How to care for the Little Jade Flower
If you want to know how to care for the Little Jade Flower and the cultivation methods and precautions for this plant, let's learn about it together.
The Little Jade Flower, also known as豆瓣绿 (Douban Green) or椒草 (Chili Grass), is a perennial succulent herb of the Pepper Family that is particularly suitable for placement in offices and coffee tables. Let's take a look at how to care for the Little Jade Flower and its role in the home.
How to care for the Little Jade Flower
1. Substrate: Prefers to grow in loose, fertile, well-drained sandy soil rich in humus. It grows poorly in clay. The general substrate mixture can be made of decomposed leaf soil + river sand + a small amount of decomposed organic fertilizer. If conditions allow, you can choose to mix peat soil with perlite for cultivation.
2. Light: Prefers semi-shade or scattered light. Apart from needing sufficient light in winter, it requires some shading in other seasons, especially in summer. If placed in a shaded environment, it tends to grow leggy, with increased internode length, which reduces its ornamental value. In semi-shade, the leaves are brighter and more glossy, especially for variegated varieties, which have slightly higher sunlight requirements.
3. Temperature: Prefers a warm environment, with an optimal growth temperature of 20-30°C. The overwintering temperature should be kept above 10°C. Below 10°C, growth stops, and below 5°C, it is prone to frost damage.
4. Humidity: Prefers a humid growing environment. It grows luxuriantly with bright leaf color in a humid environment. When the temperature is high or the air is dry, it is necessary to increase foliar watering or sprinkle water in the growing environment to maintain a higher air humidity, which is extremely beneficial for the plant's growth. It can also adapt to brief dry conditions but should not be prolonged, generally maintaining around 70% humidity.
5. Watering: Prefers water but does not tolerate drought. It requires frequent watering during the growing season. When the temperature exceeds 25°C or the air is dry, more water should be provided, but waterlogging should be avoided. When the temperature is below 25°C, water should be added only when the surface of the potting soil is dry. Below 10°C, it can tolerate dryness for several days without watering.
6. Fertilization: When the temperature is above 18°C, a small amount of fertilizer is needed. Below 18°C or above 30°C, less or no fertilizer should be applied. Fertilization is best done in small, frequent doses, using diluted fertilizer solution instead of water. It does not tolerate raw or concentrated fertilizers, which can easily cause fertilizer damage. Foliar application of fertilizer solution can also be effective.
7. Pruning and Propagation: For new seedlings, pinching is needed when they reach about 10 cm in height to increase the number of branches, making the plant more full and more valuable. Pruning of larger plants depends on their growth. Long branches can be cut back and used as cutting material, which easily roots in clean river sand or vermiculite, or directly in sandy soil. Propagation can also be done through leaf cuttings and division. The required temperature for propagation is generally between 20-25°C. Leaf cuttings need to have a petiole and should be inserted vertically or slightly obliquely into the river sand, with a depth of 1/4-1/3 of the petiole, maintaining the moisture of the substrate and a higher air humidity.
The role of the Little Jade Flower in the home
The Little Jade Flower, also known as Green Leaf Jade, Douban Green, or Chili Grass, is actually a plant native to the West Indies, Panama, and northern South America. It prefers a warm, humid semi-shade environment. The optimal growth temperature for the Little Jade Flower is around 24°C, with a minimum temperature not lower than 9°C. It does not tolerate high temperatures and requires high air humidity, and it avoids direct sunlight. It prefers loose, fertile, well-drained, and moist soil. The Little Jade Flower can also be used medicinally. Internal use can expel wind and dampness, relieve cough, and remove phlegm. External use can treat falls, fractures, and other injuries. Keeping the Little Jade Flower at home can purify the air, absorb harmful gases, release oxygen, beautify the environment, and absorb radiation next to computers, making it both beautiful and healthy. In terms of appearance, the Little Jade Flower is quite ornamental and is a plant with decorative value.
The Little Jade Flower is exquisitely green and suitable for home cultivation. It can occasionally cultivate one's temperament and bring a green space environment to the home. It can absorb electromagnetic radiation from electronic devices such as mobile phones and has a certain purification effect on formaldehyde, xylene, and secondhand smoke, purifying indoor air, which is beneficial to human health and suitable for planting at home.
The introduction above about how to care for the Little Jade Flower and the related cultivation methods and precautions hope to bring a little help to your life!