How Long Do Succulents Live - These Green Fingers

If you’re thinking about growing succulents, you may be wondering how long they can live for – I know it’s something I always consider whenever I’m thinking about adding any new plant to my home.

Having grown up with a house full of plants, I love to have different plant types filling my home, and I tend to look for those that will be sticking around for as long as possible as I do get quite attached to them.

But at the same time, I don’t want plants that are going to require too much TLC as I also want any house sitter to be able to care for them with ease. Succulents tick both boxes, so let’s looks at how long succulents can live for!

Can Succulents Live Forever?

You might think that succulents can live forever. I’m sure I’m not the only one that has seen a succulent live for decades and have this idea that they just never die? Well, I say that but then one of my Mum’s recently died having rotted fro the inside out.

Of course it’s not actually the case – most succulents will live for at least five years, but if we’re talking about cacti – which are a sub-category of succulents! – then hundreds of years is a real possibility!

How Long Do Succulents Live Indoors?

Keeping succulents indoors is a great way to get started when it comes to indoor houseplants. They can live indoors for many years when properly cared for.

In fact, I have several indoor succulents that have survived years of neglect – it took me almost two years to even realise that they were succulents! – so do know that if you decide to add some to your home, you can keep them alive with a minimal amount of care.

Something else to read…

the life cycle of a succulent, from seed to bloom!

5 Essentials For Indoor Succulents

For maximum life from your indoor plant, here are five essential things to consider:

1. Sunlight – indirect sunlight is best for most succulent types, though some do love direct sunlight!
2. Water – try to water once a week, as close to the root as possible. Note that if the potting soil is still damp, you should hold off – succulents do not like soaked soil, so give it time to drain before re-watering! Avoid touching the leaves with water as this can cause damage.
3. Soil type and quality – potting in a soil mix with sand, or better yet a dedicated succulent soil, will help with drainage and keep your succulent plant happy.
4. Room – if your succulent has grown as big as the pot allows, they will be limited in terms of growth and will struggle to survive. Make sure that they are potted onwards into bigger pots as needed!
5. Nutrition – growing in pots of soil mean that there is limited nutritional value for your succulents. Top up the nutritional value up to four times per year with a natural fertilizer at half strength!

How Long Do Succulents Live Outdoors?

Planting succulents outdoors means that they are more exposed to the elements which can affect the lifespan. The heat, humidity, and rainfall amounts will all have an impact on the life of your outdoor succulents!

They can be potted up which gives you more control over the environmental factors, or placed in the ground, which has more limitations.

Make sure that whichever route you take, your outdoor succulents are in a well draining spot! Too much water and they will rot and die, but not watering enough, they can dry out and die.

I personally find indoor succulents easier to care for.

How Long Do Mini Succulents Live?

Also known as baby succulents, these are baby plants often grown from a leaf or stem cutting.

Key considerations for the longer life of your little succulent plants are:

1. Make sure they’re placed in indirect sunlight – this prevents them being sunburned and dying off.
2. Use a well draining potting mix so that they are not sitting in wet soil for too long.
3. Water regularly. While succulents big and small can suvive a while without water, baby plants will dry out faster than their bigger counterparts.

How Long Can Succulents Live Without Soil?

Succulents can only survive without soil if they have a store of water in their leaves. The more water they have stored, the longer they can survive.

Another consideration is the health of your succulents. Soil is nutrient rich and will provide more for your succulent plants than a water or rock based environment.

Related Article:

How Long Can Succulents Live Without Soil?

Can Succulents Live Without Water?

Succulents can live without water for a while. How long they will survive depends on their environment. Indoor succulents have no environmental elements to consider, so if the temperature were consistent, and they had been watered recently, you’ll find that they can survive for several weeks without water.

In fact in 2020, I was away from my plants for some months, and they went without water for more than two months before my partner thought to water them!

Outdoor succulents have other considerations. Amount of sunshine, heat or whether there’s any wind, which can also remove moisture from the air and earth surrounding them!

The larger the succulent, the more water they may have stored in their leaves, and so the longer they are able to survive without water.

And remember too that in the winter, many succulents become ‘dormant’ and need far less water.