How to plant succulents on trees
This article provides an introduction to the knowledge of planting succulents on trees and the detailed methods involved in this aspect of horticulture. Below, the editor will provide a detailed explanation for you.
Succulent plants have round leaves and compact growth habits, making them a favorite of many gardening enthusiasts. Moreover, they are suitable for planting in small pots, taking up little space, and everyone can grow a few pots at home. For many新手 gardeners, the succulent plants they just bought are like treasures. They worry about them being exposed to direct sunlight if placed outdoors, or being too shady if kept indoors. They are hesitant to water them for fear of root rot, and if they don't water them, they fear the succulents might dry up...
In fact, succulents often need to be grown in a more relaxed manner. The more you worry about minor details, the worse they may grow. In the end, not only is time and effort wasted, but you end up with a pile of empty pots. Many gardening "gurus" who grow succulents do so in a very casual manner, and as a result, their plants thrive.
Today, I will introduce to all gardening enthusiasts a small courtyard in Huzhou, Zhejiang, where succulents are grown on trees in the courtyard. They not only have a unique shape but also grow very well. Let's take a look together~
Planting succulents on large trees
This is a detached courtyard in Huzhou, Zhejiang. The owner of the courtyard is particularly fond of succulent plants and has already planted many succulent pots at home. However, the owner couldn't resist buying more. So he came up with the idea of planting succulents on trees in the courtyard. Unexpectedly, these succulents not only survived but also thrived, creating a very unique and attractive shape when combined with the tree trunks.
How to plant succulents on trees
The tree in the courtyard is a giant sequoia, whose bark easily peels off, leaving many air pockets between the bark. You can fill these gaps with some succulent soil and plant the succulents in it. The roots of the succulents will take root in the gaps.
The type of succulent planted by the owner is called "Long Yue," which should be familiar to those who know a bit about succulents. It is a very common variety with a high rate of leaf propagation, and enthusiasts can propagate it themselves. The succulents planted on the tree trunks are mainly Long Yue, with other varieties like Tao Dan and Dongmeiren as companions. They are all vigorous, have strong roots, and are easy to propagate and care for.
How to plant succulents on tree trunks
Here we take姬胧月 (Ji Long Yue) as an example to introduce the method used by the owner to plant succulents on tree trunks:
Find a strong Long Yue mother plant, cut some branches from it, and place them in a shaded and well-ventilated area for 1-2 days to let the wounds dry.
There is a lot of air between the bark of the sequoia, where you can fill the gaps with some succulent soil and insert the Long Yue branches into the gaps. Then use moss to hold the soil in place. Thoroughly water the gaps, and in the moist soil, the Long Yue branches will quickly take root and survive.
The bark itself has moisture retention properties, so the Long Yue planted on the trees only needs to be watered infrequently. In some areas in the south with particularly high humidity, you may not even need to fill the gaps with soil. Just insert the Long Yue branches into the gaps and secure them with moss, and they can grow roots to absorb moisture from the air.
Some gardeners may worry that planting succulents this way might harm the giant sequoia. However, such concerns are unfounded. The roots of the succulents mainly grow in the gaps of the bark and do not absorb water and nutrients from the trunk. The bark only provides a container for them but does not provide nutrients.
Let's also take a look at the Dali Cangshan Botanical Garden, where they also plant succulents in the same way.