THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PURCHASE!!!
WE HOPE THAT YOU LOVE YOUR PLANTS!
FAQ’s
The Golden Rule of succulents!
“Water me when my soil is dry, and don’t water me when my soil is wet”. That’s 90% of it! The other 10% is down below.
The following are some basic questions we are often asked about our Succulents, hopefully they will answer the question/s you may have.
What is a succulent? Succulents are water-retaining plants adapted to arid climates or soil conditions that store water in their leaves, stems, and or roots.
How long will it take to receive my plants after purchasing? We do our very best to have your order processed, packed and shipped out within 1-3 business days. Transit time via USPS Priority Mail and FEDEX then takes approximately 1- 4 days based on your location. Very rarely it may take longer per reasons completely out of our control. If you need your plants by a specific date, it is your responsibility to let us know in a note during checkout. We recommend our succulents arrive 7-10 days prior to an event.
You will be emailed a Tracking number as well—you can always look up where your plants are after ordering.
*****FOR ORDERS WITH DELAYED SHIPPING, PLEASE LOOK FOR AN EMAIL ON THE DAY OF SHIP OUT FOR YOUR TRACKING #, IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE AN EMAIL ON THE DATE OF SCHEDULED SHIP OUT PLEASE CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY!*******
How long can I leave my plants in their box before opening them? Please open your box immediately upon arrival! Carefully and Gently remove the popcorn packing material. Plants need light, and after traveling in the dark for days, the sooner they get it, the sooner they recover!
My plants arrived and they are covered in dirt, what do I do? We carefully pack all of our plants for shipping as well as label all of our boxes with multiple Handle With Care Stickers, but once they leave our hands, sometimes they get a bit mishandled. If soil has come out of the container/s, gently pack it back in and then carefully water them either in the sink or outside, this should remove most if not all soil from their leaves. Succulents are resilient! With a good watering and light, they should recover quickly! **** If you are going to leave your succulents in the smaller 2 inch plastic containers for an extended time, remember to water them more often as they will tend to dry out much quicker than larger containers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67NsWRV3TOM video on opening a box and watering
*** If there is a problem with your succulents upon arrival, please contact us quickly within 24 hours, and if possible please provide a picture or two to help us assess the problem and resolve it quickly. Do not throw away the plants or the box as we may need to see a picture of them. It is important to us that you receive your plants in good condition, but if you wait too long to tell us there was an issue, we may not be able to help. ***
Should I put them in Sunlight right away? NO! these are greenhouse grown succulents, they need to be acclimated to sunlight gradually. Keep them in the shade or indirect sunlight, especially prior to a wedding or other event and slowly introduce them to direct sun. If you put them in the sun right away, you will burn your new plants!
***We tend to ship these on the dry side..it is best to give them a nice big drink of water (soak them through) and then transfer to your pail/votive 2-3 days later! Be sure to tell your patrons the The Golden Rule of succulents! “Water me when my soil is dry, and don’t water me when my soil is wet”. That’s 90% of it! The other 10% is down below.****
HOW TO TRANSFER to PAILS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGzc8p1ygXQ
How do they fare in nasty weather with shipping? Succulents are very forgiving and very hardy plants; with that being said if your weather is below 30 degrees F we strongly recommend purchasing our hot packs for $5 (per box of 100) to make the journey more comfortable for the plants. If your weather is 15 degrees or below we would recommend delayed shipping if possible: If your order is calendared for an event: IT is your responsibility to contact us to delay your package or call to add a hot pack if necessary!! Once your box is delivered bring it indoors as soon as possible and certainly do NOT let it sit out overnight.
Some of my plants have been damaged, what do I do? Succulents are durable, and chances are the majority of your succulents started from cuttings. If the stem has broken off completely, allow it to dry for 1 week in the shade and then read our question on cuttings. If the stem is hanging, carefully cut off and then do the same.
Check out our Youtube video on How Boxes are Handled during Shipping
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67NsWRV3TOM
How often should I Water my succulents? DON’T OVERWATER YOUR PLANTS….THEY WILL DIE!! Water only when the soil is dry! Don’t water if the soil is wet! If it takes 2 weeks for the soil to dry, then water in 2 weeks. If it takes 2 days for the soil to dry, then you can water in 2 days!
