The cultivation and management of Shou
Are you curious about the introduction of the succulent plant Shou, its cultivation and management? Let's follow the editor to check out the details!
Shou belongs to the Liliaceae family, and many people call it Star of Longevity, which is metaphorical. Due to the numerous horticultural, hybrid, and variant species of Shou, such as Kangping Shou, Shoubaodian, Klikk Dai, Baiyin Shou, Qingxie Shou, etc., some variant species will have yellow spots on their leaves, such as Shoujin, Banjin, etc., making them rarer and more beautiful than other varieties. With so many varieties, the price ranges from tens to thousands of yuan, but the ones with a proper shape, thick leaves, clear patterns, especially those with higher transparency of the "window" structure, are even more valuable.
Shou is a succulent plant, native to South Africa. The plant is small, stemless, with short and thick leaves growing in a spiral pattern, arranged in a rosette shape, semi-cylindrical, with a horizontal triangular top, flat and transparent cross-section, forming a unique "window" structure with distinct veins. The flower stems are long, with white tubular flowers. There are many varieties of Shou, most with triangular leaves, leaf colors range from green to brown, leaf edges may have spines or not depending on the variety, and leaf size, pattern of veins, window size, and transparency also vary by variety.
Most Shou varieties prefer warm, dry environments; they are drought-resistant, but prolonged water deficiency will cause leaf shrinkage; extreme heat will stop growth; direct sunlight can cause leaf burn and brown spots, while excessive shading can cause leaf discoloration, especially brown-leaved varieties will turn green; they have better cold resistance, but below 10°C, growth will stop, and too low temperatures can cause frost damage to the leaf cells, leading to necrosis, so winter insulation is necessary.
The optimal growth temperature for Shou series is about 15-25°C, with the growing season from winter to early summer. They can be placed in a bright area without direct sunlight, using peat soil mixed with good drainage media such as pearl stone, vermiculite, snake wood chips, or Tangshan stone. Water only when the potting soil is dry, and they do not require high fertility. About every 10-15 days, you can use Huabao No. 2 diluted to about 2,000 times as water. In the hot summer, the plant growth is slow or stops, and it needs to be placed in a ventilated, cool place to avoid heat and humidity causing the plant to rot, and avoid soil积水. In the fall, return to normal cultivation and management. In winter, move to a warm, bright place, maintaining a temperature above 12°C to continue growth, and fertilize as needed; if temperatures drop below 5°C, pay attention to frost damage. Varieties that easily produce suckers should be repotted every 1-2 years during the growing season.
The Shou series can be propagated by division, leaf insertion, or seeding. During the growing period, remove the suckers growing next to the old plant and plant them in well-drained potting soil. Do not water too much at the beginning after repotting, just keep the soil slightly moist. For leaf insertion, use healthy, full leaves, let them dry in the shade for 2-3 days, then insert them into moist coarse sand or vermiculite after the wound dries. The humidity should not be too high to avoid leaf rot, and it will take about 2-3 months to root. Depending on the variety, some will root first, some will grow new buds first, and the growth rate of new buds varies by variety. Once they grow into seedlings, they can be transplanted into new potting soil. Some enthusiasts will use artificial pollination to create hybrid seeds for unique variant species. The seeds are about 0.1 millimeters in size, with an optimal germination temperature of around 20°C. You can plant 5-8 seeds together in a 3.5-inch pot, maintain high humidity, and they will germinate in about 20-30 days. Growth is slow, and it will take about 3-5 years before they fill the pot, at which time they can be repotted. For varieties with low propagation rates or variants, tissue culture can be used to maintain stable traits, which not only allows for mass propagation but also reduces costs, making high-price varieties more accessible to the general public.
With numerous varieties, all small and exquisite, the intricate and diverse leaves of Shou are like works of art crafted by nature, no wonder gardening enthusiasts compete to collect them. Placing a few pots on the coffee table or by the window sill will surely add a unique touch to the indoor decor.
That's the detailed introduction to the cultivation and management of Shou, did you get it?