Succulents. All the rage these days, those squidgy, little, bulbous life forms. I’m at a loss as to why I like them too, but I just can’t get enough. In fact, nobody here at Carousel can. When it comes to planning an event, a strategically placed plump succulent never seems to go amiss. So whether you’re enjoying a private dinner in our bright and airy upstairs room, or doing shots at a dive bar in the industrial, warehouse-feel downstairs space, there are bound to be a few succulents dotted around.

The only thing is, for something that chooses to live in a desert and should be hardy as anything, I do manage to kill them quickly. At least, I used to…

Through trial and error, many conversations with Julia at the garden centre and a fair bit of googling, I think I’ve finally got this succulents business down. If you’re looking for some tips on upping your houseplant-game, check out the golden rules below, and you’ll go from cacti-killer to succulent whisperer in no time (hopefully).

Starting from the bottom…

• Get hold of some special cacti compost from a garden centre, and keep it open and free-draining to prevent waterlogging and recreate your succulent’s natural habitat.
• When Spring rolls around, you want to re-pot your plants in a pot of a slightly larger diameter.

Succ’s Positioning

• Most cacti and succulents are more than happy sitting by a bright, sunny window all year round, so get them a room with a view and let them watch the world go by.
• Let ‘em breathe! Cacti and succulents need fresh air and good ventilation, especially during the summer months.

Move with the seasons

Spring and summer

• From April onwards, water your succulents freely, allowing excess water to drain away. However, do continue to let compost dry out slightly between waterings, rather than keeping it constantly moist.
• Feed established plants once a month from April to September (growing season) with some delicious liquid houseplant feed or a specialist liquid cacti feed.

Autumn and winter

• Succulents benefit from a few months’ rest over winter: in the colder months, they should have no problem adapting to cooler night temperatures (8-10°C minimum).

• Winter watering requires delicate attention: ideally, from September onwards you want to reduce watering to a minimum. Allow the compost to virtually dry out before watering. In fact, some desert dwellers can be left un-watered from early November to the end of February!
• …however, keep an eye on your central heating. If you keep them out of close contact with radiators, you shouldn’t find any problems, but if you think they’re looking a bit parched, give your plants a light watering to prevent any shrivelling.
• Winter-flowering succulent? Ignore the above! They’ll require warmth and regular watering over winter, followed by a resting period in the summer.