RARE Cases: When Succulents Break the Rules: Growing in Mud and Wate

this is one of the succulent planted terrariums I used for testing. It has been outside for years and so are the plants.

This succulents terrarium is what I am about to talk in this blog. It is a rare case but just in case any people may find it useful.

When people talk about growing succulents, the advice is almost always the same: use well-draining soil, and let the mix dry out completely between waterings.

But in practice, experienced growers often discover that this is not always the full story.

Succulents can grow alongside moss.They can also survive, and sometimes even grow, in water.

So that raises an interesting question: do succulents really fear “too much water”?

In many cases, what succulents fear is not water itself, but a combination of oxygen-starved wet roots, low temperatures, stagnant air, and decaying organic matter.

In other words, succulents are usually not afraid of water alone. They are afraid of root rot.

That is why the phrase “succulents cannot sit in water” is mainly a rule for soil culture. In soil, if the mix stays wet for too long, water pushes the air out from between the particles. The roots lose oxygen, bacteria and fungi multiply, and the plant can quickly rot from the base.

But in relatively clean water, especially when there is still some oxygen available, the situation is different.

So the contrast looks more like this:

Wet soil + low oxygen + decomposing organic matter = very likely to rotClean water + warmth + strong light + active metabolism = sometimes survivable, and sometimes even enough to trigger new roots

Does that mean succulents can be grown hydroponically?

Yes, they can.

In a typical hydroponic setup, the core idea is simple: the roots are mainly in water, or in an inert medium such as clay pebbles or rockwool; the root zone has access to both moisture and oxygen; and nutrients are supplied through the water itself. Many growers do share hydroponic succulents that look surprisingly healthy.

So is the old “soak and dry” rule wrong?

Not exactly. It is still useful, but it is a rule of thumb for soil growing, not an absolute law that applies in every situation.

The real purpose of the soak-and-dry method is to solve two problems:

• giving the roots water

• giving the roots air again afterward

That method works well in ordinary potting soil, in gritty soil mixes with peat or organic matter, and in the kind of household conditions most people have: moderate light, moderate airflow, and average indoor temperatures.

But once you switch to a different system, the logic changes. That can include:

• hydroponics

• semi-hydro

• pure mineral or gritty media

• hot, bright environments where evaporation is fast

In those cases, the real rule is no longer “the soil must dry out completely.”The real rule becomes: the root zone must not stay in a long-term oxygen-poor, rotting state.

Now back to my this succulent terrarium.

This is just one of the several I am keeping. I actually have several succulents terariums like this, with succulents sitting in water.

Some people may say, “Well, that is just hydroponics. What is unusual about that?”

But I would not call this true hydroponics.

I used this glass terrariums as a test container. It originally had soil in it, but the soil was clay soil. Over time, that clay settled to the bottom and formed a natural waterproof layer. After that, rainwater and hose water could no longer drain away.

For convenience, I did not modify the lid or close the container. I simply left it open.

So what I ended up with was this:

• almost no drainage

• a constantly wet root zone

• fine clay particles with very little air space

• a bottom layer that can easily turn into oxygen-poor mud

Because of that, I would say this is neither true hydroponics nor normal soil culture.

If I had to classify it, it is closer to soil culture in terms of the medium, because the roots are still anchored in clay rather than suspended entirely in water. But in terms of root conditions, it is much closer to a borderline semi-hydro or swamp-like setup, because the bottom is no longer normal soil structure at all. It has become a layer of waterlogged clay.

So the most accurate description would be something like:

soil culture in submerged clayora half-water, half-mud growing method

Some people may also argue that these are Sedum-type succulents with branching growth, the kind that are naturally vigorous. Just because they are still alive does not mean they are truly doing well. Maybe they are only surviving on stored water and will collapse later.

That is a fair question, so here is what I have observed.

First, these really are Crassulaceae-type succulents. They do have traits that help them cope.

They can produce adventitious roots from stem nodes, rely on stored water in their leaves for a while, and adjust their root system when conditions change. The branching stems seen here formed naturally over time. They did not start out looking woody or stretched. They began as ordinary plump succulents.

Second, this condition has been going on for quite a long time. I have several pots like this, and their condition has remained remarkably stable.

Third, the growing environment matters. These are kept on a rooftop in a hot subtropical city, with high heat and very strong light.

Fourth, the plants themselves still look healthy in the photos:

• the leaves are plump, firm, and glossy rather than wrinkled or collapsed

• the growth points look normal, and the new leaves in the center are still developing well

• the stems look woody and aged, not black, translucent, or mushy

• there are no obvious signs of the whole plant flopping over, collapsing, or turning to mush

So my current conclusion is this:

Yes, the planting method itself is problematic. But the growing environment is compensating for those problems.

Here is why I think that is happening.

First, the temperature is high, so the roots and stems stay metabolically active. Many succulents fear cold and wet conditions far more than wetness alone. When temperatures drop, tissues become less active. If the roots are also wet and short on oxygen, rot comes quickly. But in a tropical climate, sustained warmth keeps the plant metabolically active. As long as it is not literally being smothered, it has a better chance to produce new roots, repair damage, use up excess water, and turn “the bottom is too wet” into “I can still work with this.”

Second, strong light provides plenty of energy. Under intense light, the plant produces more sugars and stays stronger overall. That gives it more resources to tolerate an imperfect root zone. Many succulents rot easily in weak light and wet conditions, yet manage surprisingly well in hot, bright environments. The difference can be huge.

Third, strong ventilation is critical.The container has been left open the entire time, and that may be the key factor separating success from failure. Good airflow helps in several ways: the stems and leaves dry faster on the surface, localized humidity and trapped heat are reduced, the inside of the glass container is less likely to turn into a steam box, and the risk of stem-base rot drops significantly.

So this creates a very unusual balance.

The root zone is far from ideal, but the above-ground environment is extremely favorable. And for now, that seems to be enough for the plants to hold their ground.