Care Tips for the Roots of Succulent Plants like Jade Fan and Ten Thousand Phenomena
A little plant knowledge, introducing the related knowledge of the succulent plant Jade Fan. Tips for caring for the roots of succulent plants such as Jade Fan and Ten Thousand Phenomena, the editor will introduce them one by one.
The roots of Ten Thousand Phenomena, Jade Fan, and other succulent plants are different from any other type of succulent plant. They are fleshy and do not have a distinct main root, and any root can turn into a thick water-storing root in a specific environment. Their roots are affected by the environment, season, soil, and plant status, and can have a long life (years) or a short life (one season). The leaf patterns, plant shape, and windows of Jade Fan and Ten Thousand Phenomena are strictly controlled by the root status, mainly because there is a balance between root and shoot tip hormones. Therefore, one of the keys to caring for Jade Fan and Ten Thousand Phenomena is to care for the roots. The following will introduce from several perspectives:
1. Balance between air permeability and water retention
For a long time, due to the serious influence of Japanese-style cultivation in China, it has been believed that only particle-free soil is the best planting material. In fact, this view is one-sided and typical of a copycat approach. In different cultivation environments and climates, we cannot fully use one cultivation system or concept, and we must combine it with our specific situation to achieve the best results.
The roots of Jade Fan and Ten Thousand Phenomena are similar to those of orchids, but differ in structure and function: there are many fine roots derived from the main roots, and root hairs can be formed directly on the surface of the fine roots to have water absorption functions. Generally speaking, air permeability is to promote gas exchange near the root hairs, which is conducive to root hair respiration and mainly affects hydrogen ion exchange processes. Therefore, we have always advocated for permeable substrates, so granular materials are considered to be the best permeable materials. However, in the pursuit of air permeability, we often overlook the role of substrate water retention. Without water as a reaction medium, air permeability is meaningless.
Therefore, we must rationally view the permeability of the substrate and not blindly pursue granular materials. We must judge according to the environment:
1) In a ventilated, low-humidity environment, such as a balcony or window sill. It is recommended to use soil containing fibrous peat and water-retaining medium, and do not remove the dust, because these small dust particles are the best attachment for root hairs. Removing them can easily cause root hairs to dry out, and the plant will enter a cycle of repeated root development, which will not grow well.
Recommended formula - imported fibrous peat (Fafad, Sunshine): granular vermiculite: perlite: rice husk carbon (smoked carbon): pumice (or stone) = 4:2:1:1:1. You can also choose to add some pumice to the seedling soil of Tsuijin.
2) In a humid, stuffy environment, such as a greenhouse. It is recommended to use a dust-free granular medium with good air permeability, which helps to remove accumulated water and allows root hairs to fully contact with gas. Due to the high humidity of the environment, we don't have to worry about the drying of root hairs, but we should pay more attention to the circulation and exchange of gas.
Recommended formula - Akadama: granular peat: perlite: rice husk carbon: pumice = 4:2:1:1:2. Of course, you can also choose the already prepared **gardening, Asahi Tsusho special soil.
2. Root care is a process
The formation of thick roots in Ten Thousand Phenomena and Jade Fan requires a process, and we cannot expect a seedling to grow into a thick root from the beginning. Do not transplant or prune roots frequently, try to make the planting one-time, and maintain it for more than one year (some mature plants can be repotted once every 2-3 years). Too frequent transplantation will affect the systematic development of roots and shorten the life of the roots. Here is a wrong concept, that Ten Thousand Phenomena relies on new roots to absorb nutrients, so the idea of "move a little, grow a little" of seedling cultivation is wrongly used. Many important characteristics of Ten Thousand Phenomena and Jade Fan need the support of a network-like system of roots to be displayed. If you always transplant and prune roots to develop new roots, the patterns, windows, and other characteristics will not be well displayed.
Here are several issues involved:
1) The root system is a self-organizing micro-ecological balance system: any plant is a living organism, and we must believe in the self-balancing effect of life. As long as we properly prepare the soil and improve the environment, the growth problems are their own. Cultivators should not intervene excessively. Because a micro-ecological environment will gradually form around the roots, and the rhizosphere flora can effectively ensure the development of root hairs and prolong the life of the roots. Therefore, do not arbitrarily change the cultivation environment, do not arbitrarily use fungicides (unless necessary), and do not arbitrarily use chemical fertilizers. Many friends are too anxious and lack experience during cultivation, which is an important reason for the destruction of the rhizosphere micro-environment.
