Lighting is essential with succulents, and although they do need sun, different species will thrive depending on your climate and whether you'll grow them indoors or outdoors. And there are several types of slow-growing succulents that actually prefer lower light conditions. The exact amount of sunlight will vary according to the species. ... And I mean that seriously – just like people need to sleep to do important things like reset our brains and repair our muscles, plants have certain processes that only occur in the dark. In fact – here’s some fun trivia. Succulents are much more cold-tolerant than many people assume. In general, all succulents do best in sun; many will get leggy and weak without at least six hours of sun daily, and many get more colorful and flower better in eight or more hours of direct sun. You need to protect them by providing shade. Likewise, many prefer low light and shade to stay perky. Growing succulents indoors–Sunlight, lighting and other things to consider . Succulents love light and need about six hours of sun per day, depending on the type of succulent. Without it, the plants will eventually die. If left under the scourging sun, there’s a high chance that the succulents will get burned and eventually die. Sunlight/Lighting. Why succulents do not need much exposure to sunlight, they still need bright and indirect sunlight. Succulents need less light during the winter than when they are actively growing during the summer. As a general rule of thumb, colorful varieties do best outdoors. However, it’s a mistake to assume that all succulents need to be in bright sunlight all day long. Indoor Succulents Direct Sunlight. While succulents generally do need plenty of bright sunlight, many can’t handle too much sun, as it can cause them to become sunburned. However, there are indoor succulents that can tolerate low-light environments. Plants grow by absorbing light and turning it into energy through the process of photosynthesis. Remember, succulents are used to living in harsh environments, often under full sunlight. At their core, succulents are sun-loving plants. If you are planting your succulents indoors, it becomes a lot more tricky because sunlight exposure is minimal when succulents are planted indoors. Place a dormant succulent in an area with at least three to four hours of bright light. These types of succulents can grow well indoor with minimal sunlight exposure. What Shade Succulents Need In general, all succulents do best in sun at least part of the day sun; many will get leggy and weak and refuse to flower without at least six hours; some actually get more colorful and flower better in eight or more hours of direct sun. In the desert, where there is often a marked contrast between night and day, succulents thrive in colder nights, sometimes as low as 40 F. 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