Is it better to buy succulents from the north or the south?
This article provides an introduction to whether it's better to buy succulents from the north or the south, as well as details on the differences between succulents from the north and south, and gardening tips. Corrections are welcome if there are any inaccuracies!
The quality of succulents of the same variety is completely different depending on the region in which they are cultivated. This is beyond doubt. Succulents grow at different rates and have different levels of resistance under different growth conditions. Although they may appear the same on the surface, one can gain a deeper understanding after truly cultivating them.
Taking succulent plants as an example, the development of succulents in China has been very rapid in recent years, entering a phase of widespread cultivation. Basically, everyone has a succulent plant. The reason succulents have spread so widely is due to the significant drop in their prices, which have now plummeted to the level of vegetable prices, with some varieties available for just a few cents.
The decline in the price of succulents indicates a significant increase in their繁殖数量. The market is flooded with succulents, leading to a decrease in prices. This is the case for any variety. The increase in numbers is entirely dependent on the massive cultivation by succulent farmers in southern China, who propagate them in large quantities based on the existing stock, resulting in a rapid decline in prices.
Is it better to buy succulents from the north or the south?
The southern region of China is the main producing area for succulent plants. 80% of the succulents in the market depend on the southern region, while the remaining 20% are distributed across various parts of the country. A significant part of this 20% comes from second-hand traders who purchase succulents in bulk from the south and then cultivate and propagate them in their greenhouses for a period of time before reselling them.
Overall, there are very few large-scale greenhouses for succulent cultivation in the northern region, and very few people propagate their own succulents. Therefore, the number of succulents produced in the north is very limited. The succulents sold online mostly come from the south, such as Yunnan, Fujian, and Jiangsu. The main difference between the north and south is the climate and temperature. Influenced by temperature, the quality of succulents cultivated also varies significantly.
Many people may not believe this, but those who doubt can try it. Buy the same variety and size from both the north and the south, and care for them in the same environment. The quality of succulents produced in the south is generally lower, especially in the summer when high temperatures arrive, the drawbacks of the succulents become apparent, and they easily rot.
Why is it said that the quality of succulents in the south is low? The reason is still related to temperature. Succulent plants are mass-produced and cultivated like an assembly line, with the entire process taking place in greenhouse conditions, maintained through watering and fertilizing, and they are in a growing phase all year round. In contrast, the situation is different in the north. After November each year, as autumn sets in, temperatures drop and remain relatively low until March of the following year. During this period, succulents are affected by low temperatures and basically do not grow.