How to care for succulents in the summer
The web tells everyone about the related topics of succulents, how to care for succulents in the summer, let's find out together below.
Many新手 plant enthusiasts are not very clear on how to care for succulents in the summer, often we see experienced plant enthusiasts' methods online and still can't achieve the desired results, mainly because of different regions and different care methods, so the methods should vary. This article is a summary of a Beijing plant enthusiast's experience on how to care for succulents in the summer, which can be referred to by enthusiasts in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
Let me share a little bit of my experience, my coordinates are Beijing, and the experience is limited to similar environments.
What are the main factors for surviving the summer?
1. Temperature & Humidity & Light
This can be said to be the most important aspect. I believe that a temperature of 30℃ or below is relatively safe, 30℃-35℃ is acceptable, and above 35℃ there will be a lot of casualties, so it is recommended that everyone prepare a thermometer. Some people ask, "What if the room temperature is still 40℃+ even with shading and ventilation?"
I recommend my ice bucket method: I usually freeze 1.5-liter mineral water bottles in the fridge overnight, and place them in the room before going to work in the morning. I have compared this, and reducing the temperature by 5℃ is no problem. I started using ice in June when the temperature reached 30℃, and after continuous days, although the temperature kept rising, my indoor temperature basically remained around 30℃ during the day. Additionally, on extremely high-temperature days, even when I'm not at home during the day, I will use the timer function of the air conditioner to turn it on for 1-2 hours. The picture below is the ice bucket:
However, is it always safe if the temperature is below 35℃ or 30℃? Not necessarily.
Firstly: High humidity in the summer is also a major killer. I have stayed in Guangdong for a period of time in the summer, and compared to Beijing, it is明显 hotter in Guangdong under the same temperature, making it hard to breathe, while it is still cool under the shade of trees in Beijing. Therefore, after heavy rain followed by sunshine, it can cause high humidity and high-temperature deaths, which I feel is easier to die than continuous sunny days.
Secondly, the impact of ultraviolet radiation is also significant. I once put a pot outside for an experiment, and at the time, the outdoor temperature was measured at 32 degrees, but after just two hours, it caused severe burns, as shown in the picture below:
So never think it's safe if the temperature is below 35℃ or 30℃, the impact of summer is not just on temperature.
Let me talk about my current summer environment: fully enclosed south-facing balcony, temperature generally not higher than 32℃. Area A gets 2 hours of sunlight daily, and area B gets 6 hours of sunlight daily. Area A's condition is not as good as area B, but there's only a small area of B, not enough to put all the succulents.
About outdoor cultivation:
I originally bought a shading net, 6 pins, preparing to cultivate outdoors in the summer, but after careful consideration, I still put it indoors. There are indeed masters who have successfully cultivated outdoors in the summer through methods like cutting off water supply and shading, but I don't think I'm that good, so I won't take that risk.
2. Soil mixture
Granular soil is essential for a successful summer, very important, and must be emphasized. Its main function is to leave enough space for the roots. Peat soil will form a high-temperature, high-humidity, and stuffy environment after watering in the summer, as if the roots are steamed in a steamer, easily leading to death. However, the succulent soil bought by newcomers is often peat, coconut bran, and perlite, just because it's cheap and light, and the environment in greenhouses differs significantly from that on balconies, so balcony gardeners should change the soil themselves.
For my current Sedum, the proportion of granular soil is about 60%-80%, 20%-50% for seedlings, and some old stakes/fish/rock peonies are 100% granular. Of course, this depends on the region, increasing the granular proportion in high-humidity areas and reducing it in low-humidity areas. Also, observe the plant's condition, and after a period of good growth, it's fine. I once had several pots showing obvious signs of dehydration, so I took them out and reduced the granules, adding peat.
The types of soil I have used include:
(1) Basic types: Peat (versatile), coconut bran (rarely used);
(2) Granular types: Akadama,鹿沼, green zeolite, pumice, perlite (not good, abandoned), biotite, vermiculite.
(3) Nutrient types: Wood ash, worm castings, bone meal, slow-release fertilizer.
Of course, there are many types of succulent soil mixtures, and the above are just what I have personally tried. There are many opinions on how to mix soil, so everyone can try more, plants have strong vitality, and there's no need for a fixed pattern.
The size of the granules: most are 3-6 millimeters, some are 1-3 millimeters.
Especially worth mentioning:
Akadama, 鹿沼, and vermiculite are best chosen in large granules because they are too easy to powder. Some people say that powdering is due to buying counterfeit goods, but actually, there are many counterfeit goods, and I can't tell, but large granules won't powder for at least 1-2 years, and after 1-2 years, it's time to repot.
Example of soil mixture type (1) Huangyu C189, 90% granular, ingredients: peat, vermiculite, akadama, green zeolite, pumice. Note that the vermiculite here is also large-grained, not powdery vermiculite.
Example of soil mixture type (2) Peony, 100% granular, compared to (1), the proportion of akadama is significantly increased to 50%, green zeolite + pumice + 鹿沼 account for 30%, and bone meal slow-release fertilizer is added, then covered with akadama.
Example of soil mixture type (3) Although it's also a living stone flower, it's a seedling, given 60% peat + 40% granules, 鹿沼 mulch.
Example of soil mixture type (4) Seedlings of Xuelian, 90% peat with a small amount of powdery vermiculite, later added 鹿沼 mulch.
Does this seem complicated? There's a simple method, use peat +虹彩石, and adjust the proportion of the two.
Common problems encountered in the summer: black rot, scale insects, soot mold. Black rot is the most terrifying, and once discovered, there is almost no way to save it; second is scale insects, which can be saved with scientific medication; soot mold is the mildest.
The biggest problem I encountered this summer is scale insects. Scale insects on the leaves are easy to detect and treat, a few sprays of medicine usually work, but it's hard to detect them on the roots, the plant may appear weak, and the bottom leaves keep consuming, which can easily be explained as summer fatigue or root adaptation, and by the time it's discovered, it's too late.
Black rot, as mentioned earlier, is almost impossible to save, so prevention is key. Mainly from two points:
(1) Control temperature, water, and ventilation.
The direct cause of black rot is fungal cells, and fungi like high temperature, high humidity, and sealed environments, so it is necessary to do a good job of controlling temperature, water, and ventilation. Especially for outdoor cultivation, it's better to completely stop watering than to water, or you'll regret it if black rot occurs. Actually, the air humidity in winter is about 20%, while in summer it can reach 60% or more, I personally believe that the moisture in the air can supplement the plant's growth, and if you're really not sure, you can slightly spray water at the roots in the evening when the sun sets, just enough to moisten the mulch. In spring and autumn, you can water thoroughly and let it dry out, but not in the summer.
(2) Spray fungicides like carbendazim in advance for prevention, the proportion is on the drug instructions, preventive ones can be more diluted.
The above sharing is all about how to care for succulents in the summer (Beijing edition), have green plant enthusiasts understood it?