Caring for the roots of succulent plants
Today, I am introducing some tips on caring for the roots of succulent plants. Here are the details:
Talking about plant roots is a broad topic. First, let's discuss why we need to care for the roots, mainly focusing on the impact of roots on plants, including some common phenomena. Then, I'll share how I usually care for the roots, followed by some successful and unsuccessful case studies. (Please note that my knowledge is limited and not professional, just for sharing purposes.)
Why care for the roots?
When a batch of seeds is sown and the seedlings grow, you will find that some are large and others are small. Generally, the larger ones have well-developed root systems, while the smaller ones have fragile roots. This is certainly determined by the health of the seeds and their genetics. However, a well-developed root system is an important indicator of a plant's health. Some people ask why succulents are not sunburnt when grown outdoors in other countries. This is because their roots are deeply rooted in the vast earth, and when the sun is strong, the roots grow continuously to absorb more water. Generally, succulents grown in the soil have very strong root systems and are hard to kill, with strong resistance. Therefore, succulents indoors are very fragile. Many hobbyists buy them in autumn because a batch always dies in the summer. I have sown Ensuo, which is a small species, but even so, there is a huge size difference in a pot, with some approaching the size of a one-yuan coin and others with a diameter of less than 1cm. The smaller plants will only become smaller when placed in the same pot with larger ones. Why? Because the larger plants have well-developed root systems and can absorb water from the bottom layer when there is no moisture in the upper layer. However, the smaller plants have very short roots. In my pot of Ensuo, I watered them as if they were all large plants because I was afraid they would become leggy, which resulted in the smaller ones drying out. The more they dried out, the worse their roots became, and the plants grew very slowly, always remaining very small. However, they are indeed very easy to show off and look beautiful, which is also why it is difficult to keep small, cute plants bought online alive and healthy. Beauty requires skill. In summary, roots have an important impact on the size and resistance of plants, and this impact is mutually reinforcing. For example, larger plants need more water and nutrients, and their roots also grow better. However, this topic is too complex to discuss further, so let's leave it at that. Next, I'll talk about how I usually care for the roots.
Caring for the roots
Actually, I don't take very good care of my plants because I'm not attentive enough, but it's precisely because of my inattention that I've encountered various problems and gained experience.
First, let's talk about the specific care methods, as everyone is usually interested in the final operational methods.
In general, it's about utilizing the root's hydrotropism. Those who have propagated leaves know this: placing water not far from the roots makes it easier for leaf cuttings or cuttings to grow roots. Although it's not always the case, it can generally be utilized. The reason it's not always the case is that whether or not I place water when propagating leaves, they often grow roots. I personally believe that root growth is a plant's本能 for self-repair and adaptation, written in its genes, so there's no need to investigate further. Moreover, most roots avoid light, so even if you don't place water and put a pile of dry pine bark, they will still grow roots. Whether or not they grow roots is written in the genes, but the direction of root growth is partly determined by water. If you see your plant is full of aerial roots, then you should address the issue promptly. For example, the plants I used to grow,虹之玉, were full of aerial roots because the soil was too dry. The roots inside grew strong but couldn't absorb water because I almost always forgot about them. I admit I'm too lazy to water... So, to care for the roots, water along the side of the pot when the soil is very dry, preferably with a saucer, placing some water in the saucer to keep the bottom and sides of the pot moist. The roots will naturally grow in these directions and become stronger. Of course, if your soil is as loose as possible, it will also be more conducive to the root's hydrotropic growth. If you don't have a saucer, I usually use the 1cm deep soaking method, which means placing only 1cm of water in a large pot and then soaking the pot for a short while. This way, the soil at the bottom of the pot is moist, and it becomes drier the higher up you go, which is very useful.
How to control the amount of water for these methods? It depends on the size of your seedlings or mature plants. The principle is to keep the soil around the roots moist, not where the roots are originally located. If you have a small seedling and soak it in 1cm of water every day, and the seedling can't reach the water, then it will die.
Many people ask about the problem of seedlings not growing. If there are no true leaves within two months of sowing, don't worry; that's not considered a僵苗 (stunted growth). Usually, it takes 3-4 weeks for true leaves to appear, but this is because I'm experienced and familiar with it. Many beginners don't understand this, so it's normal for it to take two months, especially in environments with poor sunlight or insufficient water, which can affect growth. If the seedlings are still very small after several months, they might be僵苗. However, I don't have much experience with this, and it's almost impossible to save a僵苗 when it's small. Therefore, it's essential to keep the seedlings moist, especially before the true leaves grow. Dryness can cause the roots to rot and be difficult to recover because the seedlings are too small. If a僵苗 occurs, I usually just transplant the seedlings and soak them with various root-growing substances. (Advertisement: Feige's real root is pretty good. If you don't have too many seedlings, you can buy a small bottle from him. If you use them in batches like me, you can consider buying several big bottles. A big bottle seems to be 500ml+.) The僵苗 of small seedlings is actually a death sentence or a life sentence, with a few having a background that might get a reduced sentence, but even then, they grow very slowly. Seedlings with true leaves are usually a bit easier to save. So everyone should pay attention to keeping the seedlings moist. I ruined a pot of Carola with a very high germination rate because of this problem, which is a common issue for beginners. Oh, I'm a lazy person; can I hire someone to help me water the plants?
The methods mentioned above also apply to newly arrived succulents that need to be potted. Many people ask me what to do. Of course, you should first let the roots adapt, which means the soil should be slightly moist, with the bottom slightly wetter. After they adapt, you can water normally. If you want to care for the roots, do so between waterings, or you can keep some water in the saucer all the time, which is what Feige does. And my saucer always has water stains... 55555…… feeling inferior.
Finally, let's talk about some popular case studies.
1. Stunted growth and etiolation of mountain roses: In a 20x20 pot, I sowed an absolute of 300+ mountain roses, and 100% of them germinated. The result of broadcasting is that they all grew together, with an estimated 500 of them. I had no intention of transplanting them because they were too small, too dense, and tangled together. So don't broadcast them no matter how tired or busy you are. Then, I was too lazy to take care of them and often forgot to water them. When I remembered, I would water thoroughly, and then I would forget again for several months. The result was a pile of tall, dry, tiny seedlings, densely packed and unable to be separated. They eventually became stunted. You see, not watering can also cause etiolation, which is a characteristic of mountain roses. Fortunately, mountain roses are quite tough. I transplanted some of the larger ones and solved the problem of stunted growth. After that, they began to grow well. I personally think that the etiolation of mountain roses might be related to insufficient water. If the roots are well-developed and not short of water, I don't think they will etiolate. But I'm not sure, as this is how my mountain roses are. Currently, the mountain roses are very robust. If a mountain rose etiolates, you can bury the stem in the soil. Feel free to bury it,小伙伴们.
2. Carola: I sowed two batches of 100 seeds each, one with a 100% germination rate and the other not so good, around 60%. When the true leaves hadn't grown yet, I forgot to water them, and they were too dry. Then I soaked them, and they recovered a bit. But then I forgot to water them again, and this kept happening, resulting in stunted growth, and they eventually died. Months later, only a few have grown true leaves, while the rest are still the same. This shows how important water is for seedlings. Everyone, give them water~
3. Moses' jade lotus: I sowed a batch with a low germination rate, probably because I didn't sow them well or there was insufficient water. After germination, there were large and small ones with different growth rates. After drought, the large ones survived, while the small ones became stunted and died. Currently, a few are being rescued. This shows that when they are almost the same size, you should separate the large and small ones, or remember to water them on time...
That's all for now; I'm tired.
The specific introduction to the care of the roots of succulent plants mentioned above is for reference by netizens.