How to care for Ziziphus jujuba 'Purple Pearl'
The following provides a detailed introduction on how to care for the Purple Pearl plant and its cultivation methods and precautions in the aspect of green plant maintenance. Let's learn about it together.
The Purple Pearl is a succulent plant with pink-purple leaves and white leaf edges, featuring a cute shape. It is drought-resistant, cold-resistant, and highly adaptable, making it one of the favorite succulents for many. How to cultivate the Purple Pearl?
Purple Pearl Succulent Introduction:
The Purple Pearl is a succulent plant from the Crassulaceae family, also known as a succulent plant, alias Nuremberg Pearl, with a rosette shape of pink-purple leaves. When growing, it is mainly green with faint purple, but in the fall, with the increase of day-night temperature difference, the leaves show purple, making it most ornamental in autumn and winter. Placed in sunlight, it will grow into a rose petal shape. In late summer and early fall, flower stems grow from the leaves, blooming slightly purple orange flowers.
The Purple Pearl enjoys a sunny, warm, dry, and well-ventilated environment, is drought-resistant, cold-resistant, shade-tolerant, and can tolerate indoor闷 environments, with strong adaptability. It does not tolerate intense sun exposure and has no distinct dormancy period. It is prone to illness without proper ventilation. Its optimal growth temperature is between 15-25 degrees Celsius, not lower than 5 degrees in winter; during the growing season, water thoroughly when dry, and sprinkle water around the plant when the air is dry. In summer, it needs shade and reduced watering, and in winter, it should be placed in a sunny indoor area for maintenance.
Purple Pearl Cultivation Methods
1. Soil
The Purple Pearl prefers a cool, dry, and sunny environment with well-draining sandy soil.
2. Light
The more sunlight and greater the day-night temperature difference, the more vibrant the leaf color. If possible, place it outdoors to ensure sufficient sunlight. Insufficient light or excessive soil moisture may cause leggy growth, with the plant turning light or dark green, leaves sparse and spaced out, rapidly growing upwards, severely affecting ornamental value, and even potentially dying due to hindered photosynthesis.
3. Watering
Due to high internal moisture content, the Purple Pearl is prone to rot in overly humid environments. Avoid overwatering. To prevent water accumulation at the roots, it's best to use a pot with drainage holes at the bottom;新手 planters can use breathable red clay pots; glass containers are not recommended due to their heat absorption and poor breathability.
Reference watering amount: about once every 10 days, thoroughly watering each time. Adjust the watering frequency based on regional and seasonal climatic differences.
4. Soil
The Purple Pearl should be cultivated in well-draining and breathable sandy soil to facilitate the removal of excess moisture and root growth; a mixture of leaf mold, sand, and garden soil in equal parts can be used. Repot every 1-2 years in spring, cutting away dead old roots.
5. Temperature
The Purple Pearl stops growing or gets slightly frostbitten below 5 degrees Celsius, and water in the leaves freezes and cells die at 0 degrees Celsius and below. When the temperature is too high (above 35 degrees Celsius) or too low (below 5 degrees Celsius) in summer and winter, the plant stops growing. Reduce or stop watering temporarily during this period and resume the watering frequency when the temperature is suitable. Ensure good ventilation in summer to prevent sunburn from prolonged exposure.
6. Pruning
Regularly remove withered old leaves from the Purple Pearl to prevent bacterial growth from piles. When the plant grows too tall or leggy, prune the top foliage to shape and control plant height, maintaining an elegant shape. The cut top part can be inserted into slightly moist sandy soil after the wound dries to root and become a new plant. The base stem and leaves can sprout more side buds.
7. Fertilizing
Do not over-fertilize, especially nitrogen fertilizer, as it may cause leggy growth and the leaves won't turn red. Apply a thin phosphorus-potassium fertilizer once a month.
Maintain the plant in a well-ventilated environment to prevent disease. Its optimal growth temperature is 15-25 degrees Celsius, not lower than 5 degrees in winter; water thoroughly during the growing season, sprinkle water around the plant when the air is dry, but avoid water accumulation on the leaves, especially in the center of the leaf rosette, which can cause rot. Fertilize every 20 days during the growing season. Water the potting soil thoroughly when it is completely dry in the growing seasons of spring and fall, reduce watering in summer, and place it in a sunny indoor area for winter maintenance.
8. Pests and Diseases
The main pest of the Purple Pearl is the scale insect. More than 80% of the plants bought from the market have scale insects in their roots. Initial infestations are commonly found at the roots or in the center of the plant. Isolate the affected plant immediately and cut off the roots infested with scale insects. Spray with Flower Protector or drench the roots to kill (fungicides like chlorothalonil and carbendazim do not have insecticidal properties). It may take several cycles to completely eradicate scale insects. Prevention can be achieved by mixing a small amount of furan or earthworm丹 into the soil.
The common disease is black rot (i.e., blackened and rotting plant parts, usually seen in the roots), which often occurs in summer due to poor ventilation and a high-humidity, high-temperature environment, but may also be caused by scale insects. Isolate the affected plant immediately and cut away the rotting parts. Apply a small amount of fungicide (like chlorothalonil or carbendazim) to the cut surface, let the cut surface dry, and then insert it into loose sandy soil to root again. If black rot has spread to the plant's growing point, it can be considered dead and should be discarded early to prevent transmission. Other diseases (like sooty mold) can be treated with diluted fungicides like chlorothalonil or carbendazim. Prevention can be achieved by mixing a small amount of fungicides into the soil.
The above information provides tips on how to care for the Purple Pearl plant and its cultivation methods and precautions. I hope this article can be of some help to you!