How to care for the succulent plant Black Peony
This article provides some tips for netizens on caring for the succulent plant Black Peony. Let's find out how to care for the Black Peony. Native to Mexico, the Black Peony prefers a warm, dry, and sunny environment and is relatively drought-tolerant but not very cold-tolerant (slightly cold-tolerant). It dislikes dark, damp, and poorly ventilated environments and thrives in environments with large day-night temperature differences and good ventilation.
During the hot summer, the Black Peony is in a dormant or semi-dormant state, and watering should be controlled, ventilation should be enhanced, and appropriate shading should be provided.
Spring, early summer, and autumn are the peak growing seasons for the Black Peony. For grafted plants that grow faster, watering can be sufficient, but the potting soil should not accumulate water, as this can cause root rot. Regularly spray water on the plant to increase air humidity. Apply a compound fertilizer or decomposed liquid fertilizer every 15 days, preferably light and not too concentrated, and be careful not to splash fertilizer on the plant. For seedlings that grow slowly, water and fertilizer should not be excessive, keeping the potting soil moist is sufficient, and applying fertilizer once a month can meet their growth requirements.
In winter, strictly control watering to allow the plant to enter dormancy. It can tolerate low temperatures of 0°C, but the flowering period may be delayed. If the humidity is around 10°C, continue to water to promote plant growth and continuous flowering. Repot every 1-2 years in the spring, using coarse-grained soil that is loose, well-ventilated, and has good drainage, with some fertility and calcium content. A mixture of 3 parts of decomposed leaf soil, 4 parts of coarse sand, 1 part of cinder, and a small amount of bone meal or shell powder can be used.
Recently, some enthusiasts have used small granules of orchid stone or ceramsite instead of coarse sand with good results. This plant is prone to rust disease, so it should be exposed to sunlight during cultivation to prevent it. Additional potassium fertilizer can be applied to improve resistance. If the plant is infected with rust, it can be treated with rust control or other fungicides.
The propagation of Black Peony is commonly done through sowing. Generally, sowing is done indoors from March to May, with an optimal germination temperature of 20-24°C. Seeds germinate in 7-10 days, but seedlings grow slowly and take 4-5 years to bloom. To accelerate growth and promote early flowering, seedlings are often grafted using a flat grafting method, with the rootstock being triangle cacti or other similar plants. Grafted seedlings grow quickly and can bloom in about 2 years with a higher number of flowers.
However, grafted plants tend to age prematurely, have smaller plant shapes, and are not as good in appearance as seedlings. On the market, seedling plants of the same size as grafted ones can be several to tens of times more expensive.
Additionally, small shoots from old plants can be cut and grafted or propagated through cutting.
The information provided above is a complete guide on how to care for the Black Peony, and we hope it will be helpful to you. Don't forget to visit more often for more flower care experience and knowledge!