Does a recently transplanted succulent need fertilizing?
Today, the editor will explain the knowledge related to whether a recently transplanted succulent needs fertilizing. Let's take a look together!
Does a recently transplanted succulent need fertilizing?
When transplanting a succulent plant, it is only necessary to trim the roots appropriately, let the wounds dry, and then plant it in a pot with a proper proportion of particle soil. It is not necessary to add a base fertilizer. However, if there are organic fertilizers such as chicken manure, earthworm manure, or cake fertilizer at home, some can be used to mix with the soil or as a base fertilizer before planting, which can increase the fertility of the soil.
About whether to fertilize a transplanted succulent plant
Beginners who have just started dealing with succulents often fertilize them because they are not familiar with their growth habits.
In fact, based on my understanding, succulents are very tolerant to poor soil conditions. They often grow on cliffs, among rocks, and in sandy gravel in their native habitats, so if we want them to be in better condition, we should fertilize less, or even not fertilize at all.
For example, when transplanting a succulent plant, it is only necessary to trim the roots appropriately, let the wounds dry, and then plant it in a pot with a proper proportion of particle soil. It is not necessary to add a base fertilizer.
If there are organic fertilizers like chicken manure, earthworm manure, or cake fertilizer at home, some can be used to mix with the soil or as a base fertilizer before planting, which can improve the soil fertility.
If not, it is fine to plant directly. Using a little water-soluble fertilizer or slow-release fertilizer during the vigorous growth periods in spring and autumn is also fine. In general, applying a thin fertilizer frequently and not over-fertilizing is the basic principle.
Fertilizing succulent plants only needs to be done in spring and autumn:
Most succulent plants are small and compact, resembling lotus flowers, and only show their unique charm when they are colored.
Therefore, compared to fertilizing, maintaining sufficient sunlight, controlling the appropriate amount of water, and creating a suitable temperature difference between day and night are more important to prevent stretching, fading, and flattening, allowing succulents to maintain their condition better.
Moreover, most succulent plants have the characteristic of dormant during the high summer temperatures, and some varieties that are not easy to survive the summer are even considered "life and death challenges." Therefore, it is unnecessary to fertilize during the summer; instead, shading and auxiliary ventilation to cool down the succulents to help them survive the summer are the priorities.
In winter, when the temperature drops to about 5°C, succulent plants grow slowly or almost stop growing, and it is also necessary to stop fertilizing and control water, which helps the succulents survive the winter smoothly.
So, even if fertilizing, it should only be done during the vigorous growth periods in spring and autumn with a thin fertilizer. Using water-soluble fertilizers or slow-release fertilizers is convenient and a popular choice.
If, when initially planting succulents in a pot, the fertilizer is mixed in the nutrient soil, it saves the trouble of fertilizing later, and the fertilizer in the soil can provide nutrients for the succulents for a long time.
For newly potted succulents, when can we fertilize them?
My suggestion for this question is as follows: when we plant succulents, we always add a part of peat soil to the planting mix.
Peat soil is rich in nutrients, which is enough for the succulents' growth in a short time, so it is not recommended to fertilize newly potted succulents immediately.
Also, the roots of newly potted succulents are not fully developed, and fertilizing them rashly may damage their roots.
The consequence of this could be that the succulents either become stiff or even rot and turn black, so even if we want to fertilize the succulents, we should wait until they have settled in and grown for a while.
The above [] introduces all the content about whether a recently transplanted succulent needs fertilizing. Have green plant enthusiasts understood it?