Method of cultivating Echeveria succulents
Let's talk about the planting of Echeveria succulents, the cultivation methods of Echeveria succulents, with the following specific introduction:
Echeveria, with 150 species, is one of the most valuable and collectible genera in the Crassulaceae family. It is currently very popular in China, with prices rising daily, reminiscent of the 2010-11 Sempervivum craze. The leaves and stems of this genus are fleshy, with the plant growing in a flower-like shape from the inner center to the outer edges. The flower stems emerge from between the top leaves, which are initially mistaken for side buds, whereas the true side buds sprout from the middle and upper parts of the plant, and older stems produce side buds at the bottom, with thick leaves.
Summer: Not obvious dormancy, just slow growth, during which water should not be cut off, check the dryness and wetness of the soil mixture you use, and water every 1-2 weeks.
Growing period: Even during the growing period, the amount of watering should be controlled. In poorly ventilated environments, avoid frequent watering, as insufficient light can easily cause leggy growth, loose leaves, and affect the appearance. When potting Echeveria, you can add a proper amount of bottom fertilizer, and apply a thin fertilizer 1-2 times during the growing period. When watering, be careful to avoid getting water on the plant, as water stains are unattractive. Keep the center of the plant free from water accumulation to prevent rot.
Propagation methods: Leaf cutting, division, and sowing.
Leaf cutting: During the growing period, remove healthy and thick leaves, place them flat on moist sandy soil with the upper side facing up and the lower side facing down, without covering them with soil. Place them in a shaded and well-ventilated area. In about 10 days, small leaves and rootlets can grow from the base of the leaves. After the rootlets appear, water them to promote rapid growth and bury the roots in the soil. Then, let them bask in the sun, water and fertilize appropriately, and they will gradually grow into a strong new plant.
Stem cutting: Single leaves, suckers, or top branches can be used. The length of the cuttings is not limited, but the cut ends must dry before removing the lower leaves and inserting them into the sand bed. Roots usually grow in about 15 days. The soil should not be too wet, or the cut ends may turn yellow and rot. When the roots are 2-3 centimeters long, pot them. Leaf cutting can also be used. Division: It's best done in spring. Usually propagated through cutting. Indoor cutting can be done all year round, with August to October being better, as roots grow quickly and have a high survival rate. The cuttings can be single leaves, suckers, or top branches, with no limit on length, but the cut ends must dry before inserting them into the sand bed. Roots usually grow in about 15 days.
Sowing: This is also a good method. Sowing can be done all year round in a greenhouse. After sowing, keep the temperature between 16-26°C, relative humidity at 75%-80%, and about 50% light. The method can refer to the sowing steps of Crassulaceae.
Disease and pest control: Common pests include root mealybugs, rust, leaf spot, and root-knot nematodes. During the plum rain season, Echeveria is prone to bacterial infections that cause rotting. The best preventive measure is to use well-draining granular soil for summer cultivation. During sunny weather, water in the evening, and during the rainy season, prevent excessive watering to avoid rotting. It's best to spray fungicides every 10 days for prevention.
After entering summer, root mealybugs may爆发 with the slow growth of Crassulaceae flowers. We should take manual control measures, spraying organic phosphorus pesticides every 10 days for prevention and control, or sprinkling furan on the surface of the potting soil. Rust and leaf spot can be controlled by spraying 75% wettable powder of chlorothalonil 800 times, and root-knot nematodes can be controlled with 3% furan granules. For pest control, black weevils can be killed by spraying 25% carbaryl wettable powder 500 times.
Soil mixture: Generally, a mixture of peat, vermiculite, and perlite in equal parts, with an appropriate amount of bone meal added, or a mixture of 3 parts of decomposed leaf soil, 3 parts of river sand, 1 part of garden soil, and 1 part of slag can be used.
Echeveria identification: Many people generalize all succulents with leaves arranged like lotus flowers as Echeveria, although they are all Crassulaceae succulents, they are not necessarily of the same genus. Especially Echeveria, Graptopetalum, and Dudleya are very similar and sometimes difficult to distinguish from each other.
Echeveria leaves can reproduce new seedlings, while Dudleya leaves do not have this function. When Echeveria flowers, the petals near the receptacle are partially connected, so the flowers cannot fully open and will only be pendulous, whereas Graptopetalum flowers can fully open into a five-pointed star shape.
Echeveria: There are many representative varieties, such as Dongyun, Xuelian, Jiwalian, Dahuajin, Yueying, Hongzhilian, Jingye, Moshi Echeveria, Hongsi, GaoSha ShaZhiWeng, NingZhiLian (YiZhiMuDan), etc.
The detailed content shared above about the cultivation methods of Echeveria succulents, hoping it can be helpful to you!