Succulents should be watered generously in the summer as described above, BUT soil should be allowed to completely dry between watering!! . During the winter, when the plants go dormant, cut watering back to once a month. Overwatering and ensuing plant rot is the single most common cause of plant failure. Be aware, though, that an overwatered succulent might at first plump up and look very healthy. However, the cause of death may have already set in underground, with rot spreading upward from the root system. A succulent should never be allowed to sit in water. They love water but hate to swim!
What is Overwatering? Overwatered plants are soft and discolored. The leaves may be yellow or white and lose their color. A plant in this condition may be beyond repair, but you can still remove it from its pot and inspect the roots. If they are brown and rotted, cut away dead roots and repot into drier potting media, or take a cutting and propagate the parent plant.
What is Underwatering? Succulents prefer generous water during the growing season (spring and summer). An underwatered plant will first stop growing, then begin to shed leaves. Succulents are not cactus, they will begin to show stress, withered, droopy leaves etc. Alternatively, the plant may develop brown spots on the leaves. A good drink will plump them up. It’s always a good idea to contact your local Cactus & Succulent Society/Club for specific information related to your exact area.
**** DO NOT use a spray bottle/MISTER to spray your succulents/cactus!!! It does them no good and only causes fungal and rot problems. Succulents and cactus do not like or need moist and humid conditions. They need a good and thorough drink of water all the way through and then nothing! No matter how much you want to water them, spray them, don’t!! until soil is dry again! I can’t say this enough! Succulents are not houseplants or flowers that need constant water. They are succulents and cactus, they allow you to relax and forget about them for awhile! This is the number one problem people have, please don’t waste your money and kill your plants by overwatering, or underwatering with just a spray bottle. NEVER WATER WHEN SOIL IS STILL WET!!!!!!!!!
Regarding watering, succulents do enjoy water a bit more than their pokey/prickly cousins the cactus. Be observant, if something looks wrong, stop your current pattern of watering, reread this, and convo us, succulents and cactus are so easy to grow and so hard to kill, your succulents and cactus should outlive you either directly or with all of their cuttings and pups!!!
TERRARIUMS: Terrariums look great initially but are not always functional! Succulents and cactus need drainage and air circulation! If your terrarium is enclosed and gets condensation/water on the glass, it’s NO GOOD for your succulents. It will rot them! Remove the top or make sure there is an open side at all times! If there is no drainage, use rocks/gravel on bottom to hold excess water. DO NOT water if you can see water on the bottom!!!
Should I put the plants in direct sunlight after they arrive? NO. But it is VERY important that you remove them from their box and allow them some partial sunlight! Give them a few days to recuperate and then slowly acclimate them to direct sunlight.
What kind of temperatures do they need/like? Succulents are much more cold-tolerant than many people assume. As in the desert, where there is often a marked contrast between night and day, succulents thrive in colder nights, down to even 40ºF. Ideally, succulents prefer daytime temperatures between 70ºF and about 85ºF and nighttime temperatures between 50ºF and 55ºF. It’s always a smart idea to contact your local Cactus & Succulent Society/Club for specific information related to your specific area.
It gets cold where we live, can we leave them outside during the winter? It depends where you live! And how cold it gets! Freezing temperatures can damage and or destroy your succulents. Your local Succulent & Cactus Club/Society can be extremely helpful regarding temperatures, and which succulents can handle your local weather.
It gets hot where we live, can we leave them outside all summer long? It depends where you live! And how hot it gets! Extremely hot temperatures with direct sunlight and lack of water can all damage and or destroy your succulents. A little shade can make all the difference. Direct sunlight can also effect the coloring of your succulents, making some of them brighter, redder etc. It can also fade the coloring on some. Experiment, but also consider contacting your local Succulent & Cactus Club/Society. They can be extremely helpful regarding temperatures, and which succulents can handle your local weather.
How can I find out the name/s and other information on my succulent/s? There is a lot of great information available online regarding succulents, and you can also check out our Links at the bottom of our webpage. Your local Succulent & Cactus Club/Society also can be extremely helpful.
Can I order plants now and have them shipped later when the weather changes? Of course! We ship ALL Year long. This being said, it is still the buyers responsibility to be aware of extreme weather conditions when ordering succulents. If you are unsure, email or call us. You can also purchase heating packs which are cheap and a great investment if you need your plants in the middle of a snowstorm.
