All plants need some kind of light in order to survive, and this goes for succulents too. In this post, we’ll discuss whether or not succulents need sun, how much sun they need and whether they need direct or indirect sunlight. In short: All things succulents & sun!
Before starting this post, we’d like to mention that growing plants is a process. As you become familiar with the succulents you’re growing and when they seem to do well and when they don’t, you’ll automatically start to get a feel for the plant. There’s no “one-size-fits-all solution” to succulent lighting or other aspects of growing succulents. Different kinds of succulents are, well… different! 🙂 Take a look at one of our care guides if you’re after plant-specific tips/info.
Do succulents need sunshine?
Yes, most succulents need sun. That being said, the amount of sun and the type of sunlight varies greatly per succulent. Succulents grow in a variety of different climates in the wild, so it’s important to know which succulent you’ve got before being able to answer this question in more detail. We’ll get to that though…
How much sunlight do succulents need?
Succulents are pretty much all drought resistant parts, most of which store water in some way, shape or form. This leads most people to believe that you should give your succulents direct sunlight for 12+ hours per day in order to keep them healthy. This isn’t usually necessary though (luckily!).
Most succulents do very well on a windowsill or counter top, as long as they are getting some sunlight through the window throughout the day. Although cactuses can usually handle direct sunlight for extended periods of time (yes, cactuses are succulents), the succulents we speak about most on this blog will do best in indirect sunlight. This is especially the case if you’re in a warmer climate, since many succulents will burn if left out in direct sunlight for too long.
Tip: Don’t place them too close to the window if you live in a hot climate! Windowsills can get very hot and this can cause your plant to burn. If you live in a cold climate that gets less sun though, placing them somewhere they get more sun and heat can be very beneficial.
Succulents are filled with water and that’s what makes them so hardy. They don’t need a lot of water and tend to deal with changes in their environment pretty well. That being said, direct sunlight for long periods of time won’t do most succulents any good. By keeping them on a windowsill or elsewhere near a window, you give them the sun and light they need without the risk of them burning. Since the sun moves throughout the day, your succulent should get plenty of light without the risk of them being in the sun for too long.
Exceptions to the rules
The term “succulent” is such a broad definition, so you can be sure that there are plenty of exceptions. Cactuses, or plants like Aloe Vera can do very well outdoors in warmer climates. If you’re looking for information on the amount of sun a particular succulent needs, check out one of our care guides for more information. This is going to give you a far more detailed indication as to the amount of direct/indirect sunlight that specific plant needs. If you’re just interested or you grow a lot of different succulents though, then keep reading!
Do succulents need direct or indirect sunlight?
Most succulents will fair better on indirect sunlight, mainly because direct sunlight will cause parts the plant to burn. Cactuses are generally an exception to this rule, as well as some other succulents. That being said, even these succulents will tend to do better if not exposed to extreme heat or direct sunlight.
The main issue with this question is that it depends where you live. If you live in Alaska where the sun isn’t very strong, then succulents may actually do far better in direct sunlight. However, if you live near the equator, then pretty much all succulents are going to do better when kept in indirect sunlight.
Both the type of succulent you have and the country/region you live are big factors when it comes to succulent sunlight. Try experimenting with different locations if you’re not sure what’s best for your plant, as well as checking out some plant-specific resources/examples.
Our experience
The MrSucculents team has grown succulents through heatwaves of 30 to 40 degrees celsius for over three weeks (84-104F) as well as long dark winters with temperatures as low as -10 degrees celsius (0F). From our own experience, we can tell you that the two biggest things are to select plants that suit your environment and to monitor them when conditions become extreme.
If you live somewhere where succulents could never survive outside and where the winters are long and extremely dark, it may be necessary to give your succulents a few hours of light under a grow light. Just a few hours underneath a grow light can make a huge difference to the health of your succulents if you have very dark winters. This may only be necessary for a few weeks or a few months depending on where you live, and will help keep your succulents alive.
That being said, if you are experiencing a time where there is a huge amount of sunlight for 18-20 hours per day, then it’s best to move your succulents a few feet away from the windowsill, or if they’re outside, give them some cover. Last summer, I had to move my aloe vera plant away from the windowsill to prevent it bruning. I’m not sure if it was necessary due to the extreme heat or whether it was something reflecting on the plant and causing hotspots, but one foot is all it took for the small brown patches on the leaves to go away.
Conclusion
If you’re not sure whether your succulent needs sun, or what kind of sun it needs, it’s a good idea to navigate to one of our care guides on the type of succulent you have. The exact amount of sun your succulent needs will depend not only on the type of succulent you have but also where you live. If you’re ever not sure, experiment with your plant to see where they do best. This is part of the learning process of growing plants.
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