How to Cultivate a Mage for More Vigor
This article brings you the related content of how to cultivate a mage to make it more vigorous and the key points of daily maintenance for succulent mages. Let's learn about it together.
The succulent mage belongs to the Crassulaceae family and is a large-sized succulent variety. Because it is easy to achieve a good state, the plant looks very dignified when in this state. Often, plant enthusiasts are charmed by mages in this condition, so in spring, many people buy mage succulent varieties. After taking care of them for a period, no matter how they try, the mages at home cannot compare to those of others, lacking the mage's dignity.
In fact, there are certain techniques to cultivate mages well. Some plant enthusiasts summarize while taking care of them, and with the continuous accumulation of experience over the years, they fully understand the key points of mage maintenance, naturally able to cultivate mages in good condition. Every bit of life is cumulative; one must accumulate and precipitate to cultivate succulents in good condition. One must have patience and be good at analysis and summarization.
Here is a plant enthusiast who has been taking care of mages for many years, accumulating some experience and sharing it to help newbies avoid taking wrong paths. Let's take a look at the key points below.
Methods and Precautions for Cultivating Mages
1. Understand Growth Habits
Compared to other succulent varieties in the Crassulaceae family, mages prefer a well-lit, warm, and dry environment, especially paying attention to good ventilation. If the mage's growing environment becomes hot, stuffy, and poorly ventilated, the mage will die right before your eyes.
Mages grow in spring and autumn, rest in summer, and whether they grow in winter depends on the indoor temperature. If the temperature is suitable and water is sufficient, mages can also grow rapidly in winter.
The optimal temperature for mages to grow in spring and autumn is between 20-25°C. When summer temperatures exceed 35°C, environmental ventilation is necessary. When winter temperatures drop below 5°C, mages will stop growing. At this time, pay attention to insulation to avoid the mage encountering cold air and showing signs of waterlogging or black rot.
2. Preparing for Summer, Soil Permeability is Key
Some plant enthusiasts change the soil for mages in spring and summer to ensure their safe passage through summer, while changing the soil in summer and autumn to help mages grow better.
Approaching summer, mages will enter a dormant state due to high temperatures. Changing the soil for mages in summer is generally done two months before summer to ensure a safe passage. The soil for this change should be loose and breathable, with the option of using 75% granular soil for those who can, ensuring that the gaps between the granules can fully ensure the aeration and water permeability between the mage's roots.
Also, as June approaches summer, we can change the soil for mages in March, using an appropriate amount of sand (5 parts), peat soil (3 parts), and perlite (2 parts), fully mixing them. This type of soil mixture can maintain good water permeability while ensuring there is enough nutrient supply for the mage's roots to absorb. In the two months after changing the soil, the mages will go through the peak growing season of spring, and the roots will spread and take hold in the sandy soil, helping the mages to safely survive the hot summer. Therefore, it can be said that soil is very critical and requires advance preparation.
3. Surviving Summer, Good Ventilation, and Shielding Strong Light
Mages prefer a warm, ventilated, dry, and well-lit environment. In summer, with strong light, if mages are directly exposed to strong sunlight, their leaves can easily get sunburned. If the central part of the mage's leaves, close to the flower heart, becomes dry, it's necessary to consider shading.
4. Autumn, Second Soil Change for Mages
Approaching early autumn, with clear and refreshing weather, mages will end their dormant period. After enduring the hot summer, the once green main stems have turned brown and gradually become lignified, which is what some plant enthusiasts often call the wooden stem mage.
The lignified mage has thick and sturdy fibers. At this time, the roots also become thick and sturdy, tightly gripping the soil to maintain the nutrients needed for the plant's growth.
It's now time for the second soil change of the year for mages. The soil can be mixed with 5 parts peat soil, 2 parts coconut sugar, 2 parts perlite, and 1 part sand. Additionally, you can add a few slow-release fertilizers while mixing the soil because the mages are about to enter the peak growing season and will consume some nutrients, so sufficient nutrients need to be supplemented.
5. Proper Watering for Mages
When watering mages, two points need attention: one is to water only when the soil is completely dry, and two is to not water during the dormant period.
Watering when the soil is completely dry is suitable for granular soil, which is mostly used by mages during the summer dormant period. Generally, the watering habit does not apply to mages during the growing season, as they usually use more peat soil. Although adding coconut sugar, perlite, and sand can effectively prevent soil compaction, the mage's fine roots can gradually grasp the soil and form a clump.
So, pay attention when the mage's leaves start to wilt and are not as upright. If the leaves feel soft to the touch, it indicates that the mages are short of water.
Mages are usually fully green during the growing season, except for some variegated mages that may have other colors. When the edges of the mage's leaves turn purple (except for green mages, green velvet mages, mirror mages, and emerald ice mages), it also indicates that the amount of water the mage's roots can absorb has started to fall below the water lost due to sunlight exposure. At this point, you should water every few days.
Summer attention: Absolutely do not water in summer. During the dormant period, mages absorb very little water, relying entirely on stored water and nutrients produced by photosynthesis for low-consumption survival. If watered at this time, the mage's roots will be soaked in water, increasing water absorption and leading to the main stem rotting, withering, and the leaves drooping layer by layer, at which point there is no way to save them.
The green plant care tips shared in this article on how to cultivate mages to make them more vigorous and the key points of daily maintenance for succulent mages hope to bring you some help in life!