The influence of external conditions on the cultivation of succulent plants
This article provides a detailed introduction to the cultivation of succulent plants, including the impact of external conditions on the cultivation of succulent plants. Please refer to the detailed introduction below.
Light, water, temperature, relative humidity, temperature difference, soil, air circulation, flowerpots, fertilizers,... all of these are external conditions that can affect plant growth. The quality of growing media and fertilizers directly determines the quality of plant growth, and how to make efforts in this aspect will be revealed in this article.
Generally speaking, it is difficult to control light, temperature, relative humidity, and temperature difference, so we need to focus on the remaining conditions. Generally speaking, light and water are the keys to plant growth, temperature and water are the keys to the life and death of plants, and temperature difference is the key to the growth rate of plants.
Growing Media:
I personally believe that the most important aspects of growing media are three points: breathability, water retention with adsorption properties, and cleanliness.
1. Breathability and water retention: This is very important. Most succulent plants have stems with strong water storage capacity, but their root systems are not very developed, so we need to provide space for the roots to breathe. The growing media for most succulent plants should follow the state of being able to form a ball when pinched and scattering immediately when released. 2. The growing media should have water retention and adsorption properties, and the water must flow clear within three seconds, which is a standard for determining the success of soil mixing. If the water flows off in less than three seconds, it indicates that the growing media is relatively coarse (except for plants in the genus Haworthia). Some peat or草炭 can be added to enhance water retention. If the water takes more than three seconds to flow off, it means that the growing media is too fine or has too much fibrous material, and it needs to be rescreened and mixed with some granular growing media to improve its structure. 3. Cleanliness means trying to achieve sterile, pest-free (egg-free), and free of harmful substances. I personally think it's best to use physical methods to keep the growing media clean. First, screen the growing media, then place the screened media in a microwave for sterilization or scald it with boiling water. It's also acceptable. If it's coal slag, it must be desulfurized with a large amount of clean water before use. If it's beach sand, the salt must be washed off. In most cases, growing media with salt content (NaCl) should not be used.
Types of Growing Media: There are many types of growing media, including garden soil, river sand, decomposed leaf soil, perlite, coal slag, brick particles, cactus soil, vermiculite, peat, humus, rice husk ash, charcoal, bamboo charcoal, old wall skin slag, ceramic pellets, coconut bran, orchid stone, lightweight stone, bark, wheatstone, red jade soil, planting stone, deer soil, Ri Xiang stone, Tongsheng sand, rainbow stone, and basically all types of growing media can be used to grow cacti, but they should not exceed a certain proportion and should not be used alone. No single type of growing media can grow succulent plants well by itself; they all need to be mixed in proportion.
2. Air Circulation: This condition is essential for growing cacti. Cacti prefer well-ventilated environments. If the air is not circulating, it greatly increases the breeding of bacteria and fungi because most bacteria and fungi are anaerobic and prefer humid environments. Especially in hot and humid summer weather, it is important to ensure ventilation, or you may lose everything in one night. Especially for plants in the genus Haworthia, which are relatively expensive, it may be necessary to add a small fan in the summer to promote better air circulation.
3. Flowerpots: In terms of material, there are ceramic pots, plastic pots, purple sand pots, porcelain pots, and wooden pots. From a practical standpoint, for slightly smaller plants with a diameter not exceeding 15CM (if the plant is too large, the plastic pot may deform and be harmful to the roots), I personally feel that plastic pots are better. It is recommended to use thicker, darker-colored pots that can maintain heat and do not deform. Plastic pots have good water retention, are lightweight, and can be used to judge when to water by the weight of the pot. They also have a high cost-performance ratio. Ceramic pots are suitable for larger plants, but not for smaller ones because they have good breathability and many gaps in the pot walls, so they generally have poor water retention. In strong sunlight during the summer, the water poured in the morning may dry up by evening, which is not good for the plant's roots. In winter, the insulation performance of ceramic pots is also average. Their advantages are that they are cheap, sturdy, and durable. Before plastic pots became widely used, ceramic pots were the most commonly used type of pot. Purple sand pots are a very traditional type of pot, with the best ones coming from Yixing, which has a long history and exquisite craftsmanship. Purple sand pots have both water retention and breathability, with a fine texture and good hand feel. If conditions allow, purple sand pots are the best choice. Of course, there are also some cultural aspects to using purple sand pots, such as the fineness of the sand, the potter, and the inscriber, which determine the value of the pot. Some good purple sand pots are worth a fortune. Also, the maintenance of purple sand pots is not something I understand well, so I won't elaborate. Porcelain pots have strong water retention and are not breathable, making them unsuitable for growing succulent plants. However, they are liked by many beginners for their appearance and cleanliness, but they are not durable. The maintenance and collection of porcelain pots are also not discussed here. Wooden pots are a type of pot that is rarely used; I have only seen them and not used them.
The depth and diameter of the pot are very important for growing plants. For cacti, seedlings can use deeper pots since they have relatively thick main roots, especially plants in the genus Lophophora and some in the genus Hylocereus and Echinopsis with large root systems, while those in the genus Cereus can use slightly shallower pots. For plants that touch the ground, shallower pots are still used, but it is not excluded that plants like Lophophora and Rock牡丹属 can produce thick carrot roots. For succulent plants, there are many genera to consider. It is important to note that plants in the genus Haworthia must use deep pots to provide enough space for root growth, and for plants in the genus Lithops, deep pots are also needed, although the plants are not large, they have a very straight main root. For other genera, I think a deeper pot is better as long as the soil is well matched. For the diameter of the pot, it is better for mature plants to be 1CM-2CM larger than the diameter of the plant (including spines), and seedlings are best planted densely. Succulent plants should be determined based on the diameter of the canopy, plant shape, and other comprehensive factors.
Nowadays, not much attention is paid to the use of pots. Many pots are left over from previously grown plants, so they are used as makeshift. As long as you understand the performance of various pots, they can serve the purpose of growing media and watering.
Fertilizers:
I personally feel that organic fertilizers are much better than inorganic fertilizers, as they can make the plants plumper and more glossy. Commonly used organic fertilizers include cake fertilizer, pigeon droppings, cow dung, sheep dung, bone meal, etc., but they must be decomposed and sterilized. If used properly, they can have unexpected effects. Inorganic fertilizers generally use slow-release fertilizers, such as Ogreen. I'm not very interested in fertilizers, so I won't say more.
These conditions are all very important for growing flowers. When you can't grow succulents well, you should think about which link has the problem and find a solution, rather than ignoring it or making do with it. After all, plants are also living things!
The above is a complete introduction to the impact of external conditions on the cultivation of succulent plants (growing media and fertilizers), for everyone to learn and understand!