Succulent Plant Cultivation
Today's mini experience sharing: succulent plant related experience, succulent plant cultivation, next, the editor will introduce to netizens.
A brief discussion on the cultivation of succulent plants, in recent years, succulent plants have become popular in China, especially the Crassulaceae. It is loved by all age groups due to its fleshy and cute appearance, suitability for various types of balcony planting conditions, low management density, and numerous varieties.
Of course, cultivation is a process. When you get a beautiful and juicy succulent plant, how to cultivate it and wait for its growth process is the fun of planting. Only when it settles in your home and starts to grow the first new leaf, is it the beginning of your planting achievement. Let's communicate and enjoy this process together.
So how to plant succulent plants well? Here are some personal views on planting, for everyone to exchange, and I summarize the following three points to start: soil, water, and sunlight.
1. Soil
In their native habitats, succulent plants generally grow in harsh conditions. They don't have fertile soil and sufficient precipitation. Therefore, the soil mixture should not be too fertile and water-retaining. However, it must be breathable to allow the roots to grow vigorously. The general principle of soil mixing is one part water-retaining material, one part non-water-retaining material, and one part organic matter.
The water-retaining material is a water-retaining material, such as coal slag, volcanic rock, and red jade soil. Its characteristic is fast water conduction, not easy to produce water accumulation in the planting material gaps, effectively improving the aeration of the planting material, preventing root hypoxia and necrosis. And it holds a certain amount of water for plant growth.
The non-water-retaining material is mainly a water-control material, such as perlite and ceramsite. Its characteristic is to occupy part of the soil volume, making the soil's water retention reach a safe maximum, after which the excess water flows out from the bottom of the pot, achieving a certain degree of water control.
The organic matter is a nutrient material, such as Xian soil and peat. The humidity of the air in the south and north of China differs greatly. In the plum rain season in the south, the pot sometimes does not dry out completely. In the north, the air is dry, and the soil moisture evaporates easily. It is recommended to add more water-retaining materials based on local conditions to ensure root health.
In addition, in terms of soil mixing, here are some personal views:
(1) If there is no significant difference in planting conditions between plants, it is recommended to use soil with the same ratio to lay the foundation for future water management.
(2) Granular soil has a good planting effect, breathable and water-permeable, not easy to compact. Beginners tend to overwater, and granular soil is more likely to drain excess water from the pot holes, which is relatively safer.
(3) Generally, it takes one to three years to repot and change soil, and since succulent plants do not require too many nutrients, slow-release fertilizers can be used as soil nutrient supplements in the later stage. Slow-release fertilizers are generally divided into three-month and six-month validity periods. Therefore, before fertilizing, estimate the dormant period of the plant, otherwise, over-fertilization will bring disaster to the succulent plant during its dormant period.
Too rich nutrients not only make the succulent plant shape scattered and the leaves not colorful but also make the plant less resistant and prone to black rot and waterlogging. A short, fleshy, and bright-colored plant is our ultimate planting goal. The big taboo for beginners is to be too eager, using too much fertilizer and water, which can lead to excessive growth and bring the plant close to death.
2. Water
All life originates from water. Even for plants like succulents that do not require much water, if water management is not scientific, they cannot be planted well and may even die. Based on personal experience, the following points are summarized:
(1) Use oxygen-rich water
Whether it's common tap water or natural spring water, it can be defined as dead water after precipitation. This type of water breeds a large number of bacteria, consuming a lot of oxygen in the water. When such water is poured into the roots, it is not conducive to root breathing and growth, and if it does not dry out within a cycle, it can lead to a large area of root rot. If the roots are not developed, the plant will not be healthy. The best method is to use a water pump to aerate the water, making the water carry more oxygen, and then use the water that has been aerated for a period of time for irrigation.
