What family of plant is the longevity flower?
As a star indoor potted plant, the longevity flower is deeply loved for its brilliant colors and ultra-long blooming period. This plant not only adds vitality to the cold winter but also becomes the first choice for gardening beginners due to its unique care characteristics. Let's fully understand this "blooming labor model" from plant classification to blooming period regulation.
The unique charm of Crassulaceae plants
Herbaceous succulent characteristics
As a perennial succulent plant of the Sedum genus in the Crassulaceae family, the longevity flower has thick, juicy leaves and well-developed water storage tissues. This evolutionary feature gives it excellent drought resistance. The stems are semi-woody, with a plant height usually between 15-30 centimeters, making the compact plant shape especially suitable for window sill placement.
Varied breeds
After the improvement by horticulturists, more than 200 cultivated varieties have been bred. In addition to the common single-petal varieties, double-petal varieties like the "Paris series" have layered petals like roses, variegated leaf varieties like "Golden Fox" have golden borders on the leaves, and the popular color-changing variety "Aurora" changes flower colors with temperature variations.
Secrets to regulating the ultra-long blooming period
Natural blooming period characteristics
Under normal care, the blooming period can last from November to the following April, with each flower lasting 3-4 weeks. In areas with significant day-night temperature differences (10-15°C), the flower color will be more vibrant, while high temperatures can cause the color to fade.
Temperature control techniques
By controlling night-time temperatures, it is possible to achieve annual blooming: maintaining night temperatures above 16°C can break dormancy and continue blooming, while temperatures below 10°C can induce vernalization to accumulate blooming energy. In northern heating areas, it is recommended to place the plant 1 meter away from the heater in winter to avoid high temperatures that cause bud drop.
Care system to extend the blooming period
Light management plan
It requires 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily, and using grow lights to extend the light to 12 hours in autumn can promote bud differentiation. Be sure to shade 50% of the intense sunlight in summer to prevent leaf sunburn and brown spots.
Nutrition supply strategy
Use a balanced NPK fertilizer (20-20-20) during the growing period, switch to a high-phosphorus potassium fertilizer (10-30-20) during the budding period, and promptly supplement trace element fertilizers after the flowers fade. It is recommended to complement with foliar spraying, keeping the concentration between 0.1%-0.2%.
Water control points
Use the "dry-wet alternation" method, watering thoroughly only after the potting soil is completely dry. Reduce watering frequency during the blooming period, keeping the matrix slightly dry to extend the flower life. Using the bottom watering method can prevent waterlogging in the leaf heart.
Mastering these care points, your longevity flower is completely capable of continuous blooming for more than half a year. Regularly pruning the withered flowers and retaining 2 pairs of leaves can also stimulate the growth of new flowering branches. Choosing a well-draining specialized succulent potting mix and combining it with proper care, this Crassulaceae elf will certainly reward your meticulous attention with a profusion of flowers.