What does fleshy bloom mean?
Let's take a look at a piece on green plant and flower planting about what succulent flowering means and is it a good thing.
Blooming of succulent plants has always been a phenomenon of much concern in the horticulture world, and this life cycle display of succulent plants has often attracted heated discussions among enthusiasts. When these plants, usually known for their fleshy leaves, suddenly draw out a foil and bloom at the top with either gorgeous or simple flowers, what kind of botanical secrets lie behind it? Is flowering a natural gift or a potential crisis for meat? We need to conduct in-depth analysis from three dimensions: plant physiology, maintenance practices and variety characteristics.
From the perspective of plant reproduction strategies, succulent flowering is a natural step in life. Typical fleshy species such as Crassulaceae and Aizoaceae complete sexual reproduction through flowering and fruiting, which forms a complementary mechanism with the asexual reproduction of their leaf cuttings. The bell-shaped flower ears of the genus Echeveria native to Mexico attract certain pollinating insects in the spring, while Lithops in South Africa have evolved mimicry flowers that usually bloom in the autumn when there is sufficient sun. Professional botanists point out that it takes 3-5 years to accumulate nutrients before starting the flowering process, which actually marks that the plant reaches physiological maturity. Importantly, the light contracting efficiency of plants increases by 20%-30% during flowering, because flower stem growth activates more vigorous metabolic activity. Variety differences have a decisive impact on flowering phenomena. The "black mage" of the genus Aeonium will die after flowering, but the side buds can still continue life; while the "longevity flower" of the genus Kalanchoe can bloom again year after year. It is worth noting that flower arrows of the genera Haworthia and Gasteria are rich in nectar, and these flowers often last for 2-3 weeks. Market research shows that varieties such as "Zi Zhi Lian Hua" that can bloom repeatedly are usually 30%-40% higher than the one-time blooming mountain rose (Greenovia), which shows that the ornamental value directly affects market pricing. The effect of flowering on plants is significantly two-sided. The positive aspects are that: photosynthetics will be preferentially supplied to reproductive growth during flowering period, increasing the plant's drought tolerance by about 15%; some varieties such as "Hongzhiyu" will have more colorful leaves after flowering; seeds obtained through manual pollination can achieve genetic recombination, which is particularly important in the field of breeding. However, the negative effects cannot be ignored: flowering of Echeveria elegans consumes 1/3 of the water storage of leaves; the post-flowering mortality rate of Crassulaceae plants reaches 25%; if the "bear boy" blooming in summer does not cut off the flower arrows in time, it is easy to cause black rot throughout the plant. Cultivation data shows that forcibly preventing the flowering of varieties such as "Peach Beauty" can extend the life of individual plants by 2-3 years. Scientific maintenance strategies can effectively balance the pros and cons of flowering. When foil is found to sprout, the amount of sunshine should be gradually increased by 10%-15%, and a slow-release fertilizer containing phosphorus and potassium should be supplemented. For cold-resistant varieties such as Ecophora, maintaining a temperature difference between day and night of 15-25℃ can promote inflorescence development. Key measures include: 45° diagonal shearing when the foil reaches 5 cm long, retaining 3-4 functional leaves; removing residual flowers immediately after pollination to prevent mildew; using iron chelate fertilizer can prevent chlorophyll loss during flowering. Practice has shown that the plant recovery speed using the "post-flowering root-pruning method" is 40% faster than that of the conventional treatment. The specific operation is: cutting off 1/3 of the old roots and replacing them with a new substrate with 70% of the particles. From the perspective of species protection, the ecological value of flowering and fruiting cannot be underestimated. The "mountain rose" native to the Canary Islands has been listed in Appendix II of Endangered Species by CITES due to excessive collection of wild plants. Artificial pollination and reproduction have become an important means of protection. Studies have shown that the disease resistance of the Debbie (xGraptoveria 'Debbie') hybrid obtained through cross-pollination is 60% higher than that of the female parent. In recent years, the Huntington Botanical Garden in the United States has established a succulent seed bank, collecting genetic material from more than 200 species of flowering plants, which provides new ideas for biodiversity protection. Succulent flowering is essentially a manifestation of plant intelligence, and it is the best policy to seek a balance between manual intervention and natural laws. It is recommended that enthusiasts establish flowering files to record the flowering performance and physiological reactions of different varieties. For rare varieties, tissue culture and preservation can be chosen during the flower bud stage; while varieties such as "Huang Li" that are easy to bloom can adjust the flowering period by controlling the duration of light. The latest horticultural research shows that spraying alginic acid at a concentration of 0.1% can significantly alleviate plant weakness caused by flowering, which provides a new solution for scientific conservation. Understanding the biological significance of succulent flowering can help us make smarter cultivation decisions while appreciating this natural beauty.
The above-mentioned introduction of what fleshy flowering means and is it a good thing will be used as a reference and suggestion.