Fertilizer for Succulents: How to Feed, Grow & Care for Healthy Succulent Plants

Succulents are loved for their sculptural shapes, vibrant colours, and drought-tolerant nature—but despite their hardy reputation, these plants still need the right fertilizer to thrive. Whether you’re growing echeveria, crassula, haworthia, jade, or aloe vera, knowing when and how to feed them is essential for compact growth, vibrant leaves, and healthy roots.

Types of Succulent Plants

Succulents are a diverse group of plants adapted to dry climates by storing water in their leaves, stems, or roots. They can vary in growth speed, sunlight needs, and nutrient sensitivity. Common succulent types include:

Echeveria: Rosette-forming succulents with waxy leaves; prefer full sun and quick-draining soil
Crassula: Includes jade plants and “string of buttons”; easy-care, branching growth
Haworthia: Low-light, small-leaved succulents perfect for desks and shaded shelves
Graptopetalum & Sedum: Groundcover-style with colourful fleshy leaves
Kalanchoe: Includes flowering types and larger-leaved upright growers
Aloe vera: Medicinal succulent with tall, fleshy leaves and deep root systems

Succulents are typically slow-growing, which makes their nutrient demands low—but specific. Overfeeding or using the wrong fertilizer can easily damage these plants.

How to Grow Succulents – Indoor & Outdoor Care Tips

Fertiliser only works if the basics are right. Poor drainage, incorrect lighting, or heavy soil will undo any benefit from plant food. Here’s how to give succulents what they need.

Light

Full sun: Most succulents prefer at least 6 hours of direct sunlight, especially Echeveria and Sedum
Filtered or bright indirect light: Ideal for Crassula, Haworthia, and Aloe indoors
Leggy growth = not enough light – If your succulent stretches or loses colour, move it to a brighter location

Soil & Pots

Use a cactus/succulent potting mix: Should drain quickly and resist compaction
Mix your own: 1 part potting mix + 1 part perlite or coarse sand
Choose pots with drainage holes: Terracotta is ideal as it breathes and reduces moisture retention

Watering

Water deeply and infrequently: Let soil dry completely between waterings
Never mist succulents: Misting encourages rot and fungus in leaf crevices
Reduce water in winter: Succulents enter dormancy and need less moisture

Common Issues in Succulents

Mushy leaves: Overwatering or poor drainage
Leggy stems: Not enough light
Leaf drop or spots: Stress from watering or excess salt from poor-quality fertiliser
Yellowing or pale foliage: Sign of nutrient deficiency—typically nitrogen or magnesium

Getting these environmental factors right ensures your fertiliser will be absorbed properly and show real results.

What Fertilizer Is Best for Succulents?

Succulents require a low-nitrogen, well-balanced fertiliser that encourages slow growth, compact structure, and vibrant colour—without causing soft, stretchy tissue.

Ideal NPK Ratio for Succulents

Low nitrogen (N): Prevents leggy, rot-prone growth
Higher potassium (K): Improves drought resilience, cell strength, and colour
Moderate phosphorus (P): Supports root structure and flower development

A formula like **2-7-7** is ideal—gentle enough for regular use but strong enough to support colour, health, and flowering in varieties like kalanchoe and aloe.

How Often to Fertilize Succulents

Spring to early summer: Feed every 2–4 weeks with diluted liquid fertiliser
Mid to late summer: Feed monthly or pause if temperatures are extreme
Autumn: Taper off and reduce feeding frequency
Winter: Avoid fertilising—succulents enter dormancy and don’t absorb nutrients efficiently

Succulent Fertiliser FAQs

Do succulents need fertiliser? Yes—especially potted ones. Regular watering and potting mix breakdown will deplete nutrients over time.

Can I use cactus fertiliser on succulents? Yes. Cactus and succulent fertilisers are formulated similarly—low N, high K, plus essential micronutrients.

What if my succulent hasn’t grown in months? If light, soil, and water are correct, it may be nutrient-starved. Try a diluted liquid feed and monitor for 2–3 weeks.

What micronutrients do succulents need? Iron (prevents yellowing), magnesium (supports chlorophyll), calcium (firm leaves), boron and zinc (metabolic processes).

Do flowering succulents need different fertiliser? Slightly—during bud formation, switch to a higher potassium formula (like your 2-7-7) to support blooms.