Cultivation and Management of Stonecrop
Today's sharing: some knowledge about the succulent plant Stonecrop, its cultivation and management, and the specific contents are as follows:
Stonecrop gets its name from its rosette-like leaf disk, which resembles an open lotus flower, and is known as the "eternal blooming flower." There are many species of Stonecrop, with unique shapes and simple maintenance, like living handicrafts, and it is one of the popular small succulents in recent years. It is a perennial succulent herb with creeping stems. The flowering period is from July to October.
Stonecrop is the general name for succulent plants of the Sedum genus in the Crassulaceae family, with about 160 original species and countless cultivated varieties. Most species have small, rosette-like plant bodies, while a few species have short, erect stems or branches. The leaves vary in fleshiness, shapes including spatulate, round, cylindrical, boat-shaped, lanceolate, oblanceolate, and more, with some varieties having white powder or white hair on the leaves. Leaf colors range from green, purple-black, red, brown, white, and some have beautiful patterns, with leaf tips or edges in red. Depending on the species, there are raceme, spike, or corymbose inflorescences, with small flowers that are bottle-shaped or bell-shaped.
It prefers a warm, dry, and sunny environment, is not cold-tolerant, can tolerate semi-shade, fears waterlogging, and avoids direct sunlight. A fertile, well-draining sandy loam soil is suitable. The winter temperature should not be lower than 10°C. Plants that are kept in the shade for a long time tend to grow excessively and have sparse leaves. It can be cultivated outdoors in the south of the Yangtze River.
Propagation: Commonly by cutting, carried out in spring and summer. Both stem and leaf cuttings can be used. When using leaf cuttings, place the intact mature leaves flat on moist sandy soil, with the upper side up and the lower side down, without covering them with soil, and place them in a shady place. Small leaf clusters and new roots can grow from the base of the leaves in about 10 days. Division propagation can also be done, preferably in spring. Cutting propagation is commonly used. Indoor cuttings can be done all year round, with August to October being better, as roots grow quickly and have a high survival rate. The cuttings can be single leaves, suckers, or top branches, and the length of the cuttings is not limited, but the cut ends should be dry before inserting them into the sandbed. Roots usually grow in about 20 days after insertion. The cutting medium should not be too wet, otherwise, the cut ends may turn yellow and rot, and when the roots are 2-3 centimeters long, they can be transplanted into pots.
In the north, it is suitable for greenhouse pot cultivation. Repot every March and April, adding some phosphorus fertilizer. It can do without fertilizing during normal times, although it is a shade-tolerant plant, the leaves will become thin and lose their original beauty if left in the shade for too long. It should be taken outside for some sunshine every few days to maintain its full appearance. Watering should be moderate, except for more in summer, and especially controlled in winter to keep the potting soil dry to prevent rot and death.
Stonecrop management is simple, repotting every early spring to clean up withered leaves and excessive offspring. Potting soil should be well-draining peat or decomposed leaf soil mixed with coarse sand. A dry environment is preferred during the growing period, and no need for excessive watering. Overly wet potting soil can cause stem and leaf elongation, shortening the ornamental period. Especially in winter under low temperatures, excessive moisture can cause root rot, resulting in rootless plants. In high summer temperatures, it is also not advisable to water too much, but a little misting can be done, avoiding rain showers. Fertilize once a month during the growing season to keep the leaves green and lush. However, excessive fertilization can also cause stem and leaf elongation. For Stonecrop over 2-3 years old, the plant tends to age and should be propagated with new seedlings for timely renewal.
During the growing season, apply a thin liquid fertilizer or a low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer once every 20 days or so. Avoid splashing fertilizer on the leaves when fertilizing. Fertilizing is usually done on sunny mornings or evenings, and water thoroughly on the same evening or the next morning to dilute the remaining fertilizer in the soil. In winter, place the plant in a sunny indoor location. If the lowest temperature at night is around 10°C with some day-night temperature difference, water can be watered moderately, and fertilizing can be done as appropriate to keep the plant growing. If this high temperature cannot be maintained, water should be controlled, keeping the potting soil dry, stop fertilizing, allowing the plant to enter dormancy, and it can tolerate temperatures as low as 5°C, with some varieties even tolerating 0°C.
Common diseases include rust, leaf spot, and root-knot nematodes, which can be controlled by spraying 75% carbendazim wettable powder 800 times solution and using 3% furan丹 granule formulation for nematode control. Pests include black weevils, which can be controlled by spraying 25% carbaryl wettable powder 500 times solution.
The detailed explanation of the cultivation and management of Stonecrop shared above is for reference and suggestion only!