The cultivation method of Xiaowushou
This article introduces the topic of knowledge about the succulent plant Xiaowushou, including its cultivation method. Here is a detailed introduction.
Xiaowushou is a natural variant with a flowering period in spring and summer. Pollination must be cross-pollination, and it can also be intergeneric hybrid pollination. The mature seeds are black. The flower stems are thick, and if not pollinated, the flower stalks can be cut off to prevent the plant from consuming its nutrients. Xiaowushou prefers cool, dry conditions, sufficient and soft lighting, is tolerant of semi-shade, and afraid of waterlogging, extreme heat, and is not cold-resistant.
In the growing season, the whole plant looks very beautiful. Keep the potting soil slightly moist because they prefer higher humidity, but this humidity is under the condition that the roots are growing well. Fellow gardeners should note that if the roots are not well-developed and the soil is kept moist, it can lead to root rot. The specific rooting method is to keep the soil slightly moist, plant the dried wound of the plant in a shady and well-ventilated place, and wait for new roots to grow. After new roots appear, water can be gradually increased while increasing sunlight. If the plant stays in the shade for too long, it will deform and grow tall, and it will take a long time to recover.
In summer, due to high temperatures, the plant grows slowly or stops, and the bottom leaves will gradually dry out. Keep the potting soil moderately dry throughout the summer and water a little at the edge of the pot each month, but not near the center of the leaves, as high temperatures can easily cause the core to rot. Maintain the moisture needed for the plant's roots to grow slowly or stop, and avoid complete dormancy due to high temperatures, which would take a long time to recover. During dormancy, some leaves may lose moisture and nutrients, leading to the drying and shrinking of the bottom leaves or even the whole plant. The roots may also dry out. In summer, due to slow growth and high temperatures, the leaves of the plant are usually not very full, each season has its own beauty.
In winter, which is the coldest season in Huangshan, the plants are covered with a transparent plastic cover to keep the soil slightly moist and watered a little each month, which keeps the plant warm and increases humidity. The sunlight during the day can raise the temperature and the air humidity is high, making the leaves particularly full and beautiful. The propagation of the plant can be done through cross-pollination or hybrid pollination, or by cutting off the top to trigger new buds. This variety of Xiaowushou grows side buds slowly. I have not tried cutting off the top, as I have been reluctant to do so after nurturing it for so many years, and I am waiting for side buds to grow for propagation.
During cultivation, sometimes the top of the succulent leaves changes from 'convex' to 'concave', the leaf color becomes dull, the 'window' surface becomes cloudy, and growth stops. Besides summer dormancy, this condition may indicate that the plant's roots have dried and rotted. The plant can be taken out of the soil, the decayed and dead roots removed, dried for 3-7 days, and then planted in new potting soil. After new roots grow, the succulent leaves will gradually become full and return to their original shape. Normally, the plant can be repotted once a year in autumn, and the root system should be tidied up during repotting, removing the decayed and old roots. A slow-release fertilizer can be mixed into the potting mix for the roots to absorb gradually. Do not water the newly planted plant too much, keep the soil slightly moist to help the roots recover. I do not repot very actively; usually, I only do it when the plant stops growing or the pot is too small. Xiaowushou is a classic old variety.
The detailed explanation of the cultivation method of Xiaowushou provided above is for reference and suggestion only.