Methods for caring for Portulacaria afra
Today's focus is on introducing the woody flower Portulacaria afra, its care methods. Below is a detailed introduction.
Portulacaria afra, also known as银杏木 (Ginkgo wood), 小叶玻璃翠 (Small leaf glass plant), belongs to the Portulacaceae family, Portulacaria genus, and is a perennial succulent shrub. The tender stems are green, the old stems are light brown, and they appear rosy red in sunlight, with distinct internodes and horizontally branched. The leaves are opposite, succulent, and triangular in inverted ovate shape, with truncate leaf tips and cuneate bases, measuring 1.2 cm long, 1 cm wide, and 0.2 cm thick. The leaf surface is smooth, bright in color, and glossy. The small flowers are light pink.
In a pot, Portulacaria afra grows quickly, with irregular branching of the stems. Under semi-shaded conditions, although the stems grow vigorously, they are prone to elongation. Continuous pruning and shaping are needed during growth to maintain an attractive plant shape. Fertilize once a month during the growing season. In the hot summer season, the plant is in a semi-dormant state, so watering should be controlled to keep the potting soil slightly dry. In winter, place it near the indoor window for care. Portulacaria afra is native to the arid regions of South Africa, prefers a warm and dry environment with plenty of sunlight, is tolerant of semi-shade, grows well under diffused light, is drought-resistant, and requires well-draining sandy loam soil. It is not cold-resistant, with the winter temperature not lower than 10℃.
Portulacaria afra is mainly propagated by cutting. This can be done during the growing season, selecting strong, full, and short internode stems as cuttings, about 10-12 cm long. The cuttings can be dried for a few days before planting in a sandy bed, with the planting medium slightly dry. Roots can grow in about 15-20 days, and it is very easy to survive.
The detailed content on the care methods for Portulacaria afra has been provided above. I hope it can be of help to you!