"Yan Riyi beheading skills, Yan Riyi shaping and maintenance guidelines"

Method for Cutting the Top of Yanyirui

As a widely popular succulent plant, Yanyirui often encounters issues such as etiolation or disease during cultivation. Timely topping not only saves the plant's health but is also an important technique for shaping. This article will systematically explain the professional topping operation process to help you easily master plant repair and shaping art.

Complete Analysis of Yanyirui Topping Operation

Accurate Location for Topping

Based on the different conditions of the plant, the topping position needs to be scientifically judged: for etiolated plants, cut at 1/2 to 2/3 of the plant's height, retaining 5-8 healthy leaves; for diseased plants, completely remove the infected part, extending down 1-2 nodes to ensure complete removal of the pathogen. It is recommended to operate on a sunny morning, which is conducive to quick healing of the wound.

Professional Tool Disinfection Preparation

Prepare a sharp gardening knife or surgical blade and thoroughly disinfect with 75% alcohol wipes. It is recommended to have hemostatic forceps and tweezers for assistance, and important tools should be disinfected with high-temperature steam. The operating surface should be预先铺上消毒棉布 to avoid secondary contamination.

Standardized Topping Operation Process

Use a 45-degree oblique cutting technique to increase the healing area of the cut, completing the cut in a single motion to avoid repeated friction. Immediately after cutting, use a sterile cotton swab to absorb the juice, apply a mixture of mycostatin and root powder (3:1 ratio) to the mother plant's cut, and place it in a ventilated and shaded area to recover.

Scientific Reuse of Cut Branches

The cut branches need to be placed in a well-ventilated area for 3-5 days to allow the cut to fully scab over, then use a cutting medium of perlite:vermiculite = 2:1, keeping the medium slightly moist. It is recommended to use the moist soil dry insertion method and place it in a scattered light environment, which can root in about 15-20 days.

Key Points for Post-Operation Care of Yanyirui

Strictly control water within 2 weeks after the operation and gradually increase the light intensity. The mother plant will sprout 2-4 new buds from below the cut, which can be controlled for shaping by pinching off the buds. After the cuttings have rooted, supplement with a diluted liquid fertilizer (2000 times) every month, and shaping can be done again after half a year.

Through scientific topping operations, not only can plant health issues be resolved, but unique artistic shapes can also be created. It is recommended to carry out regular shaping every spring, combined with rotating the pot for even light exposure, to cultivate high-quality Yanyirui plants with full crowns and distinct layers.