How Big Do Succulents Grow? 8 Crucial Factors That Affect A Succulent Growth

Succulents are great plants for the home or garden and are very easy to care for and they are growing in popularity every year.

However, some people have a hard time choosing the right succulent for their home because they don’t know how big they will grow.

It can be difficult to know how large a certain type of succulent will grow especially if you have never grown one.

So in this post I will give you some ideas about how big do succulents grow. I will also cover what factors affect the growth of a succulent and some useful tips and tricks for growing succulents in your house.

Interested…? Keep reading to find out ideal succulent size so you can choose the best varieties for your space.

How Big do Succulents Grow:

In general, succulents are slow growing plants which can range in size from tiny 1″ (2.5 cm) plants to huge specimens many feet tall and wide. Some of the larger succulent species can grow over 10 feet (3 m) tall as single stemmed tree-like plants with a diameter up to 6 feet (1.8 m).

The size of a succulent depends on three factors: age, conditions, and species. For example, an Aloe vera plant that grows up to 10 feet (3 m) tall in ideal conditions in the ground will only grow 3–4 inches (7.5–10 cm) high in a pot.

Most of the succulents you’ll find at nurseries are small houseplants. They usually remain small enough to fit on a shelf or desk, although they may need more room as they age.

There are also some larger types of succulents that can get quite large, but they’re not suitable for indoor growing unless you have very high ceilings!

Factors That Affect Succulent Growth:

There are several factors that affect a succulent growth and how big they will eventually become. Let’s discuss these in detail

Light:

One of the main things that directly affects how fast a plant grows is how much light it gets. Succulents require 5 to 6 hours of direct sunlight each day in order to thrive.

If you’re growing your succulents outdoors, place them in an area that receives full sun exposure. If you prefer to grow your succulent indoors, make sure it has access to an unobstructed window that will allow it to receive an adequate amount of sunlight each day.

Don’t have sunlight at your home use this instead.

Climate:

The climate is an important factor that affects succulent growth. Succulents are often found in arid and semi-arid regions. They don’t tolerate cold weather well and they can be damaged by frost and low temperatures. If you live in a cold area, you have to plant the succulents in containers, so you can move them indoors during winter.

Soil:

The soil is another factor that affects succulent growth. Succulents need well-drained soil, because they don’t tolerate waterlogged soils very well.

You have to make sure the soil drains well and doesn’t hold water for long periods of time. It’s best to use sandy soils, because they drain fast and they don’t hold too much water.

Use a special “cactus mix” or other coarse, well-draining potting media for your succulents. Amend regular potting soil with additional sand or peat moss if necessary to create a loose, airy media with good drainage properties. The roots of succul

Moisture:

Water is obviously essential for life, but how much water do succulents need? The answer depends on the type of succulent you have and where it is growing. Some types such as cactus do not require much water at all while others like echeveria or sedum need more than others.

Succulents have adapted over time to thrive on very little water. Most species need water only once a week, especially during their summer growing season.

Water your succulents thoroughly when you irrigate them, so that water seeps through the soil and drains out of the bottom of the pot; then allow the soil to dry completely before you water again.

If your region has very hot summers with high humidity, water your succulents no more than once every two weeks and always allow the soil to dry completely between watering sessions.

Growth Period:

The growth period of your succulent depends on its specific type of plant and on the climate where it is grown.

The best time to see your succulents flourishing is during spring and summer. During these seasons, temperatures are moderate, providing suitable conditions for growth.

Watering your plants during this time will also promote growth as long as you don’t drown them by overwatering.

Bloom:

Some succulents bloom only once per year or season. For example, some cacti bloom only at night. You can encourage this by providing them with extra light during the day or night and making sure they have adequate moisture levels.

Some other types of blooming succulents flower all year round but less frequently than those that bloom only once per year or season.

Space:

The amount of space you provide for your succulents to grow can also influence their growth rate and size.

