How to care for Sedum succulents
An article that provides a detailed introduction to the knowledge of Sedum succulents, how to care for Sedum succulents. Next, the editor will introduce to everyone.
There are too many books and articles on how to care for Sedum succulents, this time we just want to talk briefly about six points on how to care for Sedum succulents, all of which we believe are very important for the daily care of Sedum succulents, many of which are summarized from our experience in taking care of our own gardens and greenhouses.
1. Sunlight and shading
In the natural habitat of Sedum, extremely strong sunlight is very limited. It is not difficult to simulate such an environment under artificial conditions, especially when you live in a temperate climate and have a greenhouse. Only a few species of Sedum can tolerate high temperatures, so proper shading is needed when the temperature rises. If you live in the tropics and want to keep them outdoors, you need to avoid the scorching afternoon sun.
2. Ventilation
In natural environments, wind can cool the surface of the soil heated by the sun, and the effect is significant. Therefore, ventilation is very important, but greenhouses find it difficult to simulate the wind in nature. Stagnant air and high humidity are a fatal combination for Sedum, and many Sedum plants rot from the inside out due to fungal infections. High temperatures and stagnant air can also easily cause pest problems, such as a爆发 of scale insects.
3. Watering
We found that the plants in our open-air gardens and greenhouses are not well-adapted to the water we use, yet they thrive during the rainy season. An article in a series published in the Journal of the Cactus and Succulent Society of America (CSSA) explains this peculiar phenomenon. We will discuss how to handle irrigation water and the benefits of doing so with simple text and photos. If you want to know all the details, you can find that article.
3.1 Determine the pH of the water source
The first step is to test the pH of the water source. We bought an electronic tester that can calibrate the pH of different solutions. Of course, you can also rent professional laboratory equipment to determine the acidity or alkalinity of the water. Our water has a pH of up to 8.2, which is too hard and not favored by plant roots. For comparison, rainwater is usually slightly acidic, with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5.
3.2 Adjust the pH of the irrigation water to 5.5
Following the advice in that CSSA article, we filled a large bucket with 114 liters (30 gallons) of hard water and then added inexpensive white vinegar to try to lower its pH. White vinegar should be added a little at a time, and after each addition, you should stir the water in the bucket to accurately measure how much white vinegar is needed to adjust the pH to 5.5. In our case, 300 milliliters (1 and 1/3 cups) of white vinegar mixed with 114 liters (30 gallons) of water was just right. The author of the CSSA article suggests using the mixed water as soon as possible, as the pH will slowly rise back up. Therefore, it's best to mix as much as you need.
3.3 Add ammonium sulfate
Ammonium sulfate is a widely used fertilizer in agriculture, which helps maintain plant root health and improves the ability of roots to absorb water and nutrients. We are accustomed to adding two flat tablespoons of ammonium sulfate to 114 liters (30 gallons) of water. First, dissolve the ammonium sulfate in 1 liter of water, then pour this liter into the water bucket and stir well. Ammonium sulfate is usually a crystalline solid and is very inexpensive. As a fertilizer, ammonium sulfate is more concentrated but contains only nitrogen, not phosphorus or potassium.
3.4 Actual results
After just a few days, the plants look stronger, have abundant energy to bloom, and are more resistant to pests. After only a few weeks, the difference is very noticeable. Now, we use this kind of water for both open-air and greenhouse plants.
4. Substrate
The medium we use in the garden is a mix of 50% garden soil and 50% pumice to improve soil drainage, and we cover the surface with red volcanic rock to reduce the evaporative effect of sunlight and prevent rapid water loss. In the greenhouse, we use 30% peat and 70% pumice, with coarse granite sand on the surface. We do not recommend using pure garden soil, as it is too rich and can cause plants to grow excessively.
5. Fertilizer
Fertilizing succulents can easily cause them to stretch and deform. We privately discussed this issue with Kelly Griffin, a succulent grower in San Diego, and finally agreed that a 10-20-20 nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilizer must be diluted five times before application, or a similar concentration of fertilizer, and not more than twice a year to prevent stretching.
6. Pests
"Pests" are a nightmare for every Sedum enthusiast. The best option is systemic insecticides, which can be absorbed through the plant's roots, giving the plant自发性的 antibodies against insects.
We hope that these experiences can help you successfully care for your succulent plants.
The comprehensive knowledge on how to care for Sedum succulents introduced above can help you.