(2) Alternate wet and dry
In their native habitats, succulent plants use their own organs, mainly leaf flesh organs, to store nutrients to survive in dry environments. Under artificial conditions, the soil can be kept moist for a long time, and the plant can absorb water at will, causing the cells to expand. It looks like the plant is full and has grown, but such a plant is precarious. At a high temperature period on a sunny day, the leaf surface temperature may exceed the lethal temperature of the plant, causing sunburn or even direct death.
For beginners, alternating wet and dry is a good way to control water. Because when the plant absorbs water, it also absorbs the nutrients dissolved in the water. After the water is transported to various parts of the plant, the nutrients are also transported to this place. Then, the excess water is emitted from the plant through transpiration. Excessive water accumulation can easily cause cell rupture and necrosis, making the plant less resistant. The point mentioned above about using the same soil ratio also serves as a铺垫 for this. The unified soil dries up to a similar degree in the same environment, and after the soil is completely dry for a period of time, if the plant's roots are good (not in the dormant season) and the leaves show slight collapse, it can be watered. For plants with poor roots, they may remain in a collapsed and wrapped state for a long time, especially for newly added meat, to maintain a certain soil moisture to stimulate the development of new roots. This is a general discussion on the principle of watering, and the specific situation of each plant should be considered.
(3) Pay attention to observe the plant's condition
The drought resistance of succulent plants is beyond human imagination. I once forgot a stone seedling without a pot in a corner of the greenhouse, which went through the severe summer in Fuzhou and the autumn (H) for nearly four months. When it was found, it had become a thumbtack-like dried-up thing. After being planted in suitable seasons, it became full again. So don't underestimate their drought resistance, and don't over-fertilize them. Accumulate experience by observing and water according to the plant's full state. Proper water management will make the plant strong, solid, and full of achievement.
3. Sunlight
All plant growth is inseparable from sunlight, and succulent plants are no exception. However, there is a misunderstanding about the intensity of sunlight, thinking that succulent plants can naturally resist the hot sunlight because they grow in deserts.
In fact, the clever succulent plants that have survived to this day in the evolutionary process have evolved many physical sunscreen methods to resist strong sunlight, especially at the top where they are most exposed to sunlight. For example, dense hair or thorns grow on the top, or a layer of white wax is covered. This can resist heat wave radiation and reduce water evaporation. Or they deliberately collapse, using old skin to wrap themselves in砾 to resist seasonal strong sunlight attacks, such as living stones and flesh needles. However, under the condition that the plant's roots are not perfect, that is, during the plant's slow root period, no plant should be exposed to strong sunlight. Even the cacti that grow in summer should be planted in a shaded area for a period of time before being moved to a strong light area. Here are some practical methods to deal with extremely hot weather:
(1) On windless sunny days, please ventilate the plant. The method is to use a fan to circulate the air, lower the leaf surface temperature, and keep it below the lethal temperature (For example, Lithops lesliei, lethal high temperature 60℃, lethal low temperature -8℃; Czrnegiea gigantean, lethal high temperature 65℃, lethal low temperature -9℃. Data source: P.S. Nobel, 2002). This can control the plant's shape and improve its resistance.
(2) It is not recommended to use air conditioning. Air conditioning can lower the temperature and cool down, but it can also wake up the dormant plants to continue growing. Like flowers in a greenhouse, their resistance decreases, and the mortality rate naturally increases when the environment changes. Moreover, the environment with air conditioning is usually indoor, and the plants initially lack light and grow tall, with insufficient resistance, which is also a dead end. Therefore, when planting succulent plants, never rush to achieve results in a short time, as this will lead to failure at the beginning. It always comes back to the first part of my article, that planting is a process, and growth is also a process, and they require time to complete. Never be impatient.
The above are my personal views on planting succulent plants, hoping you can gain something from it after reading. Planting is a slow享受 process, let's enjoy the surprises that plants give us together.
The content in the parentheses above is the complete content of the succulent plant cultivation (experience version) introduced to you, for your comprehensive understanding and reference!