How to Prune Echeveria 'Deer antler'
This article introduces how to prune Echeveria 'Deer antler' and detailed knowledge about its pruning and maintenance methods in the field of green plants and flowers. It's quite a nice piece of knowledge, worth collecting!
Echeveria 'Deer antler', also known as Sedum '薰波菊', may experience excessive growth if not properly cared for, requiring appropriate pruning and shaping. When well maintained, the plant's branches and roots grow vigorously and can also be pruned. Echeveria 'Deer antler' is a succulent plant from the Mesembryanthemum family, native to southern Africa. Its leaves are triangular, fleshy, and shaped like deer antlers, and the flowers resemble chrysanthemums, which are beautiful. Below is an introduction to the pruning methods for Echeveria 'Deer antler'.
I. Combine Pruning with Repotting or Potting
1. Pruning the Roots
For new plants, roots should be pruned when potting. If repotting in spring or autumn, the roots can be cut heavily, removing dried capillary roots and shortening the main roots to 2 to 3 centimeters. However, pruning in summer should be light, and the main roots should not be cut. After pruning, the plant should be placed in a shady and well-ventilated area, with the soil slightly moist, and only potted after about 3 days.
Plants with root rot due to poor maintenance should also have their roots pruned, especially during high temperatures when the soil is too moist, causing root rot. Rotten roots need to be cut off and the plant repotted with fresh soil.
2. Pruning Branches and Leaves
If well maintained, Echeveria 'Deer antler' will have lush branches and leaves, and the roots will grow robustly. A pot change should be done every spring, combining it with pruning the plant. In addition to pruning the roots, long, diseased, and dead branches should be cut.
II. Daily Pruning
1. Pruning Branches
If the growing environment is not suitable, the plant may experience excessive growth, for example, insufficient light can cause excessive growth. After excessive growth, the stems become too long, the spacing between the leaves on the stem increases, and the long branches affect the plant's appearance, requiring pruning to shorten the overgrown branches.
Echeveria 'Deer antler' is prone to root-knot nematode damage in wet soil during winter, and scale insects can also harm the plant. If there are diseased, insect-infested, or dead branches, they should be pruned promptly. Shaping pruning should also be done to remove dense and crossing branches, and daily pruning can be combined with propagation by cuttings.
2. Pruning to Develop an Old Stem
If the stems of Echeveria 'Deer antler' become woody, the lower leaves of the woody stems can be pruned to promote stem thickening and woodiness, thus developing an old stem.
III. Combine Pruning with Propagation by Cuttings
1. Pruning Method
In spring and autumn, while pruning, the cut branches can be used for propagation by cuttings. Propagation by cuttings is the main method for Echeveria 'Deer antler', and usually 2 to 3-year-old plants can have their branches cut for propagation. It is best to cut sturdy, woody old branches with several branches and full leaves as cuttings.
2. Method of Propagation by Cuttings
Divide the cut old branches into sections about 8 to 10 centimeters long, let them dry for 2 to 3 days, and then they can be rooted, planted in a propagation medium. Generally, they can survive after 15 to 20 days.
The propagation medium should be a loose and breathable sandy loam with large particles, and a mixture of peat soil and coal slag can be used, with a layer of coarse river sand on top of the soil.
The above is a complete introduction to how to prune Echeveria 'Deer antler' and detailed pruning and maintenance methods, for everyone to learn and understand!