blooms, and dead or damaged leaves. Ridding your plant or pot of these things allows the succulent to focus its energy on growth.

What’s great about this process is that it also allows you to propagate your succulent. You can turn cuttings into additions to your garden or give them away as presents to family, friends, and neighbors.

Generally, propagating leaf cuttings will take a shorter time than doing so with stem cuttings. 

Leaf propagation needs at least a couple of weeks to grow roots. Then, you should notice new leaf growth in a couple of months.

Stem propagation takes around a month for roots to develop. In some cases, it can take even longer than that.

Our Favorite Fast-Growing Succulents

Of course, all this advice could be rendered moot if you choose a succulent that will never grow rapidly. So, perhaps the greatest advice we can offer is based not on care but on variety.

With that in mind, here are some of our favorite fast-growing succulents:

• Aloe vera succulents have fleshy, spiky leaves decorated with speckles. While they may take years to achieve maturity, they typically have visible growth within a month or two of planting.
• Crassula succulents, which include jade plants, have thick green leaves with vibrantly colored tips. They can double in size in only a year when grown outside, though they do grow slower inside.
• Echeveria plants grow beautiful petals ranging from green and blue to pink and lilac. They can grow six to eight inches a year in the right environment.
• Sedum plants grow fleshy rosettes whose petals run the gamut of colors. A two-inch plant can grow to cover a one-foot area in a single year.

Add a Fast-Growing Succulent to Your Garden Today

While succulents generally grow slower than most plants, finding a fast-growing variety will offer visible growth and minimal care. So, beyond using water, light, and fertilizer to coax as much growth from your succulent as possible, make sure the succulent you choose is primed for success!

For more gardening tips to keep your plants and flowers healthy all year round, bookmark AskWetAndForget.com today!