How to grow Portulacaceae succulents well
Today, the editor will introduce how to grow Portulacaceae succulents well and share some related experience about the cultivation of Portulacaceae succulents, let's get started.
How to care for Portulacaceae succulents?
How should we care for Portulacaceae succulents?
Speaking of Portulacaceae, plants like Lithops, which we often see, are representative succulents of this family. Although Lithops look similar on the outside, they are actually differentiated by variety, with each variety having unique patterns, which can be distinguished by their patterns.
There are quite a few succulents included in Portulacaceae, such as Haworthia, Kalanchoe, and Sedum, all of which are Portulacaceae succulents. These succulents have a common feature: they are very small in size, with leaves containing more than 90% water, and they have super drought resistance, blooming on schedule in autumn with petals similar to chrysanthemums.
To grow this type of succulent, we only need to meet two factors: one is the soil mix for planting the succulent itself, and the other is to ensure adequate sunlight.
Only by meeting these two points can Portulacaceae succulents grow healthily, especially sunlight, as insufficient light makes it difficult to grow them well.
Taking Lithops as an example, this type of succulent has drought resistance comparable to cacti. In the seedling stage, Lithops should be planted in peat soil.
During the seedling stage, the difficulty of caring for Lithops is also the highest, with a high tendency to rot. After two years, Lithops will grow larger, and when the diameter exceeds one centimeter, it is necessary to switch to a full-granular soil, which can effectively prevent rotting.
How to grow Portulacaceae succulents well
When purchasing Lithops for the first time, it is recommended to buy mature plants with a diameter of more than one centimeter, as they are easier to survive and less likely to die. Lithops is very sensitive to water, and if watering is not properly controlled, the plant will rot and die.
The same is true for other Portulacaceae succulents. Planting them in granular soil works best. How to mix the soil for planting Portulacaceae succulents?
Red jade, diatomaceous earth, volcanic rock, and one type of soft granular soil mixed with two types of hard granular soil are very practical for planting Portulacaceae succulents. The hard granular soil greatly enhances water permeability, preventing积水 even with frequent watering, which is safe for the growth of Portulacaceae succulents.
Once the soil is prepared, the next step is sunlight. By observation, we can see that Portulacaceae succulents have no leaves, they have a small area for water evaporation, and their growth rate is very slow. Because they have no leaves, their chlorophyll content is very low, and they can only complete photosynthesis in conditions with little water and abundant sunlight.