Because of their little upkeep, succulents and cacti are popular houseplants. They are popular all around the world and are available in a wide range of forms, colors, and variants. The sort of succulent you have, its living circumstances, and, of course, what you believe to be a fast-growing succulent will all influence how quickly it grows.
In this post, I’ll address all of your questions about succulent development, including: how quickly do succulents grow? What is the maximum size of a succulent? What succulents have the quickest growth rates? Succulents may grow to be quite tall. Also, how to speed up the growth of succulents.
When it comes to succulents, how rapidly do they grow?
If you’re wondering ‘how quickly do succulents grow?’ it’s vital to first realize that there are many different succulent species. Succulents come in a wide range of colors, shapes, and sizes. Some are known for being quick growers, with noticeable growth within a few weeks, while others are known for being sluggish growers, with noticeable growth taking years.
Succulents, on the other hand, are sluggish growers in comparison to other houseplants — even the fastest-growing succulents!
So, how quickly do succulents develop? As previously said, the growth rate is determined by species, but it also depends on the climate, season, and whether the succulent is potted indoors or outdoors. Echeveria is a quick-growing succulent that may reach a height of 6-8 inches in a year. Haworthias, on the other hand, might take several years to develop even a few inches.
Because general maintenance might have an impact on development, be sure you’re not overwatering or underwatering your plant. Succulents, like other plants, benefit from a lot of sunshine and flourish in hotter regions. Succulents can benefit from fertilizer, and you can even use home treatments like coffee grinds to help them thrive.
Do succulents become dormant during the winter?
Yes. There is such a thing as succulent dormancy. Winter dormant succulents exist alongside summer dormant succulents. During this time, the plant will grow much more slowly and will require less watering.
The majority of succulents remain dormant during the winter and will begin to grow as the temperature rises.
However, certain succulents, such as Sansevieria, Sedum, and Aloe, go dormant in the summer. Here is the link to the source.
Succulents that grow the fastest
So now we have a general notion of how quickly succulents grow, but it all depends on the variety! Choose a fast-growing succulent if you want to see results quickly with your indoor or outdoor succulents.
Below is a list of six succulents that develop quickly, with a substantial increase in size over the course of four months. This does not include periods of dormancy.
Kalanchoe
When it comes to kalanchoe, how quickly do succulents grow? Kalanchoe is a succulent type that grows incredibly quickly. They can progress from cuttings to rooted plants in a matter of weeks, making them excellent plants to propagate if you need fast results. They need minimal work on your side and may produce a dozen young plants from a normal 2-inch plant.
The kalanchoe succulents that grow the fastest are:
- Kalanchoe diagremontana
- Kalanchoe Tubiflora
- Kalanchoe pinnata
- Kalanchoe tormentosa
Because of its rapid growth and propensity to multiply at an increasing pace, this succulent is considered an invasive plant. Be warned: the kalanchoe will quickly take up a lot of space in your garden bed! However, this is a lovely succulent that would look great in any environment.
Aloe
Aloe vera is one of the fastest-growing succulents. Aloe comes in a variety of forms, one of which is the Aloe vera plant. An aloe plant is a popular option among homeowners because of its healing properties. An aloe plant may grow from 2 inches to 6 inches in a year if properly cared for and kept in the right conditions.
The types of aloe succulents that grow the fastest are:
- Aloe Vera Gel
- Aloe Arborescens
- Aloe Barbademsis
The aloe vera plant, which we all know and love, is a succulent that thrives in hot regions. It is one of the most researched herbs in medicine and is widely cultivated all over the globe for its health advantages.
Sedum
Sedum comes in hundreds of various variations, as do most succulents, but they all have one thing in common: they are fast-growing succulents. They have the unique ability to hybridize with one another, resulting in a plethora of attractive varieties. In just a year, a single 2-inch plant may cover 1 foot of ground!
The sedum succulents that grow the fastest are:
- Sedum Spurium
- Sedum Cauticola
- Sedum Acreage
- Sedum spathulifolium (Sedum spathulifolium)
Succulents that grow quickly are notorious for generating hundreds of leaves! They are low-maintenance and require little attention (but this does not imply they should be ignored!). If you want to quickly cover a large area of the landscape, the sedum succulent is the plant for you.
Crassula
When grown outside, the crassula plant grows extremely quickly, almost doubling in size in a year! This is because they like to be outside. When grown inside, like the typical jade plant, growth is much slower.