2) Prolong the life of the roots: we often talk about why the roots of plants in Japan are so good and white without aging? The root lies in the efficient combination of planting environment and soil in Japan. As long as the roots are kept in a gentle micro-ecological environment without disease-causing bacteria, without extreme environment, and with stable stem and leaf environment, the roots will be healthy and long-lived. The key to solving this problem is to grasp the relationship between substrate humidity and air permeability, neither too wet nor too dry. In practice, you can choose a moderately closed environment, combine ventilation and moisture preservation, water moderately, and control the temperature to avoid being too high. Always observe whether there is any disease, and do not arbitrarily use chemical fertilizers or unfermented fertilizers. In a good root care environment, old roots can even be replaced in situ by new roots (new roots grow inside old roots), which is called "overlapping root development" and is a manifestation of successful cultivation.
3) Balance between stems/leaves and roots: The response of stems (mainly referring to growth points) and leaves to the cultivation environment also directly affects the internal source hormone balance of plants, which affects the roots. In fact, the relationship between roots and stems/leaves is very close, and they interact with each other for the plant to grow smoothly. Leaves are used for photosynthesis, and the stronger the photosynthesis, the higher the cytokinin activity and the downward transport of auxin, which is conducive to root development; strong light does not mean strong photosynthesis, and excessive light may even block photosynthesis. Therefore, moderate and gentle light is the key to planting Ten Thousand Phenomena and also the key to the development of Ten Thousand Phenomena roots. Plants with growth points and leaves can develop roots and gradually form a complete root system as long as the environment is suitable and time is sufficient; cuttings without growth points should be kept with leaves, otherwise the roots will gradually atrophy; cuttings without growth points and leaves should not be cut off too early after the formation of new buds. Retaining 1-2 buds can meet the life of the roots and produce more seedlings.
3. Pots and soil surface coverings
Many friends habitually believe that the larger the pot, the better the root development. Indeed, this is the case. However, in our specific cultivation process, it is often the opposite. The larger the pot, the easier it is for the roots to rot, and the key is still the imbalance between water retention and air permeability. At this time, in order to better meet our daily cultivation needs, we should choose a pot that matches the plant. The safest approach is to choose a pot that is 2-3 cm larger than the plant. For Ten Thousand Phenomena and Jade Fan, a deep pot is essential. If cultivated in a stuffy environment, it is best to choose a pot with holes in the pot wall or a pot made of breathable material (such as a sand pot).
In most cases, Japanese standard plastic pots can fully meet the growth requirements of the plant roots and basically meet the cultivation environment of most. Generally speaking, for a stuffy environment, large particles of water permeable stones should be placed at the bottom of the pot, and large particles of Akadama with good air permeability should be covered on the soil surface; for open environments such as ventilated balconies and window sills, only a layer of tissue paper should be placed at the bottom of the pot, and too much water permeable material should not be placed, otherwise the bottom of the pot will always be very dry (many root hairs are actually at the bottom of the pot), and the soil surface should choose a granular material with poor air permeability, such as small stones. The core of this treatment is still to ensure the balance of moisture preservation and air permeability and prolong the life of root hairs.
4. The relationship between roots and patterns
The patterns of Ten Thousand Phenomena and Jade Fan can be divided into two categories - white line patterns and green-purple patterns.
1) White line patterns: a condensed vascular bundle, derived from the specialization of the vascular bundle in the central part of the leaf (similar to leaf veins). The increase in white line patterns is generally to block excessive light from entering the window (in the native habitat of Ten Thousand Phenomena and Jade Fan, only the window is exposed on the soil surface, and light enters the window, with photosynthetic sites on the inner epidermis of the leaves). Therefore, strong light environment is conducive to the formation of white line patterns. So what is the relationship between white line patterns and roots? White line patterns are specialized structures formed by the condensation and thickening of vascular bundles, and their regulatory mechanism is the up-regulation and local accumulation of auxin, forming a concentration difference in different areas, which induces the formation and specialization of vascular bundles. The basic conditions for the formation of auxin accumulation points are: plants can secrete a large amount of endogenous auxin, the reduction of auxin consumption or the reduction of auxin transport. Let's analyze a little bit: the basic requirement for plants to secrete a large amount of auxin is the normal growth of shoot tips and cell metabolism, which requires a lot of nutrients and water, and healthy roots are essential. At the same time, cytokinins secreted by the roots can synergize with the synthesis of auxin; when the roots are healthy, the consumption of auxin and the indirect promotion of auxin synthesis can reach a positive balance, and many auxins will accumulate in the vacuoles of stem and leaf cells, making the plants look strong. Strong light inhibits the transport of auxin, and many auxins can only accumulate in situ in the vacuoles of cells, causing high concentration of auxin condensation in many cells of the leaf primordium and unable to transport, thus meeting the conditions for the formation of white line patterns. High concentration islands of auxin connect and form specialized vascular bundles, namely white line patterns. Therefore, the formation of white line patterns must be based on healthy roots and sufficient light.
