The summer cultivation and management of living stone flowers
Introduction: This article provides an introduction to living stone flowers, focusing on their summer cultivation and management. Let's delve into the details together.
I. The original habitat of living stone flowers
Living stone flowers are native to southern Africa, an area with an average altitude of 1000 meters known as the South African Highlands. It has a tropical savanna climate and a tropical desert climate, with distinct wet and dry seasons. Summer is the dry season with scarce rainfall. The hottest month is January, with an average temperature of 24 degrees Celsius. On this plateau, there is a colorful variety of plants. Among the lush grasses, there are over 3000 species of succulents. When the rainy season arrives, various plants thrive, turning the land green. During the dry season, when it hardly rains, living stone flowers hide among the gravel, entering a dormant state to resist the harsh environment.
II. Summer cultivation of living stone flowers
China has a vast territory with tropical, subtropical, and temperate climate types. However, summer is generally a hot and humid season with high temperatures. The extreme summer temperatures often exceed 35 degrees Celsius, which is the dormant season for living stone flowers.
[Growth] Under cultivation conditions, living stone flowers usually start growing when the room temperature in winter exceeds 10 degrees. January and February are the peak periods for shedding. The flower spikes usually start shedding and growing after April.
[June] Entering June, most parts of China enter summer, and living stone flowers also begin to enter a dormant state. This is also the plum rain season in the Jianghuai region, with high humidity and rapidly rising temperatures, which are extremely unfavorable for the growth of living stone flowers. It is important to control watering during this period, especially avoiding watering on overcast or rainy days. When it is not possible to observe whether the living stone flowers have entered a dormant state, it is best not to water excessively. It's better to keep the soil dry and let them gradually adapt to the high temperatures.
[July-August] In July, temperatures stabilize at high levels, and living stone flowers enter a full dormant state. Although some species do not have an obvious dormant period, they often do not grow well in summer, so it's better to let them rest. High temperatures are tolerable for living stone flowers, but what they cannot tolerate is the high humidity of the soil, which makes it difficult for the main roots and root necks to breathe. Measures to address this issue include:
1. Spreading a layer of sand and gravel on the soil surface, with a thickness from the top of the main root to the bottom of the plant, and placing some larger stones on the sand and gravel. This is the main way for living stone flowers to dissipate heat in their original habitat. Some cultivators replace the topsoil with large-particle stones during summer, leaving only the fibrous roots in the soil, which is said to be effective but too troublesome.
2. Using the pot-in-pot method, planting the plant in a larger pot with pure sand or sandy soil and burying the planting pot 1/3 of the way. Water the outer pot to keep the bottom of the planting pot moist, which helps to lower the soil temperature and supplement a small amount of water.
3. Placing the plants in a well-ventilated environment to increase air circulation. If kept in an air-conditioned room, they should be placed in a sunny spot for 3-4 hours a day to prevent premature growth and avoid placing them near cold air outlets.
4. Using shade nets to reduce direct sunlight. Some cultivators say that excessive shading is also unfavorable for the growth of living stone flowers. It's enough to avoid direct sunlight at noon and allow some exposure to the sun, which often helps the plants grow stronger when they resume growth.
5. Avoiding watering as much as possible since the plants are in a dormant state with reduced root activity. Excessive water is not absorbed, so it's enough to keep the bottom of the pot moist to prevent the plant from rotting.
In summary, measures to help plants resist unfavorable environments include reducing temperature and improving the cultivation microenvironment. Comprehensive measures should be taken according to local conditions. It's especially important to ensure that new plants are exposed to leaves during the summer shedding period, especially for flower spikes. The old skin often wraps around the new plant, so it's best to remove the old skin to prevent the new plant from rotting, which is a natural phenomenon for some species to protect young plants.
In early August, as the beginning of the立秋 (start of autumn) solar term, night temperatures begin to drop, but daytime temperatures are still high. Cultivation should still be cautious. During typhoons and thunderstorms, avoid getting the plants wet and do not rush to water when temperatures are low to prevent unnecessary losses.
[September] As the weather cools in September, the night temperatures notably drop after the白露 (white dew) solar term in early September. Some plants show signs of growth. Watering should also be minimal during this time. When temperatures are between 25-30 degrees Celsius, water can be supplemented to make up for the lack of water in the summer. Watering should start with a small amount and return to normal once the plants have fully grown. After the plants have grown normally, a light application of fertilizer should be given, making sure not to apply it directly on the plant. This prepares them for future growth and flowering. In the latter half of the month, gradually reduce the amount of shading until it is no longer needed. This allows the plants to grow healthily in the sun, but care should be taken as the midday sun can be very strong. After September, most plants enter another period of robust growth and can return to normal management.
III. The harm of high summer temperatures to living stone flowers
When temperatures are too high, plants may experience mutations in certain vital proteins within their cells, which can disrupt normal metabolism and easily lead to plant dehydration, resulting in death. Succulent plants like living stone flowers are native to arid regions. In their original habitat, the dry season coincides with the summer高温 weather. To resist drought, they have altered their growth and metabolic patterns, closing their stomata during the day to minimize water evaporation, which prevents them from using transpiration to lower their body temperature under the scorching sun, leading to physiological burns and making them more prone to rot. To reduce energy consumption, they often enter a dormant state. Dormancy is a natural means for succulents like living stone flowers to resist adverse external environments and is a regular part of their life cycle.人为改变 this pattern often results in counterproductive outcomes. The cultivation methods we use are aimed at helping them conserve energy during the dormant period and creating a good environment for their growth and rest. When temperatures and environments exceed their tolerance levels, they will die.
The comprehensive explanation of the summer cultivation and management of living stone flowers provided above is hoped to be of help to you.