How to care for Ziman Dao
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Ziman Dao (Senecio crassissinus), Asteraceae Senecio, also known as Zijin Zhang, Yuyu Guan, Zilong. Native to the southern part of Madagascar.
The plant of Ziman Dao is 50-80 cm tall, with green stems and branches, sometimes slightly tinged with purple, rough surface, and remaining scaly remnants from the shedding of old leaves. The succulent leaves are obovate, green with a slight powdery coating, with purple edges and bases. The leaves are 4-6 cm long and 2-3 cm wide. The capitulum is 50-100 cm tall, with small flowers grouped together, yellow or crimson.
Ziman Dao requires a sunny and cool, dry environment, can tolerate semi-shade, afraid of waterlogging, and dislikes humid heat. It has the habit of growing in cool seasons and dormant in high summer temperatures. Ziman Dao is not strict about soil requirements, and it is sufficient to use peat soil mixed with coarse sand to maintain good drainage.
From September of each year to June of the following year is the growing period of the plant (different environments of flower friends may have different growing periods). If there is insufficient light, the plant may easily become leggy, with a longer distance between leaves, causing the plant to become loose and the stems to become weak, the leaves to stretch out, and the color to fade. Plants growing in sufficient sunlight will have a shorter, sturdier shape, with relatively compact leaf spacing, and Ziman Dao does not grow very slowly.
The Ziman Dao in the kite is kept in a sunroom with full sun exposure. During the growing period, keep the soil slightly moist and avoid waterlogging. The soil used by the kite consists of a mix of coal slag, peat, and a small amount of perlite, with a ratio of about 6:3:1, and the surface is covered with river sand.
Ziman Dao can tolerate temperatures as low as -2°C in dry soil, which is the indoor temperature, not outdoor. Watering is basically stopped throughout the winter, and it should start to reduce watering when the temperature drops below 5 degrees. When the temperature exceeds 35°C in summer, the plant's growth basically stops. At this time, reduce watering to prevent root rot from overly moist soil. Enhance ventilation, provide appropriate shading, and avoid direct sunlight. This is the basic care throughout the summer. It is worth noting that in summer, the kite does not completely stop watering but provides only a small amount of water to prevent the old leaves from drying out. Watering is done at the edge of the pot, about 2-4 times a month, between 7-9 PM when the sun has set, which will not affect the plant's roots. Try to keep the temperature above zero in winter as Ziman Dao is quite sensitive to cold.
In cultivation, avoid long-term rain exposure to prevent root damage and yellowing or rotting of branches. Since Ziman Dao grows relatively well, repotting once every 1-2 years is sufficient, usually done before the first watering in early spring. Ziman Dao will grow taller and branch out after topping.
Propagation can be done by cutting off the top and dividing the plant. Branch cuttings are very simple; just take a healthy old branch, let it dry, and then plant it in slightly moist sandy soil. In a shaded, well-ventilated area, it will usually root in more than 20 days. Do not water frequently during the cutting process to avoid stem rot. Cuttings should be done in spring and autumn.
The detailed introduction of how to care for Ziman Dao (as shared by flower friends), do you know now?