How to plant living stone flowers
The editor will explain some topics related to living stone flowers, a type of succulent plant, such as how to plant them. Here are the details:
Planting living stone flowers can be challenging for新手 enthusiasts, but the experience of predecessors can serve as a great learning model. This article summarizes some experience in cultivating living stone flowers. For potting soil, two main points should be kept in mind: loose and breathable, rich in organic matter.
Generally, choose a medium that is both permeable and can maintain some moisture. The lower and middle layers should be coarse-grained, and the topsoil can be slightly finer, with an appropriate amount of insect repellent added.
My personal soil mixing method is: for seedlings, use one part garden soil + two parts coarse river sand + one part coal slag + one part decomposed leaf soil; for larger seedlings, use one part garden soil + two parts coarse river sand + two parts coal slag + one part decomposed leaf soil. Sieve through a 2mm sieve, then soak in a 1% potassium permanganate solution (the solution 10-20mm higher than the soil surface) and let it evaporate naturally before use; add an appropriate amount of furadan before planting.
Seedling management: Online-purchased living stone flower seedlings are usually small and dried before shipping, wrapped in soft and breathable paper, and may take 3-5 days or even longer to reach the grower. Although the plant body may not suffer much loss, the roots are very dry, and some plants' roots break easily, leaving only the fleshy leaves or the base of the stem, which is a pity to discard and may be worrying for cultivation. In fact, living stone flowers are very drought-resistant in their native habitat, sometimes without water in the roots for more than half a year. The more woody roots will shrink, relying only on the moisture from the leaves to maintain the roots.
As long as it is not completely dehydrated, when environmental conditions improve, new roots will grow from the remaining part of the main root. Based on these conditions, do not rush to plant the received seedlings. First, cut off the fibrous roots, leaving only 1-2cm of the main root, then water the roots, and new roots can grow in 5-7 days, and normal management can resume after half a month. For individual plants with no roots, as long as the plant body is not rotting and the growing point is still intact, do not discard it. Use a loose and breathable medium and root by cutting in a 15-25 degree environment. There is no need to遮光 or moisten during cutting, and tender white roots will appear in 10-15 days, and normal management can be resumed after 25 days, with a high survival rate.
This method can also be used for the division propagation of living stone flowers. Generally speaking, most succulent plants have well-developed water storage organs and have varying degrees of variation to adapt to their native environment, such as being covered with a horny or waxy layer to reduce water evaporation. Therefore, they can all endure a certain degree of drought. Lithops, a succulent plant in the Aizoaceae family, is a prominent example among them.
Lithops is native to the arid desert areas of southern Africa with little rainfall. Its tenacious vitality and惊人的 drought resistance enable it to survive and thrive in harsh environments. Therefore, if you want to grow strong and healthy living stone flowers, you must follow their natural growth laws and create a small environment similar to their native habitat, especially by顺应 their drought-resistant habits.
Watering is the most frequently performed task in daily management. It is closely related to the plant's growth condition, cultivation medium, container, weather conditions, and seasonal changes. During periods of good growth, consider the plant's growth needs and water more; otherwise, water less. Stop watering on cloudy or rainy days. Water more frequently for smaller containers; conversely, reduce watering for larger ones. Plants in good condition can be watered more, while those with injuries or diseases can be watered less or not at all. Plants in bloom or with wounds should not be sprayed with water. In short, it should be flexibly mastered based on specific conditions.
In spring, the plants grow vigorously, the temperature gradually rises, and the light intensity increases, requiring more water. When the temperature exceeds 20°C, open the window for ventilation. As air circulation increases, water evaporation also increases, so gradually increase the amount and frequency of watering.
In summer, the temperature continues to rise, and living stone flowers gradually enter a dormant state. In high-temperature summer months, they are in a dormant or semi-dormant state, requiring appropriate shading, reduced watering, and improved ventilation to prevent rot. During the rainy season with high temperature and humidity, watering should be stopped. Overwatering during this period can quickly lead to death.
In autumn, the temperature gradually decreases, and the day-night temperature difference increases. Living stone flowers slowly resume growth. At this time, slightly increase the frequency and amount of watering to maintain a good growth trend.
In winter, it is a relatively special season. The indoor temperature varies greatly depending on the heating conditions. Therefore, watering should be determined based on the room temperature and lighting conditions. If the room temperature can reach around 15-28°C, normal management can be maintained, and more water can be added. The lower the temperature, the more water should be reduced. If the room temperature is below 9°C, watering should be basically stopped to increase the plant's cold resistance.
Specific watering times: During the growing season, water in the morning or evening (preferably in the morning), and in winter, water at noon on sunny days. Do not water plants exposed to strong sunlight at noon.
Lithops have a process of shedding and splitting during growth. Usually in early spring, the plant's fissure gradually opens, and one or two new plants gradually grow at the opening, while the original plant gradually withers and is replaced by the new plant. The newly grown fleshy leaves grow quickly and become thicker, and by the next spring, they will wrinkle and split, growing one or two smaller living stone flowers, but each plant always maintains two leaves, so most living stone flowers in nature are colonial. During this entire process, avoid spraying water on the plant to prevent infection.
Lithops enter a dormant period in June, July, and August, and can grow during other times. They bloom in September, with a flowering period of 5-7 days, opening early and closing late. On the third day of flowering, the plant can be pollinated. Lithops are cross-pollinated, and it is best to choose the same variety for higher pollination success and better seedling survival.
Several issues to note when planting living stone flowers:
1. Pot selection: Choose a pot with a depth of about 10cm.
2. Soil mixing: The soil for stone flowers should be loose and breathable, rich in organic matter.
3. Watering: Seedlings within six months should maintain some moisture, while others should be watered when dry, avoiding watering on cloudy or rainy days, and reducing water during the shedding stage.
4. Light: Maintain sufficient sunlight (shade with gauze during hot summers).
5. Ventilation: Maintain good ventilation during warm and hot seasons.
6. Fertilization: Lithops require very little fertilizer. If the medium already contains 1/4-1/5 decomposed leaf soil, no fertilizer is needed, otherwise, a small amount of slow-release fertilizer or a small amount of general nutrient solution can be added during watering. Excessive fertilizer can cause "fattening" and make it hard to survive during summer.
7. Temperature: Generally, they can grow normally between 9°C and 32°C. Stop watering below 8°C, and below 0°C, they may freeze.
The detailed content on how to plant living stone flowers (experience summary) is introduced above, hoping it can be helpful to you!