Several conditions for sowing living stone flowers and肉锥
In-depth introduction of living stone flowers, a type of succulent plant, for netizens who are concerned. Several conditions for sowing living stone flowers and肉锥. Next, let's introduce them.
1. Can you sow now?
Whether you can sow depends on the specific conditions of the sowing environment. The climatic conditions vary greatly across the country, and even within the same region, the indoor environment differences (such as ventilation, sunlight availability, heating conditions) of each household result in many differences in individual sowing environments. Therefore, decide whether you can sow based on your current sowing environment.
Sowing mainly requires three conditions: temperature, humidity, and disinfection. Humidity and disinfection are provided by humans, so whether you can sow mainly depends on temperature. Usually, the recommended temperature for sowing living stone flowers is a maximum of 25 degrees during the day and a minimum of 15 degrees at night; for 肉锥, it is a few degrees lower; for cacti, it is best to sow during the midsummer season when the average daily temperature is above 30 degrees.
Notice!! Temperature refers to the temperature at the location of the seeds, not the weather forecast temperature or the temperature of other parts of the room. Since ventilation and sunlight have a significant impact on temperature, it is essential to measure the temperature at the location of the seeds with a thermometer.
2. How often should you water?
Watering is a very challenging task that tests one's planting experience and is a profound science. The management of watering plays a crucial role in whether the plants can be well-cared for.
Watering is not as simple as every few days. It depends on the variety of the plant (even within the same type of plant, different subspecies have differences), the size of the plant, the season, the environmental conditions (such as ventilation, sunlight exposure, air dryness), the quality of the planting soil and pot, and the state of the plant in its growth cycle (such as whether it is in a dormant or growing period).
Different plants have very different habits, mainly due to their adaptation to the climatic conditions of their native habitats. Therefore, watering differs for different types of plants, seasons, environments, and planting stages. Avoid mechanical management and observe, summarize, search for information online, and learn through communication.
3. How to mix soil for planting?
First, I suggest referring to the link in the product description below, which is the sowing method recommended by experienced forum members. The soil mixture they use is worth learning and referencing.
In fact, the soil mixture does not have to be a certain way, and many experienced gardeners have different mixtures, which largely depend on personal experience and the type of soil available locally. However, for most succulents and cacti, it is recommended to use a soil with slightly larger particles and good aeration, such as perlite and vermiculite, and the humus content should not be too high. Many good soils, such as akadama and rice hulls, are not essential, but their reasonable use will definitely improve the planting results. Therefore, the method of mixing soil is to refer to the methods of experienced gardeners, understand the materials available locally, and mix the most suitable soil for planting.
The soil for sowing does not need to be significantly different from the soil for mature plants. Just choose slightly smaller particles, and since many succulent plant seeds are tiny, a layer of soil with a certain thickness, particle size close to the seed diameter, and easy to root and retain water is needed as topsoil. For example, fine vermiculite is very suitable as sowing topsoil.
4. How to sow?
First, I recommend that you refer to the link in the product description below, which is the sowing method recommended by experienced forum members. For plants in the Aizoaceae and Cactaceae families, sowing is not as simple as scattering the seeds and watering. You must search for and learn related information online or on forums. Understand the issues that need attention in sowing management and the specific sowing operation methods.
Common mistakes in sowing include poor disinfection, uncontrolled moisture, poor soil mixture, unmanaged temperature, and poor lighting management.
Disinfection is a key step before sowing. It is recommended to use a microwave oven to disinfect dry soil and pots (except for pots that are sensitive to high temperatures, such as plastic pots) by heating at high power for five minutes, which can kill bacteria, eggs, and weed seeds. Potassium permanganate and sun exposure have limited disinfection ability and cannot ensure disinfection results.
After sowing and during the seedling stage, it is necessary to keep the soil moist. Using films or covers is a very good method. Pay attention to necessary补水 regularly. Excessive watering is not better, and methods like immersion often supply too much water, so pay attention to the frequency and degree of penetration.
Using the planting soil of adult plants is acceptable, but since the seeds are small, the topsoil must ensure that the particle diameter is close to the seed diameter and choose soil that is easy to root. A layer of about 1 centimeter is used as topsoil. Since sowing requires methods like covering with film or lids to increase humidity, usually no topsoil is needed, especially for seeds with a diameter of less than 1 millimeter, as thick topsoil can easily prevent the seeds from germinating.
Temperature is a very critical factor in seedling emergence. Many people misunderstand the concept of temperature. Temperature refers to the temperature at the location of the seeds, not the weather forecast temperature or the temperature of the environment around the pot. For example, when sowing with a cover, the temperature outside and inside the cover may be different, especially under sunlight exposure. Therefore, to easily control the temperature, avoid sun exposure during the sowing period before removing the cover or lid.
Lighting does not affect seedling emergence but has an impact on the young seedlings. It is recommended to provide sufficient scattered light to ensure normal growth of the seedlings during the seedling stage. Insufficient lighting can cause the seedlings to "stretch" and become thin and weak.
5. Why do seedlings grow thin and weak?
Plants growing thinner and longer than normal are usually caused by insufficient lighting, which leads to "stretching" of the plants, making them thin and weak. Most plants in the Aizoaceae and Cactaceae families require sufficient lighting to grow well. Therefore, if plants grow longer than normal, you must increase lighting to improve their condition.
Using lights to supplement light is not ideal. The light intensity of a 40-watt bulb is only one thousandth of normal sunlight, which is clearly insufficient for plants that require ample lighting, and lighting is still dependent on sunlight or sufficient scattered light. Scattered light is usually only sufficient near areas where sunlight can directly shine. Although indoor environments may feel bright, the actual light intensity differs significantly from that near windows.
While sufficient lighting is needed, do not overlook the impact of sunlight. Strong sunlight can quickly raise the temperature of the plants and soil, especially in sealed spaces (such as sealed seedling trays), which can be fatal to young seedlings. Moreover, too much sunlight is not necessarily better; lighting should be provided according to the plant's needs.
6. Why don't seedlings emerge after sowing?
First, make sure that you have managed all aspects of sowing, including disinfection, moisture, soil, temperature, and lighting. Neglecting any detail can lead to a decrease in germination rate or even no germination.
Also, determine the time of your sowing, as it takes a few to dozens of days for seeds to germinate, with most varieties requiring more than 5 days. Please be patient and wait for their germination. If the temperature is not suitable, it may extend the time for seedling emergence. Some varieties are difficult to germinate, may take longer, or may have strict environmental requirements, and any deviation can lead to no germination.
The above content about the conditions for sowing living stone flowers and 肉锥 can be referenced by green plant enthusiasts.