Beginners Guide to Caring for Succulents
The editor answers questions about succulents for netizens, guiding beginners on how to care for succulents. Let's learn about it together.
In recent years, succulents have been very popular, and many新手 have experienced the frustration of killing plants. Many新手 gardeners have the same feeling: "It's hard to care for succulents!" So, what are the key points that beginners need to master when growing succulents? Some gardeners have summarized five points: light, temperature, water, air, and fertilizer, which are very detailed and are treasures for新手 gardeners.
There are five elements in caring for succulents: light, temperature, water, air, and fertilizer. These elements often intertwine and affect each other. Often, friends say my plant isn't doing well, show me where the problem is, and if you can kill a plant, I think there's a problem everywhere... Many plants can tolerate cold and heat, direct sunlight and shade, but they fear rapid changes in temperature and lighting conditions.
1. The most basic and most concerning issue is watering.
When to water?
First, look at the soil directly, which is indeed a signal. If the soil cracks and the pot feels lighter, it's a sign to water. But fundamentally, we are growing succulents, not soil. Observing the plant's appearance can give a more intuitive indication of whether it is lacking water. If the leaves are soft, wrinkled, and the plant appears to be slightly wrapped, it's time to water. Therefore, watering based on the plant's condition is more reasonable and not influenced by mulch or weather.
What kind of water to use
Some friends often say that rainwater is better for succulents... I don't have direct experience with this, so it's hard to say. Water quality mainly involves pH and hardness. Rainwater is acidic, tap water is roughly neutral, but it contains some chlorine. It's best to let it sit and evaporate before using, as this also helps the water temperature to be closer to the soil temperature, preventing a sudden change in root temperature, which plants fear the most. Also, students from the north should note that northern water is harder and more alkaline, so directly using tap water may not be suitable for acid-loving southern plants like azaleas, jasmines, and orchids.
How to water
There are generally two methods to water plants: direct watering and bottom watering. Direct watering is fine; just water thoroughly. Bottom watering should not be used frequently because the soil absorbs water and then dries out, leaving water marks in the soil, which can make the soil alkaline over time. This is why we say "water when dry, and water thoroughly." I usually use bottom watering when sowing or transplanting plants to avoid washing away young seedlings.
2. Light, it's simple, just repeat after me three times, there are no plants that don't love light...
Every plant needs photosynthesis, so when someone says a plant loves light, it's redundant to me. Is there anyone who doesn't like to eat?... It's just that they have different levels of shade tolerance.
As mentioned before, the five elements are interrelated. Strong light can increase the temperature and reduce humidity in a local environment, so temperature and humidity can affect a plant's preference for direct or scattered light. I've grown moss, and even moss loves the brightest light as long as the air humidity is sufficient. Direct light is fine.
Intensity of light
This is not something we need to know too much about when growing flowers at home. Direct light is stronger than scattered light, and succulents prefer direct light. However, plants with poor root growth should be exceptions. Strong light can cause water evaporation, and newly transplanted succulents cannot absorb water from the soil, which can lead to plant death. Therefore, start with bright scattered light to grow roots and then gradually move to strong light.
Quality of light
Friends may find that succulents do better outside than near a window. Besides ventilation, glass filters out some ultraviolet light, which can inhibit internode elongation, prevent stretching, and make the plant more compact.
However, it's best to transition plants slowly from indoors to outdoors, giving them time to adapt. After all, they fear rapid environmental changes. The same applies when moving from outdoors to indoors, as there are significant differences in light, temperature, and ventilation. A little sunburn at the beginning is fine.
3. Regarding air issues, some friends say that ventilation is crucial, which is actually an issue of air humidity.
For many plants, air humidity is indeed a key factor, such as for moss and some ferns.
For succulents, air humidity is not as important, but it is still key.
Many friends' succulents die in the summer, and some say it's from overwatering, others from black rot... But it's not really drowning. As long as your pot has drainage holes and is not soaked in water, there is no such thing as overwatering a succulent.
This is still related to the increase in local air humidity after watering. If your succulent is in a poorly ventilated room, the humidity will be even higher. Then, with high summer temperatures, the high temperature and humidity create a conducive environment for fungi, and since plants grow slower and have lower resistance in the summer, tragedies occur... Controlling either high temperature or high humidity can prevent these tragedies. Therefore, shading and ventilation are the best strategies for surviving the summer, as they help lower temperature and humidity.
4. Issues with soil and substrates.
I once thought they were very important, and many gardeners still do, as I often see people asking about soil mixtures... But they are not as important as the previous elements.
The two important indicators for soil are water retention and porosity, which are拮抗istic. Simply put, soil that is good at retaining water is not as breathable, and soil that is breathable does not retain water well. Good soil finds a balance between the two, being both water-retentive and breathable. We can tell good soil by touch; it should be soft and moist without compacting. Every time I post, I get criticized for my soil issues... But any soil will harden after being watered and dried on the surface, as long as the soil in the pot is loose and soft.
The soil for planting Sedum and the soil for planting Dianthus are the same: garden soil, sand, and peat. Adding sand increases soil porosity, and peat retains water. For planting bulbs, you can add more sand, and for rock gardens, mix peat with perlite.
Substrate and soil are different concepts. There are many types of substrates, such as peat, perlite, and coconut bran. Compared to garden soil, substrates mixed in a certain proportion have a higher organic matter content, are lighter, and have good water retention. Nurseries use substrates mainly because they are light and reduce transportation costs.
I recommend using garden soil for home gardening because it contains rich minerals that substrates do not have. Moreover, garden soil has distinct wet and dry phases, which can strengthen the roots and make them more robust, making it easier for gardeners to control watering. We know that peat can no longer absorb water once it is completely dry.
Pure peat-grown Lloyd also grows well. For plants, the type of substrate is not very important.
5. Fertilizing is a key step in caring for plants, but succulents don't need much fertilizer, so I'll skip this part...
The above text provides a detailed explanation of the five elements (light, temperature, water, air, and fertilizer) for beginners caring for succulents. I hope this article can help you with green plant management!