I accidentally broke off a piece of my plant, what do I do? You should be an expert by now, what do you do? Watch our youtube video for help, sometimes the broken pieces can be replanted, and sometimes not, all depending on the plant.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfT_jnGVN2Q
Are they good for a walkway? (Asked by our 8 year old son James) Some succulents make good plants between rocks, flagstone and other landscaping material. As an example, Sempervivums grow low to the ground, are soft, and produce pups that will fill in cracks and crevices. This being said, not too many succulents can handle direct weight from people walking on them.
When do they flower? Succulents flower at different times of the year. Some of the blooms are simple and basic, while other blooms reach high into the air attracting insects and hummingbirds!
What kind of light do they need? If in a home, Succulents prefer bright light, such as on a south-facing window. Watch the leaves for indications that the light level is correct. Some species will scorch if suddenly exposed to direct sunlight. The leaves will turn brown or white as the plant bleaches out and the soft tissues are destroyed. Alternatively, an under lit succulent will begin to stretch, with an elongated stem and widely spaced leaves. This condition is known as etoliation. The solution is to provide better light and prune the plant back to its original shape. Many kinds of succulents will thrive outdoors in the summer. It’s a good idea to contact your local Cactus & Succulent Society/Club for specific info related to your exact area.
What kind of Potting Soils should I use? Succulents should be potted in a fast-draining mixture that’s designed for cacti and succulents. If you don’t have access to a specialized mix, considering modifying a normal potting mix with an inorganic agent like perlite to increase aeration and drainage. These plants generally have shallow roots that form a dense mat just under the soil surface. We also sell proper potting soil if that makes life easier. Also, contact your local Cactus & Succulent Society/Club for specific information related to your exact area.
Should I Fertilize my succulents? During the summer growing season, carefully fertilize as you would with other houseplants. Caution though, you can damage or destroy your succulents by feeding them improperly. Stop fertilizing entirely during the winter. Again, it’s always smart to contact your local Cactus & Succulent Society/Club for specific information related to your exact area and soil conditions.
My succulents arrived and there are some tiny gnats on some of the plants, what do I do? We are inspected by the State of CA 2x a month for pests and these gnats are harmless! We rarely see them in our greenhouses, but occasionally they will hitchhike and appear upon opening a box, we believe sometimes the sustained darkness over multiple days, a moist environment, and a few gnats can foster a visible occurrence of them. The quickest solution is to spread the succulents out on a table, cookie trays etc. and allow them to completely dry/ be careful of direct hot sun as they can be sunburned, a shaded patio, porch etc. is best. Also place them somewhere that they can get a good flow of air over them, even using a house fan to blow over will help. After the soil has dried completely, they should all be gone, but some dish soap mixed with some water in a spray bottle can be used to spray the plants the day prior to resuming watering. We don’t use toxic pesticides in our greenhouses or on our plants as we assume most buyers will be handling their succulents or giving them away as gifts.
If you have other questions, please do not hesitate to CONVO us. If you receive your order and there is any problem whatsoever, please contact us within 24 hours and we will do our best to make it right for you!
If these are for your wedding, shower, baptism, bar mitzvah, etc.… WE ARE HONORED YOU CHOSE US TO HELP WITH YOUR SPECIAL OCCASION. OUR FAMILY THANKS YOU FOR CHOOSING THE SUCCULENT SOURCE!!!
…. and here’s some ideas for dressing up your succulents!
www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1429&bih=6…
Cheers:
The Succulent Source
Specializing in Beautiful Succulents for Weddings, Events, and your Garden!
Visit us @ one of our online Stores
www.thesucculentsource.com
www.etsy.com/shop/SANPEDROCACTUS
www.etsy.com/shop/THESUCCULENTSOURCE
and coming soon…
www.SayIDoSucculents.com our strictly Succulent Wedding Shop!
And check out our Facebook page for our latest succulents, cactus news, pictures, specials and daily real-time orders leaving for our customers!
www.facebook.com/pages/Succulents/357750740914567
and Don’t hesitate to call us with questions Monday-Saturday 8AM-5PM
We can Process Orders via the phone w/ any major credit card too!
760-749-1086 Pacific Time
Blessings to You and Yours,
The Irwin Family