The cultivation and maintenance methods of Conophytum
This article provides you with detailed knowledge about Conophytum, a type of succulent plant, including its cultivation and maintenance methods, as follows:
Conophytum belongs to the Aizoaceae family and is a general term for succulent plants, with many species and varying shapes. Their common feature is that the plants are small, with a pair of very fleshy opposite leaves growing directly on the roots, leaf shapes include spherical and inverted conical, with the lower parts united, forming an integral whole. The top has varying degrees of cracks, and the colors include dark green, emerald green, yellowish green, etc. Some species also have patterns or spots on the leaves.
The growth and dormancy of Conophytum are among the easiest to determine in the genus. Dormant Conophytum will undoubtedly turn grayish-white and begin to wither. The dormancy period is generally from late May to late August, about 3 months as the standard, with some variations depending on the location and species.
II. Growth
Conophytum begins to grow during the summer holidays. With 1-2 waterings during this season, the new bulbs will break through the old grayish-white skin and start growing vigorously. This is when dividing bulbs becomes the greatest joy, reflecting the good management of the previous year. Poorly growing or older plants are more difficult to divide. The rate of bulb increase depends on the species and cultivation techniques. The method of calculating bulb increase is not the usual doubling method but rather the so-called "mouse formula," where 1 bulb can multiply to over 30 bulbs after 5 years, 100 bulbs after 7 years, and over 1000 bulbs after 10 years. Just the increase in numbers will also increase its value. Conophytum looks beautiful at this stage, with its rich colors, unique growth process, and the beauty of clustering after bulb division, especially the fun of multiplication with the "mouse formula" makes it a gem-level plant. The growth and dormancy periods of Conophytum are also different. For those with only a few weeks of growth, consider their nearly 40-week dormancy period. The cultivation method for these species is to water them occasionally to keep them in a semi-dormant state. Their production cycle is not only related to temperature but also to the relationship between dry and wet, which could be 200 days or 150 days. Don't just consider it from a human perspective, but from the plant's own cycle.
II. Watering
In high summer temperatures, when the plants are dormant, they can be placed in a well-ventilated and cool place, and only watered a small amount when the soil is too dry, or even completely stop watering to prevent rot. When the weather cools in autumn, the plants start to grow and bloom beautiful flowers, which can be moved to a bright place and watered appropriately. Plants with good growth can be fertilized once a month with a dilute liquid fertilizer, and artificial pollination should be performed at the right time when flowering.
In winter, sufficient sunlight is required. If the temperature can be maintained above 12 degrees Celsius at night and above 20 degrees Celsius during the day, normal watering can be done, and some thin fertilizer can be applied on sunny mornings. If the temperature is lower, watering should be controlled and fertilization stopped to allow the plant to enter dormancy.
In spring, as the plants grow, the fruit gradually matures and should be collected. By the end of spring and the beginning of summer, the old leaves of most species gradually become thinner, and 2 new leaves gradually form inside the old leaves, which further grow after the weather cools in autumn, breaking through the old leaves and standing out.
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In cultivation, it is important to avoid rain and waterlogging at all times, and to receive plenty of sunlight during the growing period, otherwise, the plants will become leggy and unable to bloom. Repot every 1 to 2 years, using a mixture of decayed leaf soil and about 1/2 coarse sand or vermiculite, with the particles being coarse and not too fine.
During the dormancy period, the old skin completely wraps the new bulbs to prevent moisture evaporation. If the plants are rained on during the rainy season or the humidity in the greenhouse is too high, it may cause the old skin to peel off prematurely. If the plants are still not watered, the new bulbs will soften and shrink due to the lack of water replacement. It is necessary to water frequently under such special circumstances.
Watering method: For mature bulbs, it is ideal to keep them slightly moist (for plants with more old skin during the peeling period, it is not easy to dry after watering). Watering from above should be done on sunny days and, if possible, with ventilation. It is important to note that this method should not be used for plants with a single head or too many heads. Considering the variety of shapes and sizes of Conophytum, the light should also be treated differently. Generally, larger species require more light, while smaller ones need less.
III. Light
Considering the color of the bulbs or further considering the relationship between sunlight and flower color: yellow and white reflect the most light, and species with such colors must grow under quite strong sunlight in their native habitats. Next are brown, peach, and red flowers, followed by purple flowers. Appropriate shading should be provided based on their habits. Among Conophytum, large species with yellow flowers can be arranged according to the light requirements of living stones. Species that do not reflect light well should be appropriately shaded.
Insufficient sunlight during the growing period can lead to the degradation of plant characteristics, changing their shape and color and also being a cause of weakening and rotting.
The above [] introduces the cultivation and maintenance methods of Conophytum, hoping it is helpful to you!