How to Preserve the Main Head and Encourage Heading of Sempervivum
The article brought to you by the editor discusses how to preserve the main head and encourage heading of Sempervivum in the aspect of green plants. Corrections are welcome if there are any mistakes!
How to Preserve the Main Head and Encourage Heading of Sempervivum
As long as there is proper ventilation and no etiolation, there is no need to deliberately reduce the number of heads. Except for providing appropriate shading in summer, adequate sunlight is required in other seasons. During the summer dormancy period, due to shading, watering should be moderate, and it's unnecessary to water when the potting soil is not completely dry. Moreover, relatively dry potting soil is more beneficial for surviving the winter.
No need to deliberately reduce the number of heads when there is proper ventilation and no etiolation:
Most Sempervivum have the characteristic of brief dormancy during high summer temperatures, and during this period, the outer leaves may dry up and fall off.
Therefore, Sempervivum with many heads may easily accumulate dead leaves during the dormancy period, which need to be cleared promptly to aid ventilation, otherwise, it is prone to mold and scale insects.
Sempervivum loves sunlight and dislikes waterlogging; prolonged lack of sunlight can lead to etiolation. If individual branches are obviously etiolated or weak, pruning can be considered to maintain a good plant shape.
Propagation of Sempervivum is usually done through stem cuttings. If propagation is needed, some suitable branches can be cut from a clumping Sempervivum for propagation.
It should be noted that cutting and pruning will leave scars, so the selection of location is very important, and pruning branches should also focus on maintaining aesthetics.
Basic Techniques for Caring for Sempervivum
Use loose and breathable soil with a certain proportion of granules. The flower pots should be slightly larger, such as old-stump pots, green mountain pots, or Galia pots, to avoid frequent potting and top-heavy conditions.
In daily care, except for appropriate shading in summer, adequate sunlight should be maintained in other seasons. During the summer dormancy period, due to shading, watering should be moderate, and it's unnecessary to water when the potting soil is not completely dry.
In winter, try to maintain the cultivation environment temperature above 5°C, and relatively dry potting soil is more beneficial for surviving the winter.
In spring, autumn, and early winter, Sempervivum grows vigorously. In addition to providing adequate sunlight, a dilute water-soluble fertilizer can be applied, and watering should be done when the soil feels dry to the touch.
Sempervivum has an aroma and is not prone to pests and diseases, but it may experience stem rot and waterlogging in a hot and humid environment during summer.
Moreover, a damp and poorly ventilated environment may lead to scale insects. Regularly check the leaf gaps and the underside for scale insects during daily care, and use abamectin or dinotefuran for pest control if any are found, to prevent a major outbreak.
Every spring, around March to May, you can repot and replace the soil for Sempervivum. Proper root pruning during repotting can stimulate growth and maintain vigorous vitality.
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