From my perspective, this is the single greatest threat to my well-being. My thick, fleshy leaves and stems are designed to store water for long periods. When you water me too frequently, the soil becomes perpetually saturated. My roots, which need to breathe air just like you do, begin to suffocate and rot in the waterlogged environment. This root rot is a silent killer; it starts beneath the soil, unseen, and by the time it shows in my soft, mushy, yellowing leaves above, it is often too advanced to save me. Please, only offer me a drink when my soil is completely dry to the touch.
I am a sun-loving being. In my native habitat, I bask in bright, direct light for many hours each day. When you place me in a dim corner or on a shelf far from a window, I begin to suffer. Without adequate light, my photosynthetic processes slow down. I cannot produce the energy I need to grow strong and maintain my vibrant green color. You will see me become "leggy," stretching my stems unnaturally thin and weak as I desperately reach for any available light source. My growth will be stunted, and my compact, beautiful form will be lost. A bright, sunny windowsill is my paradise.
This mistake is a close relative of overwatering. You might be careful with your watering can, but if you plant me in a pot without a drainage hole, you are essentially placing me in a bathtub. Any excess water has nowhere to escape, pooling at the bottom of the container and creating that same suffocating, root-rot-inducing swamp I warned you about. Furthermore, the wrong soil mixture, like heavy, moisture-retentive garden soil, acts like a sponge around my roots. I require a gritty, sharply draining potting mix specifically designed for succulents and cacti to ensure any extra water flows away quickly.
While I occasionally need more space to grow, the repotting process is incredibly stressful for me. If you are too rough, you can damage my delicate root system, creating open wounds that are vulnerable to disease. Even if you are gentle, I need time to recover and establish myself in my new home. The biggest mistake you can make is to water me immediately after repotting. Those disturbed roots are healing and cannot absorb water effectively, making them highly susceptible to rot. Always wait a week or more after repotting before giving me my first drink, allowing my roots time to callous over and settle.
I am a tender succulent, meaning I am not equipped to handle the cold. My cells are full of water, and if that water freezes, it will expand, rupturing my cell walls and causing irreversible damage. This will manifest as blackened, soft, and mushy leaves—a death sentence. A single cold draft from a window in winter or a forgotten night on a cold patio can be fatal. Please keep me in a stable, warm environment, well away from any threat of frost. I thrive in the warmth you enjoy inside your home.