Another type of white cloud window is actually similar to white line patterns, but the vascular bundles of white cloud windows are diffused, with more and more scattered cells forming high concentration of auxin, and the specialized condensation of vascular bundles is irregular, leading to white cloud windows (such as white porcelain Ten Thousand Phenomena, Araki Jade Fan). The formation of white cloud windows is mainly determined by genotype, and cold and strong ultraviolet rays may also induce diffused accumulation of auxin in cells to form white cloud windows, which is not frostbite as many people think.
2) Green-purple patterns: Green patterns and purple patterns are essentially the same, both are abnormal distribution of leaf epidermal cells. Leaf epidermal cells are distributed on the window to form green patterns. If the plant has a bright muscle trait, then the green pattern can turn into a purple pattern. Green-purple patterns can be divided into several categories, mainly including purple patterns extending from the edge of the leaf epidermal cells (purple Ten Thousand Phenomena, Da Zhi), distribution of leaf epidermal cells accompanying the specialization of vascular bundles (Inami purple patterns, Z1 purple Ten Thousand Phenomena, Chrysanthemum stone, Xiele), regular distribution of leaf epidermal cells on the window (such as Green Island, Super Green, Wudou), and other forms. The development of green-purple patterns is mainly regulated by cytokinin, and their distribution characteristics mainly depend on genotype. Roots are the production factory of cytokinin, so the development of green-purple patterns is directly affected by roots. The more developed the roots, especially the more capillary roots, the denser and more distinct the green patterns. The balance between plant growth points and roots affects the normal development of green-purple patterns. Excessive light intensity will inhibit the transport of auxin, inhibit root development, and lead to a decrease in cytokinin synthesis over a long time, thus affecting the formation of green-purple patterns. Therefore, moderate and gentle light is conducive to the development of green-purple patterns, which is different from white line patterns (white line patterns prefer strong light). Therefore, grasping the intensity of light helps to regulate the distribution ratio of white line patterns and green-purple patterns.
5. How to use drugs to promote root development
Auxin-like hormones are the direct hormones that promote root development. Spraying can promote the development of plant roots. However, long-term spraying will cause plants to grow roots but not leaves, or even stop growing. Therefore, auxin (such as naphthalene acetic acid) is not recommended for long-term spraying. Occasional spraying can help root development and root health, thus promoting plant growth.
Cytokinin-like hormones are generally believed to inhibit plant root development, but this is not the case. When plants are weak, spraying cytokinin can help rebuild the internal balance of plants, activate growth points, increase the level of endogenous auxin, and thus promote root development. However, this use requires high timing, and experienced cultivators can achieve twice the result with half the effort.
Never use drugs such as Chlormequat, Paclobutrazol, B9, etc. arbitrarily. These are substances that inhibit auxin synthesis. Sometimes, these drugs are sprayed only for plant dwarfing, which can cause serious adverse consequences and even prevent plants from developing roots. It is best to improve the external environment to control the plant shape, rather than using hormones.
Compounds such as Ethephon and Shock Wave, which are nitrophenolic compounds, can promote cell metabolism, activate growth points, and are also good root-promoting substances. Their effects are different from plant hormones, and there are no obvious adverse reactions when used, and the effects are relatively controllable.
It must be pointed out that plants themselves are self-organizing systems and living organisms. They can regulate and adapt to the environment without excessive external intervention. Therefore, the use of drugs is not recommended, and it is best to start from improving the environment to let plants grow by themselves.
6. How to develop roots for seedlings
Mainly referring to lateral buds, leaf cuttings, root cuttings, and tissue culture seedlings: lateral buds are the easiest to develop roots, as they accumulate the most mother plant auxin and have rich nutrient storage; leaf cuttings and root cuttings generally have roots when peeled off, and it is not difficult to develop roots. If you are not very reassured, you can choose commercial rooting powder, dip the wound and then pot it, which generally can achieve a 100% survival rate.
The most difficult to develop roots are tissue culture seedlings in