If you want your succulents to grow bigger, you should give them more room to spread out and not overcrowd

Pests:

Pests can affect the health of a succulent and prevent it from growing at its full potential. Mealybugs and scale insects are two common pests that infest succulents.

These bugs suck sap from the plant, which prevents the succulent to grow to its full potential.

How Fast Do Succulents Grow:

Usually, the fastest growing plants are those grown outdoors where they get more sun and better conditions. However, even indoor succulent plants can grow quite quickly if they are well-cared for.

Succulents are slow-growing plants. Most species grow 1 or 2 inches per year. The fastest-growing succulents do not exceed 4 inches in growth annually. Succulent growth rates increase when they are exposed to more sunlight or have more room to grow.

Growth Spurt:

While most types of succulents grow slowly over many years, there are some exceptions. An occasional burst of quick growth can occur when the plant is exposed to additional sunlight after being kept indoors for long periods of time or when it is transplanted into a larger container.

This sudden spurt of growth however is rare and does not occur regularly throughout the life of the plant.

If you want a succulent that can quickly fill out an empty space, look for one with a fast growth rate. Here are some of the fastest growing succulents:

Burro Tail:

This trailing succulent is also known as burro’s tail, donkey tail, lamb’s tail and horse’s tail. It has small leaves that grow densely along a thick stem. If you plant it in a hanging basket, the stems will trail downwards to create an attractive waterfall effect.

Echeveria elegans (Mexican snowball):

This is one of the most popular houseplants available for its large rosettes of chubby leaves in shades of green and red. Outdoors, it can reach a height of 2 feet and width of 4 feet.

You can cut back echeverias to keep them smaller and more manageable, or you can let them grow naturally, and reach their full size.

Crassula ovata (Jade Plant):

Jade plants have thick leaves that store water, making them easy to care for. Jade plant is one of the fastest growing succulents.

The Average Size of Succulents:

As with most plants, the size of succulents is highly dependent on the variety. Some succulents are so tiny that they are often grown in fairy gardens. Others can be as big as a tree!

The most common place you’ll see succulents is in small pots, which allows you to easily decorate your home or office with them. That’s not a coincidence — many varieties of succulent are ideal for smaller spaces.

In general, the average size of a succulent is between one and eight inches in height. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule.

Below we list some common examples of both tall and short-growing varieties:

Succulents That Grow Tall:

Many popular houseplant succulents tend to be on the smaller side, but there are lots of exceptions to this rule that are well worth your consideration.

These larger succulents can range anywhere from 8 inches to over 5 feet tall, making them excellent candidates for large planters and garden beds.

Some of the succulents that grows tall are

• Aloe
• Crassula
• Sedum
• Echeveria

Succulents That Stay Small:

Although most of the succulents generally are under 6 inches, if you looking for some tiny ones here are some of my favorite varieties

• Haworthia
• Gasteria

So In A Nutshell:

There are many different varieties of succulents, and each variety has its own growth rate and size.

Some varieties of succulents grow faster than others, while some grow taller than others as well.

The average size of succulents varies greatly among different species. Most succulent varieties will reach their full-size potential within two to three years.

So, if you want a big plant, wait until it’s old enough for showing the best results.

You can grow succulents both indoors or outdoors, but to reach their ideal size you have to place them outdoors where they have plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the sunshine.

If you want your indoor plants to thrive and look their best, the best way is to move them outside when they’re at least three years old!

If you have a small pot for growing your succulent in (4 inches), then it may take longer for your plant to reach its full-size potential because there’s not enough space inside the pot for roots to grow properly – this is called “root bounding.”

When this happens, there isn’t enough soil around the root system which can lead to stunted growth or even death from lack of oxygen!

Conclusion:

There are two main factors when it comes to how big succulents will grow: their genetics and environment. The former relates to their variety and the latter deals with more external factors like water, light intensity, soil type, temperature, etc.

Remember to take a bit of care as you grow your succulents so that they can fulfill your expectation. You will find necessary help here.

I hope this information was helpful. If you like the post don’t forget to share with others.