Hey there succulent lovers! Today I've decided to address a common topic I find a lot of people concerned with. Frequent question's asked by friends and customers usually go something like "Why are my succulents not very colorful?" and "Do they need more water and sunlight?" or "WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?".  I would like to share a few key tips everyone should know when trying to improve the color of your succulent plants.

All succulents need water and sunlight, but the amount of sunlight and water used in caring for your plants plays a huge role in the overall color of your plants. I have decided to give an example of the extreme differences in color by referencing two pictures below. 

The "Pink Ana"(pictured left ) is much more pink and colorful then the "Pink Ana"(picture right). I would like to point out that both plants are perfectly healthy and both were greenhouse grown. The difference between the exceptionally colorful "Pink Ana" is that it received the perfect amount of natural sunlight after being shipped to the customer . As you can see in the photo it is receiving direct but definitely not harsh natural sunlight. This is Key! The less colorful Pink Anna spent most of it's time under UV lights indoors receiving little to no natural sunlight. 

Succulents love the sun and can thrive in it most of the day but we need to make sure to keep them out of any harsh conditions like the hot afternoon sun or highly concentrated UV light. Think of places in or outdoor that offer dapple lighting or screened filtered lighting. Think of places that feel the nice morning sun. The kind of place in your home you could comfortably read a book and relax under the warm sun for a length of time without feeling uncomfortable. For indoors, nice big bay windows are a perfect location. The point is to let them get as much sun as possible without burning the plant.

Properly watering the succulents is just as important as keeping them in proper sunlight. Do not spray or mist the succulents. Succulents do not deal well with any sort of humidity. Humid conditions can cause rot and or disease.  When watering succulents, give them a through watering, allowing the entire root system to get wet.  Water only as often as it takes for the soil to dry out completely between waterings.  A good rule of thumb is to check the soil with your finger to be sure it is completely dry before watering again.  This will significantly vary depending on location and time of year.  If it takes three days or three weeks for the soil to completely dry it is ok either way as long as you do not over water. Be sure to water the plants in the evening, when they are in their rest period (the plants best absorb water and nutrients during this time). Watering succulents during the day in direct sunlight can also act as a magnifying glass which can burn the plants. 

For more in depth watering instructions please visit the Shop Succulents blog titled "Best practices for Watering Your Succulents" for more information. Hope this was helpful. Happy planting!