Can I bask in the sun if I have too much meat?
As a much-loved indoor potted plant, whether succulent plants need to be exposed to the sun has always been a core concern for conservators. Adequate light can create a plump plant type, but excessive exposure may cause leaf burns. This article will explain in detail the scientific lighting scheme for succulent plants based on the characteristics and growth stages of different varieties. Analysis of light demand of succulent plants Basic light demand characteristics 80% of succulent varieties such as Crassulaceae and Cactus family are positive plants, requiring 4-8 hours of direct light per day to complete photosynthesis. Insufficient light can lead to typical light deficiency symptoms such as long stem nodes, widened leaf spacing, and fading of brocade varieties. Comparison table of variety differences·High-light-requiring varieties: Eclinia/Windmill (takes 6-8 hours)·Moderate light-requiring varieties: Twelve-Volume (takes 4-6 hours)·Low light-requiring varieties: Jade Lu/Shou (takes 3 hours to scatter light) Seasonal light management points Maintain a full sunshine environment during the golden growth period of spring and autumn, and the south-facing balcony is the best. Combined with a suitable temperature of 15-25℃, it can promote the accumulation of sugar to form jelly color. When the temperature is>30℃ during the critical period of summer protection, a sunshade net needs to be erected between 10:00 and 16:00 (shading rate 50%-70%). Sustained high temperatures can easily cause physiological disorders such as hydration and sunburn. Winter replenishment strategy requires manual replenishment of light per day for less than 4 hours. LED plant lights are 30-50cm away from the plants, and light is replenished for 2-3 hours a day. Maintaining the temperature>10℃ can maintain slow growth. During special stages, light control is needed to place in a cool and ventilated place for 14-21 days after changing pots. After new roots germinate, light is gradually increased. It is recommended to adopt the "three-day incremental method": increase the light amount by 1 hour per day. During the post-disease recovery period, plants that have experienced black rot and insect pests should be placed in a bright scattered light environment for maintenance for 20-30 days, and then moved back to the strong light area after the new leaves unfold.
By establishing a maintenance cycle of "observation-adjustment-record" and regularly checking leaf hardness and color changes, the light needs of each fleshy plant can be accurately controlled. Reasonable light management can not only prevent excessive growth, but also stimulate fleshy and unique color expression, allowing these cute plants to show their best condition.