The Cultivation Method and Precautions of Stone Lotus
Stone lotus, as a classic succulent variety, has become a popular choice for home green plants with its unique lotus-like shape and robust vitality. This desert-native plant still exhibits excellent adaptability in a home environment, but scientific cultivation methods can make it present a plumper plant shape and healthier condition.
Environmental Control and Substrate Selection
Light and Temperature Adjustment
The waxy layer on the leaves of stone lotus can effectively reflect strong light, and it can be cultivated under full sun in spring and autumn. It is recommended to use a 50% shade net during the high-temperature period of summer to prevent sunburn spots on the leaves. Maintain a temperature of above 10℃ in winter for overwintering, and start supplementary lighting and heating equipment when the temperature is below 5℃.
Substrate Formula Optimization
Adopt a particle substrate mixing scheme: red jade soil (40%)+ deer fertilizer soil (20%)+ humus soil (20%)+ perlite (20%), to ensure a balance between drainage and fertility retention. Add bone meal as a slow-release base fertilizer when changing the substrate every two years to promote root development.
Water Management and Propagation Operations
Precise Irrigation Scheme
Using the immersion pot method to supply water is safer. Maintain 30% humidity of the substrate during the growing season of spring and autumn, water once a month during the high-temperature dormancy period of summer, and supply a small amount of water along the pot wall every 20 days or so in the low-temperature environment of winter.
Leaf Cutting Propagation Technique
Select healthy leaves from the center, let them sit for 24 hours to form callus tissue, then place them flat on the surface of vermiculite. Maintain a constant temperature of 25℃, spray daily to keep 70% air humidity, and new root points can be observed in about 15 days.
Disease and Pest Control System
Common Disease Treatment
Black rot disease initially manifests as the transparency of the basal leaves, which requires immediate removal of the infected area and application of carbendazim powder. Regularly spraying diluted bamboo vinegar solution can prevent fungal diseases.
The Cultivation Method and Precautions of Stone Lotus
Pest Control Measures
Set up yellow sticky traps in advance during the peak season of scale insects for monitoring. After detecting the insects, wipe the affected area with 75% alcohol. For root mealybugs, use a 2000-fold solution of abamectin to drench the roots, with three consecutive treatments at 5-day intervals.
Space Layout and Decorative Applications
It is recommended to use supplementary lights to maintain an 8-hour/day light cycle for indoor cultivation, and the combination of red and blue spectrum tubes can promote the formation of a compact plant shape. When creating a mixed pot, it can be planted with plants from the Sedum genus and Orostachys genus to create a multi-layered desert landscape.
By simulating the light cycle and alternating wet and dry conditions of the native environment, combined with scientific nutrient management, stone lotus can show impressive morphological changes in the home environment. Regularly observing the plant's condition and timely adjusting the maintenance strategy can keep this desert spirit vibrant in the urban space.