How to cultivate blackwood succulents
For most people, the knowledge of how to cultivate blackwood succulents and the maintenance tips for succulent blackwood will definitely be helpful to you. Let's learn about it together!
Blackwood, also known as ebony juice, belongs to the Sedum series of the Crassulaceae family. When there is sufficient sunlight and a large temperature difference, the edges of its leaves will turn black-brown, giving it a domineering and majestic appearance. The leaves will turn yellow, looking a bit cute and providing a beautiful feeling. Therefore, many enthusiasts enjoy cultivating blackwood succulents. So, what are the cultivation methods and precautions for growing blackwood succulents? The answers are in the following four points.
1. Well-draining soil
Blackwood prefers soil with good breathability and drainage, as blackwood is a succulent plant with a high water content in its leaves. If the soil becomes compacted and waterlogged, it can easily lead to root rot. What kind of soil should be used?
Blackwood soil: When growing blackwood, the particle size of the soil should not be too large, as it can hinder root growth. Generally, we can use a mixture of peat, river sand, and perlite, as peat soil contains nutrients and is slightly acidic, making it less prone to compaction and better breathability. Adding river sand and perlite improves drainage and prevents waterlogging and root rot.
2. Watering after the soil dries without积水
Blackwood prefers a drier environment and is afraid of waterlogging and root rot, so watering needs to be careful. Moreover, during the rainy season in summer, blackwood is also afraid of rain, which can lead to black rot and leaf rot. Therefore, water management is necessary.
Watering management: Spring and autumn are the peak growing seasons for blackwood. During this period, water the plant thoroughly after most of the soil has dried. In summer and winter, when growth is slow, watering should be more cautious, allowing the soil to dry completely before watering. Regardless of the season, avoid long-term waterlogging in the pot to prevent root rot.
In dry summer weather, apart from watering blackwood in the morning or evening, also spray water around the pot in the evening to lower the temperature. Blackwood may experience slow or halted growth when temperatures exceed 35 degrees Celsius in summer.
In spring and autumn, when there is light rain, blackwood can be exposed to rain, but in heavy summer rain, it should not be exposed to prevent waterlogging and root rot. Also, prevent excessive rain that can cause leaf rot.
How to cultivate blackwood succulents
3. Prefers a warm environment
Blackwood prefers a warm environment, with an optimal growing temperature of 15-25 degrees Celsius. When summer temperatures exceed 35 degrees, blackwood may experience slow or halted growth. In winter, when temperatures drop below 5 degrees, blackwood also enters a slow growth phase. Therefore, some precautions are needed during cultivation.
Temperature management:
When temperatures exceed 35 degrees in summer, provide appropriate shade during strong sunlight and keep the plant in a well-ventilated environment. Spray water around the pot in the evening, but not on the leaves, to prevent leaf rot. These measures can help lower the temperature, allowing blackwood to survive the summer without issues.
When temperatures drop below 5 degrees in winter, move blackwood to an indoor environment above 10 degrees with plenty of sunlight, so it can also look beautiful in winter.
4. Reasonable fertilization
Blackwood is not a succulent that enjoys a lot of fertilizer. Over-fertilization, using raw fertilizer, or fertilizing during slow growth periods can easily lead to root rot. Therefore, enthusiasts who like to fertilize blackwood should be cautious.
Fertilization management: When fertilizing blackwood, during the peak growing seasons of spring and autumn, apply a balanced nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilizer every 20-30 days. This type of fertilizer contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium elements, which can make blackwood stronger and enhance the color of the leaf edges.
Blackwood succulents are very beautiful, and with the right cultivation methods, they can become even more stunning. The method of growing blackwood is relatively simple, and just following the above four points can achieve a good state.
The comprehensive introduction to how to cultivate blackwood succulents and the maintenance tips for succulent blackwood has been shared above, hoping to provide green plant enthusiasts with some relevant knowledge.