How to prevent the elongation of succulent plants
An introduction to the topic of succulent plants, how to prevent the elongation of succulent plants. Here are the details for you.
To understand how to prevent the elongation of succulent plants, you first need to understand the causes of elongation. Different causes correspond to different preventive methods. This article summarizes and organizes several causes of elongation in succulent plants and the corresponding preventive methods, which plant enthusiasts can refer to based on their actual situations.
1. Cause of Elongation: Insufficient Ultraviolet Light
Why is it ultraviolet light instead of sunlight? This is because during the millions of years of evolution of succulent plants, the amount of ultraviolet light always maintains a proportional relationship with the total amount of sunlight. When the sunlight is strong, there is more ultraviolet light, and when the sunlight is gentle, there is less ultraviolet light. Therefore, succulent plants simply use the amount of ultraviolet light to judge the total amount of sunlight.
However, succulent plants never expected that there is a substance called glass in the world, which can block 90% of ultraviolet light. As a result, the sunlight total amount statistical system of succulent plants immediately fails. Succulent plants behind glass windows always think that the sunlight they receive is only one-tenth of the actual sunlight. Fortunately, if your succulent plant considers this one-tenth of sunlight to be just enough, it will be fine. But once the amount of ultraviolet light falls below the critical value in the plant's heart, the plant will immediately start to save itself. Method one: Spread out like a pancake or even wear a skirt to effectively increase the light-receiving area of the leaves. Method two: Elongate, which can minimize the obstruction between leaves and greatly improve the utilization rate of leaf surface area.
You see, it is the glass that causes the sensory imbalance in succulent plants, which leads to self-saving and causes this type of elongation. Isn't it cute and傻 of the succulent plants?
The solution is actually simple. If you plan to grow them indoors completely, try not to buy outdoor-grown succulent plants. Greenhouse-grown succulent plants that have been leaf-propagated are more suitable for you because although greenhouses have excellent light, they lack ultraviolet light, so the ultraviolet imbalance in greenhouse succulent plants is relatively mild.
Also, frequently opening windows can effectively alleviate this issue because scattered ultraviolet light can enter through the windows (one window is enough to double the indoor ultraviolet content), making the succulent plants think there is enough sunlight.
2. Cause of Elongation: Overwatering
We have already discussed the elongation caused by watering. This is a problem caused by the mismatch between water and sunlight. When the water absorbed by the plant cannot be consumed by photosynthesis, it will be stored in the stem (the leaves are already full of water), and the expansion of the stem vacuoles will cause the plant to use the limited organic matter to construct stem cells, leading to stem elongation.
Water according to the amount of light. Greenhouses are also indoor plantings, but the reason why the plants there grow fast is because they have tens of times more light than you. Don't overwater to compete for growth speed. Those who advocate for watering freely without causing elongation are referring to outdoor-grown succulent plants. The delicate plants you raise at home should still be watered moderately.
3. Cause of Elongation: Soil Too Fertile (Excessive Nitrogen Fertilizer)
If home gardeners fertilize their succulent plants, they usually use compound fertilizers. Current plant compound fertilizers are dominated by nitrogen fertilizers (nitrogen fertilizers can make leaves grow, making branches and leaves lush). However, nitrogen fertilizers are very harmful to succulent plants because they can speed up cell division in succulent plants. If photosynthesis cannot keep up, the plant will immediately elongate, and it will be a weak elongation, prone to toppling over.
I believe the greatest advantage of succulent plants over other flowers and plants is their slow growth and stable shape. If you buy a succulent plant to take home, there is no need to rush its growth and reproduction. Just let it sit there and look beautiful. If your goal is to propagate and make money, it is better to rent a greenhouse in the suburbs, where the plants grow faster.
So my view is to grow succulent plants in a poor environment, with poor soil and frequent hunger, which can stimulate the plant's resistance and make it less prone to diseases. Fertilizing is something that can be ignored in home plantings.
4. Cause of Elongation: Poor Placement of Succulent Plants
This is really not a superstition (feng shui), it's true. To put it simply, it is the elongation caused by the phototropism of succulent plants.
For example, if your succulent plant is placed on a table next to the window, the first ray of sunlight every morning can only illuminate the top of the plant. Hey, if you were it, would you stretch your neck as hard as you can to get more sun? You would, right. Go check it out, this type of elongation is the easiest to prevent and often the most overlooked.
5. Cause of Elongation: Poor Root Respiration
This situation is actually similar to the cause of elongation due to excessive watering, as poor root respiration is usually caused by excessive watering. However, the internal mechanism is different, so it needs to be mentioned separately.
We have already mentioned that succulent plants, living in dry mountainous areas, have weak leaf respiration (they need to keep the stomata closed during the day to retain water and collect carbon dioxide at night), so the important task of respiration is left to the roots, which are in the cool underground world, away from the wind and sun.
When the roots of succulent plants have difficulty breathing, the entire plant will be in a state of suffocation. In conditions of hypoxia, the level of life activities in succulent plants greatly decreases, and photosynthesis also slows down. The organic matter produced will be preferentially given to the stem part (as the stem is a hub). By now, everyone should understand that this will certainly cause stem elongation.
The method to prevent this situation is simple: control water and ventilate. Otherwise, even if elongation does not occur, the plant may rot or turn black, and problems often occur in a series.
The above are all methods to prevent the elongation of succulent plants. Spreading out like a pancake can be recovered, but elongation is irreversible. Once elongation occurs, it is extremely rapid. I have seen succulent plants grow a few centimeters in a day. By the time you notice, even if you immediately put them outside, it's too late, and they may even be sunburned.
If elongation has already occurred, don't be discouraged. In fact, you have a reason to be happy because you have already taken the first step in growing a shaped succulent plant. When this plant blooms again, it will show you a different kind of beauty.
The above introduction on how to prevent the elongation of succulent plants is shared with everyone, hoping you will like it!