Sun exposure is crucial for the health and growth of succulent plants because they need it for photosynthesis. However, some succulents are happy to grow in low light, while others need big doses of full sun. Keep reading to learn about sunlight requirements for your favorite succulents, tips for growing succulents indoors and outdoors, and more.

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Sunlight Requirements for Different Succulents

All succulents need sunlight, but their specific needs vary. Some succulents will grow in bright shade, while others will wilt without the benefit of a lot of direct sun. A good rule of thumb is that the more colorful the succulent is, the more sunlight it will need.

Below are some of the most popular succulent varieties and their sunlight requirements.

Agave

Agave has long, spiky leaves and is similar in appearance to the Aloe plant. However, it demands more sunlight than Aloe. You’ll want to give an agave plant at least six hours of direct sunlight each day, and its thick leaves can handle harsh, direct sunlight even in the afternoon’s heat.

Aeonium

Aeonium grows in tightly structured rosettes in stunning colors. It needs four to six hours of direct sun daily to maintain its structure and color. It tolerates containers well, but ensure it doesn’t get too much afternoon sun, or its leaves could burn.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a succulent prized for its medicinal uses. Give this spiky beauty between four and six hours of sunlight each day. Your Aloe plant will tolerate full sun, but you’ll want to protect it from the harsh afternoon rays to prevent scorching on its leaves.

Echeveria

Echeveria grow distinctive rosettes and often come in vibrant colors. The brighter the color, the more direct sunlight these succulents will need. Echeveria thrives when it receives bright, direct sunlight for most of the day, but it may scorch in the hot afternoon sun. They grow well outdoors, but you may need to provide shade in the afternoon if you live in a hotter climate.

Gasteria

Gasteria prefers bright, indirect sunlight or dappled shade. They can tolerate direct sun in the morning but ensure it has some shade in the afternoon heat.

Haworthia

Haworthias grow on forest floors and get filtered sunlight through taller plants’ leaves. Therefore, they prefer filtered sunlight and partial shade, as direct sun can scorch their leaves.

Jade Plant

Jade plants are popular succulent sun worshipers. Jade plants need four to six hours of direct sunlight each day, so if you keep it indoors, look for a south-facing window. These plants care more about sunlight than temperature, so they’ll thrive in cooler climates with enough light.

Kalanchoe

You can find Kalanchoe in both flowering and non-flowering varieties. However, flowering varieties need more sunlight to bloom. Give them four to six hours of bright, indirect natural light each day to encourage flowering. Non-flowering types will do fine with less sunlight.

Rhipsalis

Rhipsalis are cascading succulents that originated in tropical climates. They thrive in bright, indirect sunlight, and too much direct sun exposure can dry out their delicate, thin stems.

Sansevieria

Sansevieria, also known as snake plants, are great for gardening beginners because of their low-maintenance nature. Snake plants can thrive in various conditions, from bright indirect sunlight to partial shade. They don’t like low-light conditions, so place your snake plant in an area with at least a few hours of indirect sunlight daily.

Schlumbergera

This succulent is often mistaken for a cacti but originated in the rainforest. It prefers plenty of bright, indirect sunlight and east-facing windows.

Sedum

Sedum is a diverse type of succulent containing hundreds of different individual plants. You’ll need to learn more about your specific kind of sedum to determine its need for sunlight. For example, Sedum morganianum prefers direct sun, but Sedum rubrotinctum does best in indirect light.

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Sunlight vs. Shade: What Do Succulents Prefer?

Some succulents prefer more shade, while others thrive in lots of direct sun, so good succulent care means finding the right balance. You’ll know your succulents are getting the right amount of sunlight if:

• The leaves are free from signs of sunburn: Many succulents like bright sunlight but suffer if exposed to the afternoon sun’s harsh rays. Your succulent may get too much sunlight if its leaves are bleached, dry, or crispy.
• They maintain their compact structure: The right amount of sun helps a succulent grow compactly, while low-light succulents will start to stretch to find more sun.
• They maintain their vibrant colors: A brightly colored succulent may lose its color over time if it’s not getting enough sun.

