Do Succulents Need Direct Sunlight

Do succulents need direct sunlight? This is a question that many people have when considering whether they should add a succulent indoors or to their home. Well, the answer is quite easy. No. Most succulents can tolerate direct sunlight, but succulents definitely do not require direct sunlight in order to survive. This fallacy that succulents require some sort of direct sunlight bars most people from adding succulents to their home. This is unfortunate because there is a wide range of benefits that can be gained by adding succulents to your home.

Many academic studies have shown that succulents increase productivity, boost mood, and even purifies the air. So, with that being said in this article I will outline why succulents do not need direct sunlight and reflect upon important things to remember when thinking about succulents and direct sunlight and maybe even adding succulents to your home. If you’re looking to buy succulents check out Succulent Market. They are a company that sells cactus and succulents online.

1. Why Succulent Don’t Need Direct Sunlight

The primary reason why a succulent does not need direct sunlight is that almost any succulent that you buy is grown in a greenhouse. This is important because greenhouses provide a shade that protects succulents from the powerful rays of the sun. This allows the succulent to grow in the best conditions possible. So, for your succulents to be as healthy as possible succulents must be protected from direct sun for some part of the day.

For example, most varieties of popular sun-loving succulents like Echeveria, Crassula, and Aeonium will thrive in around 50% shade a day, while shade-loving succulents such as Aloe and Haworthia will thrive in around 80% shade a day. So, if you’re worried about your succulent not receiving enough light because it is never exposed to direct sunlight then there is no more need to worry, a windowsill or even being exposed to some type of dispersed light is ideal for any succulent.

2. Succulents Still Need Light

Now that we know that succulents do not require direct sunlight, it is important to know that succulents still need light. When adding a succulent to your home it is important to know this fact and to place the succulent you purchase in the correct lighting environment. The amount of light a succulent requires is dependent upon its variety. Succulent varieties that love the sun include Echeveria, Crassula, and Aeonium.

When placing these sun-loving succulents indoors it is important to remember that they will need ample light. This means that sun-loving succulents will do great on a windowsill or in an area indoors that receives a lot or ample sunlight. On the other hand, if there is not a lot of available light it is best to use a succulent variety that enjoys the shade. Some popular shade-loving varieties of succulents include Aloe and Haworthia. These varieties will thrive indoors as they do not require very much light.

Ultimately when attempting to find the correct lighting environment for your succulent in your home it is important to just test things out. A succulent is not receiving enough light when it begins to lose its color and the leaves begin to stretch. A succulent is receiving too much sunlight when the leaves begin to wilt, turn brown, and curl. If you see any of these two things occur then simply move your succulent to a place with more or less light and wait for it to recover.

3. Succulent Can Be in Direct Sunlight

Although succulents do not require direct sunlight it is important to remember that certain succulents can live and thrive in direct sunlight. Many sun-loving succulents like Echeverias, Aeoniums, and Crassulas will do great in direct sunlight. It is just important to remember to acclimate sun-loving succulents to direct sunlight before exposing these succulents to the direct rays of the sun for the entire day.

It is important to remember that shade-loving varieties of succulents like Aloes and Haworthias will not succeed in direct sunlight. These types of succulents will likely burn if exposed to direct sunlight for the entire day. At the end of the day it is critical that you research the succulent that you are receiving and the lighting environment that this succulent will require.