Cultivation Method of Cross Star Brocade
The editor introduces you to some knowledge about the succulent plant Cross Star Brocade, its cultivation method. Let's follow the editor and see the specific content!
Crassula perforata variegata, belonging to the Sedum family and the Sedum genus, is native to the Cape Town area of South Africa. Also known as Starlet Brocade, it is a perennial succulent herbaceous plant, with clustering growth, branching, succulent stems that gradually become semi-woody over time.
The leaves of Cross Star Brocade are gray-green to light green, with yellow or red margins, and green spots on the leaf surface. The leaf edges will show a slight redness when there is a large temperature difference, especially noticeable in late autumn and early spring. Therefore, winter is the most beautiful time for Cross Star Brocade. The leaves are opposite and ovate-triangular, without petioles, and the bases are connected. New leaves overlap, while mature leaves have a slight gap between them. The flowers are cream-colored and bloom from April to June.
Cross Star Brocade requires sufficient sunlight, a cool and dry environment, can tolerate semi-shade, but is afraid of waterlogging and dislikes humid heat. It has the habit of growing in cool seasons and dormant in high summer temperatures. From September of each year to June of the following year is the growing period for the plant (different environments may lead to different growing periods). Insufficient light will cause the plant to elongate, increase the distance between leaves, making the plant look sparse, and the red edge of the leaves will fade, the stem will become tender, and the brocade in summer is not very obvious. Plants grown in sufficient sunlight have a compact and sturdy shape.
During the growing period, the soil should be kept moist but avoid waterlogging. The editor uses a mixture of coal slag, peat, and a small amount of perlite, with a ratio of about 5:4:1, and covers the soil surface with small stones. Cross Star Brocade can tolerate temperatures as low as -2°C indoors, not in the open air. If it gets colder, the growing tips of the leaves will freeze and die, and new lateral branches will sprout from the wilted areas the following year. Watering is mostly stopped during the winter, and it should be gradually reduced below 5 degrees. In high summer temperatures, the plant grows slowly or stops completely, requiring good ventilation and appropriate shading to avoid direct sunlight, and moderate watering to prevent rotting from prolonged rain. Regular pruning is needed during cultivation to maintain a beautiful shape.
Propagation of Cross Star Brocade usually involves cutting off the top, taking healthy branches with growing points, cutting them into sections about 3 to 5 centimeters high, drying the wounds, and then inserting them into dry granular soil. It can also be directly inserted into dry granular soil, with a small amount of water given a few days later. Cross Star Brocade is a very easy plant to propagate, with many small roots easily growing between the leaves. When it encounters suitable soil, it will firmly root itself. Another benefit of topping is that it allows the mother plant to have a better shape. Enthusiastic gardeners can try this method. After topping, new growing points will sprout, sometimes two branches. If topping is done multiple times, the plant will take on an inverted cone shape. When the top is heavy and the bottom light, support is needed.
The above introduction to the cultivation method of Cross Star Brocade is provided for reference.