Should You Mist Succulents? A Plant Pro Says No

If you grow succulents, you might have marveled at how little water they need not only to survive but to thrive.

However, you might wonder about misting succulents—is it a safe and gentle alternative to watering, and should you be doing it? The short answer is no. 

Succulent expert Timothy Day weighs in on the topic and explains why misting succulents is not only unnecessary but can be harmful to the plant.

To make your succulents thrive, just follow the tips for watering succulents at the bottom of this article.

Should You Mist Succulents?

The advice to all plant parents is clear: there’s no need to mist indoor succulents, expert Timothy Day shares.

Succulents are most often native to dry climates, including deserts, and are perfectly adapted to environments with very low humidity.

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Why Misting Succulents Isn’t Necessary

Misting succulents increases the humidity around the plant, but succulents are perfectly fine in low humidity. Not only is it unnecessary to mist succulent, but it may backfire.

“Misting an indoor succulent can cause water to settle on the leaves where it might cause the leaves to rot and might encourage fungus or bacteria growth,” Day explains.

Succulents that are grown in a humid room might exhibit the same problems as overwatered succulents—high humidity is a breeding ground for plant diseases and pests that are attracted by wet soil, such as fungus gnats. 

4 Watering Tips for Your Succulents to Thrive 

Start with the Right Soil and Pot

Though not a watering tip per se, the type of pot and soil you use for your succulents plays a major role in watering correctly. Use only well-draining soil, ideally a special succulent potting mix, and a pot with adequate drainage holes. 

Follow the Soak and Dry Method

When watering succulents, don’t follow a rigid schedule but let the soil guide you. Allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again—this might take a week or two, says Day.

The time it takes for the soil to dry out depends on many factors, including temperature, pot size, potting medium, etc.

Water deeply and slowly until the potting medium is well-soaked. A thorough watering of the soil around the base of the plant when the soil is dry encourages strong roots and allows their thick, fleshy leaves to “fill” with moisture.

If you are unsure about soil dryness, consider purchasing a moisture meter. 

Use Bottom Watering

For succulents, like for many other plants, the preferred method is bottom watering because it prevents water from accumulating on the leaves.

• The easiest way to bottom water is to keep the pot on a large saucer (at least 2 inches larger in diameter than the pot) and fill the saucer with water so the drainage holes are submerged.
• If you don’t have a saucer, place the pot in the sink or a bowl.
• Leave the plant in the water for at least 30 minutes, or until the soil is completely saturated.
• Drain and let the plant sit until any excess water has trickled out of the pot and discard the water.

Less is More

Underwatering is always better than overwatering. Succulents are tough plants; in nature, they recover from long periods without precipitation. An overwatered plant is much more challenging to rescue as it is usually suffering from secondary problems such as root rot and other diseases.