Methods for Enhancing the Color of Crassula plants
Main content introduction: An introduction to Crassula plants, methods for enhancing the color of Crassula plants, let's take a look together.
Many plant enthusiasts are attracted by the colorful Crassula plants. This article summarizes some knowledge about how to enhance the color of Crassula based on personal care experience. I believe readers will gain something from it!
First: Sunlight, which plays an absolute role in enhancing the color of Crassula, is already known by many enthusiasts. If the plants can receive normal sunlight for 4 hours a day, it can achieve a moderate ideal color enhancement effect. This refers to direct sunlight, not including sunlight passing through glass and other transparent objects, as the required ultraviolet rays act as a beautician. However, this basic requirement is not always met by us. Many enthusiasts care for Crassula indoors, and glass can attract 90% of the ultraviolet rays, resulting in limited color enhancement even with sunlight. Even when cared for outdoors, how often do we see the blue sky of our childhood? Smoggy weather is really frustrating...
Second: Water control, a common routine known by Crassula enthusiasts. I'll just briefly mention it here to provide some references for新手 caregivers. Water control prevents the leaves from being in a fully hydrated state, naturally reducing the shine of their growth color (green), thus reducing the formation of chlorophyll.
Third: Temperature, when the temperature difference is significant, the pH value of anthocyanidin (English: Anthocyanidin, a water-soluble plant pigment found in the cell sap of vacuoles, commonly found in the tissues of flowers, fruits, and the epidermal cells and lower epidermal layers of stems and leaves. When bound to sugar molecules, it forms anthocyanin, which is related to the color of flowers and the reddening of leaves, and is a natural antioxidant. It can change color depending on the pH of the cell sap. If the cell sap is acidic, it leans towards red, and if it's alkaline, it leans towards blue.) changes rapidly. At a relatively viable temperature, the lower the temperature, the lower the pH value of anthocyanidin (more acidic), which is the reason for the red color. This is why Crassula colors are very vibrant in spring and late autumn. No further explanation is needed here.
Knowing these three basic factors that affect the color of Crassula, we need to figure out how to meet these requirements if we want to grow Crassula in good condition. Next, I'll share how I manually adjust these factors.
Method one, increase sunlight exposure, and resort to artificial lighting when conditions do not allow natural sunlight.
Method two, use artificial biological fertilizers. Carrots are common, and Crassula can absorb carotene. By changing the amount of carotene absorbed by Crassula, the color of the leaves can be changed (turning the original jelly colorless Crassula into jelly red and yellow). My fertilizer is simple: wash and dice carrots, cook them in a pot for a long time, then ferment them, and once fermented, fertilize the plants. Leaves that were originally green might turn into transparent yellow, and those naturally red might become semi-transparent yellow-red, showing different colors that wouldn't normally appear.
Method three, regularly adjust the pH value. Every month, I use vinegar water solution to water each pot of Crassula, adjusting the soil pH to 4.5 to increase acidity (you need to determine the pH value of your tap water source yourself and then adjust based on the pH difference. It is recommended to buy a test kit or test strips if you are not sure about your water source. Do not use vinegar randomly). There are many methods to adjust the pH value, such as using ferrous sulfate available in the flower market, which is economical and practical, or using white vinegar, etc. Be sure to repeatedly confirm its safety. Crassula actually has a strong adaptability, and even when I make mistakes during use, it hasn't been harmed.
Method four, there is a medicine called "Concentrated Sunlight" stick, and I'm not advertising for them. I only mention it here to share my experience. Spraying this medicine on the leaves can also increase the plant's utilization of sunlight and change the color. It can also control the leaf shape. I've found that it reduces the growth rate of the front of the leaf while keeping the back normal, causing the leaves to curl inward. When using this medicine, do not follow the recommended ratio on the label. The original instructions are 1:1500-2000ml, but if there's a bit of sunlight indoors, it can burn the leaves. For safety, start with a 1:8000ml ratio, observe for ten days without any damage, and then increase the concentration if needed. Remember this!
The above comprehensive introduction to the color enhancement methods for Crassula plants hopes to provide green plant enthusiasts with some related knowledge.