Is "Rainbow Candy" succulent easy to care for?
This article focuses on whether "Rainbow Candy" succulent is easy to care for and discusses the differences between "Rainbow Candy" succulent and "Zi Le," in the field of green plants and flowers. Let's explore these topics together.
Hello everyone, I am Tang Z长老 (Tang the Elder), and recently some succulent enthusiasts have asked: Are "Rainbow" and "Rainbow Candy" the same variety? If not, which one is more worth buying?
Rainbow with a full variegation
Although "Rainbow" and "Rainbow Candy" differ by only one character in their names, they are actually quite different. First, "Rainbow" is a succulent variety that arises from the variegated version of "Zi Zhenzhu" (Purple Pearl), while "Rainbow Candy" is a hybrid descendant of Xu He. It also has several aliases, such as Gypsy, Gypsy Lady, Gypsy Person, Gypsy Beauty, and Gypsy Queen, among others. Additionally, like Purple Pearl, Rainbow has relatively thin leaves, whereas Rainbow Candy, due to its Xu He heritage, has very thick leaves.
Very thick leaves of Rainbow Candy
The most significant difference between Rainbow and Rainbow Candy is the leaf color: As a variegated succulent, Rainbow has dark green leaves in the center and light yellow or pink on the sides. Under sufficient light and a large temperature difference, its leaves can display multiple colors, such as green, white, yellow, pink, and purple-red, which is why it is called "Rainbow." Rainbow Candy is just an ordinary succulent variety, so its leaf color is not rich. Even when it is in very good condition, its leaves can only turn pink-purple or purple-red. Therefore, except for新手 friends who may be confused, most succulent enthusiasts know that Rainbow and Rainbow Candy are not the same succulent.
Double-headed Rainbow of a succulent enthusiast
Which one is more worth buying: Rainbow or Rainbow Candy?
If we only consider appearance, I believe most succulent enthusiasts would choose Rainbow over Rainbow Candy, as its beauty is at the top of the pyramid among all variegated leaf succulents. However, enthusiasts who have kept both varieties may make different choices. The reason is simple: Rainbow is beautiful but difficult to care for, while Rainbow Candy is a very tough and easy-to-care-for succulent variety, even新手 friends will not have much pressure when caring for it.
Small old stem of Rainbow Candy
Differences in care between Rainbow and Rainbow Candy:
In autumn, winter, and spring, there is not much difference in the care of Rainbow and Rainbow Candy. We place them in the location with the best light to care for them, and water them as with other succulents, maintaining the frequency of "dry and water thoroughly." However, when the temperature drops to 5℃ or below in winter, we should try to keep the potting soil dry, and at 0℃, we should stop watering and bring it indoors. Otherwise, whether it is Rainbow or Rainbow Candy, there is a possibility of frostbite or frost death.
Caring for Rainbow in autumn, winter, and spring is not difficult
The biggest difference in care between Rainbow and Rainbow Candy is in summer. One reason is that Rainbow is not heat-resistant and does not tolerate direct sunlight. After entering summer, it is necessary to adjust the care environment promptly and move it to a shady and well-ventilated area. If there really is no suitable summer environment and the temperature is relatively high in summer, we can only keep Rainbow in an air-conditioned room to survive the summer, otherwise, once the temperature exceeds 35℃, it will show symptoms such as dry and crispy leaf edges and rotting leaves.
Rainbow Candy is more sun-tolerant
Rainbow Candy has no such concerns. As long as it is not extremely hot weather, we can keep it outdoors for sunbathing. And when the temperature is particularly high in July and August every year, we only need to provide some shade at noon and in the afternoon, and Rainbow Candy can easily survive the summer.
Rainbow is afraid of rain in the summer
Secondly, Rainbow is very afraid of moisture in the summer. When the temperature is too high, we must control its water intake and avoid letting it get rained on, as it is prone to root rot and black rot. As for Rainbow Candy, we usually use a high-grain soil mixture for controlled care, and if its root system is developed and the summer care environment is well-ventilated, we can even avoid controlling water or shading from the rain (avoiding prolonged rain). In summary, Rainbow and Rainbow Candy are not in the same league in terms of appearance, nor are they in the same level of care difficulty.
The above [] introduces whether Rainbow Candy succulent is easy to care for and the differences between Rainbow Candy succulent and Zi Le. I hope this information can be helpful to you. Don't forget to check out more flower care experience and knowledge!