As you can see from the photo, this bowl is very crowded. Not sure whether to separate them all or replant in a larger container. I've never replanted anything like this before. Have read some links on this forum on what to do but any suggestions would be helpful.

Before I give some feedback, a few questions. How long have you had this bowl? What kind of light does it get? Are these your first succulents?

to the forum!

Had the bowl since August 2023 and seems like some of the succulents are bursting out of the bowl. It sits on a stand next to west window and it's been pretty hot around here. Over 100 degrees outside generally. I have watered it once, 3 weeks after I received it in August. Have had succulents before but none lived :(. Thanks for responding.

I was wondering if you keep the blinds closed next to the plant, like they are in the picture. That's probably not going to work out well long term. Your succulents will enjoy the maximum possible amount of sun if you would like to keep them as indoor plants. Right by a southerly facing window is ideal. A west facing window can work too, but the plants need to "see" the sun (line of sight, uninterrupted by blinds or curtains) for hours a day year round. The more natural light, the better. This will reward you with better form, better health, and better disease resistance.

I would think it's probably best to give these plants some time in this container, since you acquired them last month, just to get a sense of how they grow and give them a bit more time to adjust to the (relatively) new location. That said, they are pretty crowded and will likely only become more so.

The most conservative move would be to leave them in that container, and wait a few months to see what they do. Maybe next spring think of taking action. Not later than that, given the way they look now.

The next most conservative move would be to move the whole thing up to a bigger bowl, if you can find one with the right dimensions, just an inch or so wider on all sides. The advantage in leaving them together is you don't have to handle the roots much or damage the plants much in the process. Assuming, of course, that they have sort of grown together below ground like they have above ground.

The most radical move would be to separate all the plants and put them in individual pots. Given your track record with succulents (since you volunteered ) this would entail a greater degree of risk and there might be losses along the way. I would be happy to give detailed instructions now or whenever you might want to take radical action.

I think the best advice I can give at this juncture is related to care. Dial up the light, as much as your indoor situation will allow, especially since the days are getting shorter and the sun is getting lower in the sky. This will help you with watering since it will hasten the evaporation of the soil. It will improve the odds of survival over winter.

Try to get the soil properly saturated when you water. Maybe water some and then come back a few minutes later to water some more. I'm assuming there's a hole at the bottom of the container and some kind of saucer underneath. After you water, make sure the saucer is empty and the container is not sitting in a lake. And then wait for the soil to go dry at depth (not just at the surface) before watering again. Maybe push your finger in there an inch or two to get a sense of what the soil feels like. There are various tricks and techniques but the important thing is to wait for the soil to dry out some or all of the way before watering. There is no advantage to leaving the soil bone dry for any extended period, but there is a significant risk of rot if you don't allow it to dry out enough often enough.

The actual watering interval will vary depending on the seasons in most indoor locations, unless you have a really bright spot (like here at the latitude of southern Arizona, about a foot away from a sunny, unobstructed, southerly facing window). So consider waiting longer to water during late fall and winter and the opposite during late spring and summer, even if the house is climate controlled, just because of the light changing.

If you do change pots (to a new bowl or to individual pots) the important thing is to manhandle the roots as little as possible, and (very important) not to water immediately after potting them up. Wait at least a week to water after repotting. Make sure the new pot has hole(s) at the bottom and isn't overly large (especially not overly deep). Make sure the soil you use has good drainage. I recommend a mix of 50% organic (like a good quality potting soil) and 50% rock (like pumice, perlite, or gritty equivalent).

First of all, thank you for such a thorough discussion on what needs to be done in the various scenarios you mention. The sun comes right through the blinds and the plant probably gets sun for at least 6 hrs of the day. I don't like how hot it gets so I raise the blinds later in the afternoon so it doesn't beat on the plant. As you say though, I should keep it open so the plant continues to receive the sunlight. There is a patio that overhangs the south window so it's probably best to leave it where it is. I also will wait until spring to repot. The plant was a gift and I thought it was really crowded when I saw it then in August. I know watering can be an issue too so will try to follow your instructions. I will print out your instructions and try to follow them come spring, and then decide what to do about repotting. Most likely, you will hear from me at that time before I attempt to do anything ;-). Really appreciate the time you take to provide suggestions. I can tell you care alot about these plants.