How to grow succulents to make them grow fast and become fat
If you want to know how to grow succulents to make them grow fast and fat, as well as 6 techniques to make them bloom, let's take a look together!
A few days ago, we discussed some tips for making succulents look good, but some friends left comments saying they don't like overly controlled cultivation and want to see them bloom. Full of joy and harvest, it's also a kind of beauty! Spring is the growing season for succulents and the easiest time for them to bloom. By doing a good job of caring for succulents in spring, a few simple techniques can make the plants grow fast and dense.
1. Repotting. If you want succulents to bloom, you first need to make sure the plants are growing well, and then you need to take care of their roots first. "Taking care of the roots first" is the most common saying. Because most of the roots of succulents are capillary roots, they can die during controlled cultivation, dormancy, or excessive watering. The new roots cannot grow well due to the obstruction of the dead roots, which can lead to insufficient nutrition for the succulents and even cause the plants to become stiff.
Therefore, if succulents haven't been repotted for a long time, it's necessary to prune the roots and repot them in spring, and choose a slightly larger pot according to the size of the plants. Pruning can stimulate the rapid growth of the roots, and a slightly larger pot gives the roots enough space to grow. Once the roots are healthy, it won't be difficult to make them bloom!
2. Watering. Watering succulents has always been a difficult problem. Too much water can cause etiolation or even black rot, while too little water can affect their growth. Therefore, it's very important to master the rhythm of watering. If you want succulents to bloom, you should water them a bit more than in controlled cultivation. Only when they are well-fed and hydrated can they quickly produce lateral buds and achieve the blooming effect! Specific watering methods have been introduced in previous articles by Lao Xian Rou, so I won't elaborate here!
How to grow succulents to make them grow fast and become fat
3. Fertilizing. Fertilizing is also crucial if you want succulents to bloom. Various trace elements needed for growth need to be supplemented through fertilizing. Spring is also the best time for fertilizing succulents, and you can combine repotting and watering to supplement base fertilizer and slow-release fertilizer. Specific fertilizing methods have also been introduced in previous articles by Lao Xian Rou, so I won't repeat them here!
4. Cutting the top. After ensuring the growth state of succulents, if they still don't produce lateral buds, you need to consider whether it's due to the variety or use some techniques! Cutting the top is one of them. By removing the apical dominance of succulents, you can stimulate the rapid growth of lateral buds and achieve the blooming effect.
Compared to cutting, the scar will be larger, but the top can be used to propagate a new succulent. The scar from pinching will be much smaller and more natural. How to choose depends on your own situation!
5. Removing leaves. Compared to the above techniques, this one is much gentler. After removing the bottom leaves, the stem part is still tender, and there's a chance to produce bud points, thus achieving the blooming effect. Especially for etiolated succulents, after removing the leaves, the shape becomes more beautiful, and it's easier to produce lateral buds. Even if no lateral buds are produced, they will gradually form an old-stem look.