How to care for Hong Zhi'er
Let me tell you about the introduction of the succulent plant Hong Zhi'er, how to care for it. Let's find out together below.
Hong Zhi'er is a perennial succulent herbaceous plant with a clumping growth habit, fine branches, and a fleshy stem. Over time, the stem will gradually become semi-woody. Hong Zhi'er leaves are somewhat thin, green in color, with thin leaf edges. In late autumn and early spring, when the temperature difference is large, the entire plant will turn reddish-brown. The leaves are opposite and sessile, bases connected together, new leaves overlap on top, while mature leaves have some spacing between them. The flowers are white and form cluster inflorescences.
Hong Zhi'er is native to Mexico and requires a sunny, cool, and dry environment. It can tolerate semi-shade but dislikes waterlogging and avoids hot and humid conditions. It has the habit of growing in cool seasons and dormant in high summer temperatures. From September of each year to June of the following year is the growing period of the plant (different environments may have different growing periods). Insufficient light will cause the plant to grow tall and spindly, with an increased distance between leaves, making the plant loose and the stem fragile, and the leaves will fade and turn green. Plants growing in sufficient sunlight will have a stocky and compact growth habit.
The Hong Zhi'er I raise is kept in a sunroom with full sun exposure. During the growing season, keep the soil moist but avoid waterlogging. The soil I use is a mixture of coal slag, peat, and a small amount of perlite, with a ratio of about 5:4:1, and small stones are placed on the soil surface. Hong Zhi'er can withstand temperatures as low as -4°C, which is the indoor temperature, not outdoor. If it gets colder, the growing tips of the leaves will get frostbite and dry up. As long as the frostbite is not severe, new lateral branches will sprout from the withered areas the following year. Watering is basically stopped during the entire winter, and it should start to reduce watering below 5 degrees. In the summer, when it's hot, the plant's growth may slow down or stop completely. Good ventilation and appropriate shading are necessary at this time to avoid direct sunlight and to reduce watering, as prolonged rain can cause the plant to rot. Hong Zhi'er requires regular pruning to remove disordered branches to maintain a beautiful and attractive shape. It is one of the faster-growing species of Sedum.
Hong Zhi'er is usually propagated by cutting the top. Take a healthy branch with a growing point, cut it into segments about 3 to 5 centimeters high, let the cut heal, and then plant it, or you can directly plant it in dry granular soil. After a few days, give it a small amount of water. It is a very easy plant to propagate, as many small roots can easily grow between the leaves. When it encounters suitable soil, it will firmly root itself. There is also a benefit to topping propagation, which is that it allows the mother plant to achieve a better shape. Enthusiastic gardeners can try this method. The area where the top was cut will sprout new growth points, sometimes producing two branches.
The above is a comprehensive introduction on how to care for Hong Zhi'er, hoping to provide some knowledge about green plants for green plant enthusiasts.