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Sunlight for Indoor vs. Outdoor Succulents

All succulents need sunlight, but ensuring they get the right amount depends on whether you’re trying to grow them on your windowsill or in your garden.

For Indoor Succulents

Most indoor succulents need four to six hours of bright, indirect sunlight each day. To achieve this, you can:

• Provide grow lights in winter or to plants in areas that don’t get enough sunlight.
• Put your succulents with the highest demand for sunlight on south-facing windowsills.
• Rotate succulents so they get sunlight on all sides. This prevents them from leaning.

For Succulents Outdoors

Outdoor succulents generally want more direct sunlight than indoor varieties, but you’ll want to protect them in the afternoon. To help your outdoor succulents thrive, you can:

• Acclimatize succulents to outdoor conditions slowly if they used to grow indoors, increasing their sun exposure over a few weeks.
• Give them plenty of afternoon shade by planting taller plants nearby, which protects succulents from direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day.

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Sunburn in Succulents: Signs and Prevention

Succulents need sun, but too much sun exposure can result in a sunburn by overwhelming the plants’ natural defenses against UV rays. Succulent owners will want to monitor their plants for signs of sunburn, which include the following:

• Blistering leaves: Succulent leaves can develop blisters from too much sun exposure.
• Discolored leaves: Sunburned succulents will lose color, and their leaves may look pale or bleached.
• Dried-up leaves: It’s normal for the leaves on some succulent varieties to dry up around the base of the plant. Sunburned leaves, however, will become dry and crispy higher on the plant.

Fortunately, it’s easy to prevent sunburn by educating yourself on your plants’ preferences. All succulents have different sunlight needs, so read the tag or ask your local garden center for advice. Remember that most succulents prefer bright, indirect sunlight for several hours a day but should avoid direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day.

Moving an indoor succulent outside also requires you to gradually increase its sun exposure over a few weeks so it gets used to its new growing conditions. You can put a light cloth over the plant for part of the day to help filter the sunlight.

Sunburn damage is permanent, but you can help your succulent recover by moving it to a shadier location. Remove the damaged leaves and let the well-draining soil dry out completely before watering.

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The Connection Between Water and Sunlight

Sunlight will significantly impact another important area of plant care: watering.

Succulents that get a lot of sunlight will lose water faster. This water loss happens through transpiration, which is water loss through the succulent leaves. This will dry out the soil around the succulent faster, so you’ll need to water succulents in bright or direct sunlight more often.

Shade-tolerant succulents need less water because they don’t lose as much through their leaves, and their soil tends to stay moist longer. This means your indoor plants will probably need less water than your outdoor plants.

You must avoid watering your succulent when the soil is still damp, no matter how much sun it enjoys. It’s better to water your succulents underwater than overwatering them, and only give your plants water when the soil around them feels completely dry.

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Our Conclusion

Succulents can thrive indoors and outdoors, but they need the sun to fuel photosynthesis, and individual plants’ needs will also vary. Therefore, understanding your succulents’ sunlight needs will allow you to correctly grow these low-maintenance plants in your home and garden for many years.

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FAQ About Succulents and Sunlight

Can succulents survive without sunlight?

Succulents can survive without sunlight for a short period, such as during transportation. However, they’ll start to die after 10 days of no sunlight.

How often should you water succulents?

How often you should water succulents depends on their individual needs and growing conditions. A good rule of thumb is to water the succulent when the soil around the plant is completely dry. Also, underwatering a succulent is better than overwatering it.

Can succulents survive in a windowless room?

Succulents can only survive in a windowless room for a short period or with the assistance of a grow light.

Do succulents prefer morning or afternoon sun?

Most succulents prefer the morning sun because the afternoon sun can be too harsh, resulting in sunburned leaves.

What happens if succulents don’t get enough sunlight?

If succulents don’t get enough sunlight, they can stretch out or lose their color. They may also die if they go too long without getting the necessary sunlight.

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