The following crassula succulent varieties have the fastest growth rates:
- Hummel’s Crassula argentea
- Crassula Undulata
- Crassula Tetragona
- Crassula Ovata Variegata
As previously said, the crassula succulent develops best outside, and temperature plays a significant impact in this. This succulent prefers temperatures between 65 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit (18 and 30 degrees Celsius) and is best preserved in warmer climes.
Echeveria
The echeveria family of succulents is by far the most popular. Spring and summer are the finest seasons for this fast-growing succulent. In a year, a 2-inch plant can develop to 6-8 inches if the proper living circumstances are maintained.
The echeveria succulents that grow the fastest are:
- Prolific Echeveria
- Echeveria apus is a kind of echeveria.
- Blue atoll of Echeveria
- Echeveria Orion
These lovely, fast-growing succulents come in a variety of hues and look stunning in any garden. Echeverias bloom throughout the summer, and cutting the bloom off will force the plant to develop more quickly. The energy that would have been required to force the bloom out will be employed to encourage growth instead! Echeveria looks fantastic in a glass jar as well.
Succulents may grow to be quite tall
We’ve spoken about how quickly succulents grow, as well as the many sorts of succulents that grow quickly. We all know that when a succulent develops quickly, it may cover a significant area of your landscape.
Do succulents, on the other hand, grow to be tall? Some succulents, such as the snake plant, may grow to be quite tall and impressive! Other plants, such as echeveria, should not grow vertically. If your succulent appears to be stretched out, it could be due to succulent etiolation.
The color of an etiolated succulent will be faint, and the growth pattern will be irregular. Your plant will have a long, lanky, stretched-out appearance. This is a typical problem for indoor succulents, including sedum, crassula, sedeveria, and graptosedum, and is caused by insufficient sunshine.
How to speed up the growth of succulents
So, we’ve reached the end of the first portion of our essay! You’ve learned how quickly succulents grow, but how about making them grow even faster?
If you’re at home and your plant’s growth rate is disappointing, there are a few things you can do to encourage it to flourish. Succulents may be cared for in a variety of ways, but a healthy, happy plant will undoubtedly thrive.
The following are the most significant considerations to make while trying to speed up the growth of your succulent:
Water Properly
Succulents are tough in that you don’t want to overwater them, but you also don’t want to drown them. Of course, a succulent that is submerged is preferable to one that is overwatered (overwatering can lead to illnesses and pests like fungus gnats, mealybugs, and spider mites), but it’s ideal for striking a healthy balance.
Succulents, as we all know, absorb water and can go for long periods of time without drinking. However, not watering succulents sufficiently may hinder their development, and if you want succulents to grow quicker, you must provide them with adequate water.
Before rewatering your succulent, it’s a good idea to let the soil dry up entirely. When you water your plant, make sure it gets a good soak.
It’s difficult to say how often you should water a succulent because there are so many distinct species with various life requirements. During the summer, I found that you need to water a succulent plant every 10 days on average.
Type of soil
Another strategy to speed up the growth of your succulents is to make sure you’re using the right soil. Succulents like a light, airy soil with a combination of organic and inorganic particles that dries quickly.
If you want to make your own potting mix, a combination of peat moss, bark, and granite will do the trick.
Most local garden centers, on the other hand, will have their own succulent-specific soil mix that works well. Just keep an eye out for the components and make sure it’s quick-drying soil. This will keep your succulent healthy, allowing it to develop more quickly.
Environment
The environment, as I’ve said a few times already, is a key element in succulent growth. Succulents are known for their adaptability, which is why they are so popular across the world. However, in order to encourage rapid growth, you must have ideal living conditions.
We’ve already discussed how succulents need quick-drying soil to thrive. They do, however, prefer warm climates. They thrive in a sunny location outside. If you have an indoor plant, place it in a window with a south-facing orientation.
If you live somewhere where the temperature lowers in the winter, I usually recommend growing succulents in pots. In this manner, you may bring them inside and keep them warm throughout the cold months. Succulents that are kept outside in the cold or in heavy, moist soil may struggle to thrive.
What is the maximum size of a succulent?
So, we’ve spoken about how quickly succulents grow, but what about their size? It’s a difficult topic to answer because there are so many various sorts and variants of the species.
Some succulent kinds will stay tiny, reaching a maximum size of 6 inches, while others can reach a height and width of 12 feet!
Conclusion
Succulents are a great plant to have if you are looking for something that does not require a lot of care and will grow relatively quickly. If you want your succulent to grow even faster, there are a few things you can do, such as giving it more light, using a fertilized, and making sure it has enough water.