How to raise Xiong Tongzi
Are you curious about the experience of caring for the succulent plant Xiong Tongzi? How do you raise it? Let me introduce it.
The adorable Xiong Tongzi is one of my favorite flowers. I know the questions you are most concerned about and want to ask are: How do you raise it? How do you water it? Do you need to fertilize? And other questions about cultivation. Taking this opportunity, I also want to talk about how I raise Xiong Tongzi, but it may not be suitable for everyone. Because everyone's conditions and environment are different, the cultivation method you get according to your specific situation is the best.
First, let's talk about the soil. There is nothing special about the soil mix, as long as it is loose, breathable, and does not harden, you have already succeeded in raising succulents halfway. The other half is to manage well, and you will be 100% successful, at least that's what I believe. We all understand the general principles, so I'll start with my own soil mix.
I use the most common and easiest to find and buy: garden soil, compost, medium-fine sand, sawdust, eggshells, and a little bit of perlite and vermiculite (these are later additions and are not necessarily needed). Among these, sawdust is not easy to find, but it's okay if you don't have it. How do you mix them? Honestly, there are no specific ratios or strict requirements. Just put a little of each. For water-loving succulents, add more garden soil; for those that don't like water, add more compost. Sand is used to prevent the soil from hardening, keeping it loose and breathable. After the soil is mixed, add water. If the water can immediately sink in and quickly flow out from the bottom, the soil is considered suitable for planting succulents. Sawdust and compost are similar, one is nutritious and the other is not. If you mix compost with garden soil, you don't need to add bottom fertilizer; if you mix sawdust with garden soil, you need to add bottom fertilizer. I usually use bone meal and compound fertilizer. Perlite and vermiculite have their benefits: perlite acts as sand, and vermiculite retains water and allows air flow. They are light and won't be too heavy, so you can choose whether to use them based on your conditions.
I also want to mention eggshells. What's the use of eggshells? They are actually a good thing. Crushing the shells and putting them at the bottom of the pot can act as fertilizer, deter ants, prevent soil leakage, and improve water drainage. Another use is to bake the inner membrane of the eggshells, crush them, and sprinkle them on the surface of the pot to deter pests, act as fertilizer, and loosen the soil. It's amazing how useful eggshells can be, so collect them and be environmentally friendly. Also, another pest control method is to cut banana peels into small pieces and bury them in the pot, which can deter pests and also act as fertilizer. I just found this recently while looking for information, and I haven't tried it yet. If you're interested, you can try it.
Next, let's talk about sunlight and watering. First, let me clarify that my plants are all grown outdoors, facing southeast. They get plenty of sunlight most days, enjoying the first rays of sunlight from morning until about 2 PM, which amounts to 5-7 hours of sunbathing (actually, 4-5 hours is enough). I never shade or filter the light for my succulents (except for orchids and some other plants). On consecutive sunny days, I water them thoroughly every day (because the planting material is very water-absorbent, and the soil dries out after a day of intense sunlight), and on cloudy days, I water every other day. I never stop watering in the summer because of so-called "dormancy." On the contrary, the hotter and drier it is, the more you need to water (except on rainy days).
I've seen many people say it's hard to get through the summer, and some plants die from the heat. But I think they die from thirst or drought. Wild flowers growing in nature have wide, thick, cool soil, and rich groundwater. At home, we only have pots and pans exposed to the hot sun, so you can imagine what happens. Anyway, I digressed. Let's get back to the topic. Most succulents not only love sunlight but also enjoy temperature differences. Temperature differences help them grow stronger and promote flower buds.
What exactly is the role of temperature differences? Simply put: the higher the temperature during the day, the more nutrients the plant produces; the lower the temperature at night, the less the plant consumes. Of course, the low temperature should be above zero, preferably above five degrees, which is safer. Like the weather in the south, especially in Guangzhou, it's fine to keep the plants outdoors all year round.
Another thing I want to mention is that I never add extra fertilizer to my succulents, only adding a little bottom fertilizer when potting or repotting.
Wow, I almost forgot to mention something else that I think is very important: the use of flower pots. The pots I use mostly have legs, allowing air to circulate from top to bottom, so I'm not worried about overwatering and root rot.
I've rambled on a lot, and there's not much technical content here, and it may not be suitable for everyone. The above are purely personal views and methods for reference. If you don't like them, you can ignore them. I also welcome everyone to exchange ideas.
The above is the detailed content about how to raise Xiong Tongzi (garden friends' experience), hoping it can help you!