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Plant care

Sunrise Succulent (Sunrise Anacampseros) care

Anacampseros telephiastrum

Also called Sunrise Anacampseros, Love Plant, Telephiastrum.

RHS H2USDA 9–11Mildly toxic to petsIndoor 5–10 cm tall

Watering rhythm

10-14days

When the top 2–3 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 10–14 days in summer and every 3–5 weeks in winter

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Light

Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)

Soil

Well-draining succulent or cactus mix with added perlite (30%)

Humidity

30–50%

Temp

10–32°C

Pet safety

Mildly toxic to pets

Mature size

5–10 cm tall

Care at a glance

Light

Bright but filtered. Sunrise Succulent burns within days in unfiltered south-facing summer sun, and stops growing within months in deep shade. Needs bright light with some direct morning sun to develop the best pink colouration. The variegated 'Sunrise' form intensifies in colour with more sun stress. Avoid harsh afternoon sun in midsummer, which can bleach leaves. If you only have a south window, set the plant back 1.5 m or hang a sheer curtain — both knock the intensity down into the right range.

Watering

Watering sunrise succulent: when the top 2–3 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 10–14 days in summer and every 3–5 weeks in winter. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Water thoroughly and allow to drain completely. Reduce significantly in winter. The plant is drought-tolerant but benefits from more consistent watering than many succulents during summer to maintain the vibrant leaf colour.

Soil and pot

Sunrise Succulent grows best in well-draining succulent or cactus mix with added perlite (30%). Replicates sandy, rocky South African soils. Standard succulent compost with added perlite or coarse grit provides the drainage this species needs. Small terracotta pots help prevent overwatering. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Sunrise Succulent sits happiest at around 30–50% humidity and 10–32°C (50–90°F). Tolerates typical indoor humidity. Does not need misting. Avoid very humid environments combined with poor airflow. If you keep the room above 10–32°C year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed sunrise succulent sparingly. Apply a dilute balanced succulent fertiliser (e.g. 10-10-10 at half strength) once in spring and once in early summer. Avoid feeding in autumn and winter. Light feeding maintains the best leaf colouration. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on sunrise succulent in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Root rot — Caused by overwatering or waterlogged soil. Allow soil to dry between waterings and use well-draining compost.
  • Loss of pink colour — Insufficient light causes the rosette to revert to pale green. Increase sun exposure gradually to restore vivid colouring.
  • Mealybugs — Can shelter between leaves. Treat with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab or diluted insecticidal soap.
  • Fungus gnats — Attracted by consistently moist soil. Allow the surface to dry more thoroughly between waterings and use yellow sticky traps.
  • Leggy rosette — Low light causes the plant to stretch. Increase direct sun to restore the compact, tight rosette form.

Companion plants

Sunrise Succulent pairs well with Anacampseros rufescens, Echeveria 'Perle von Nürnberg', and Haworthia cooperi. These are species with similar light and water needs, so you can group them in the same room or on the same shelf and water as a batch.

Propagation

Leaf cuttings are effective — remove a healthy leaf with a gentle twist, allow to callous for 1–2 days, then lay on barely moist succulent mix. New rosettes appear in 3–6 weeks. Stem cuttings from offset rosettes also root readily in spring. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Sunrise Succulent is mildly toxic to pets. Anacampseros telephiastrum is not individually listed by the ASPCA. The Anacampseros genus (Portulacaceae/Anacampserotaceae family) has limited specific toxicity data. As a precaution, treat as mildly toxic and keep away from pets and children. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Sunrise Succulent care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Anacampseros telephiastrum?

Anacampseros telephiastrum is most commonly called Sunrise Succulent, but it is also known as Sunrise Anacampseros, Love Plant, Telephiastrum. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Sunrise Succulent apply identically to anything sold as Sunrise Anacampseros.

How much light does sunrise succulent need?

Sunrise Succulent grows best in bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window). Needs bright light with some direct morning sun to develop the best pink colouration. The variegated 'Sunrise' form intensifies in colour with more sun stress. Avoid harsh afternoon sun in midsummer, which can bleach leaves.

How often should I water sunrise succulent?

Water sunrise succulent when the top 2–3 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 10–14 days in summer and every 3–5 weeks in winter. Water thoroughly and allow to drain completely. Reduce significantly in winter. The plant is drought-tolerant but benefits from more consistent watering than many succulents during summer to maintain the vibrant leaf colour. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is sunrise succulent toxic to cats and dogs?

Sunrise Succulent is mildly toxic to pets. Anacampseros telephiastrum is not individually listed by the ASPCA. The Anacampseros genus (Portulacaceae/Anacampserotaceae family) has limited specific toxicity data. As a precaution, treat as mildly toxic and keep away from pets and children.

What USDA hardiness zone does sunrise succulent grow in?

Sunrise Succulent is rated for USDA zone 9–11 and RHS hardiness H2. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Sunrise Succulent deep-dive guides

Every aspect of sunrise succulent care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Sunrise Succulent qualifies for 5 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Sunrise Succulent is also known as Sunrise Anacampseros, Love Plant, and Telephiastrum.