How to care for succulents: Succulent plant care experience and insights
An introduction to succulents: sharing some tips on caring for succulents, how to care for succulents, and experiences and insights in raising succulents. Detailed introduction for you below.
How to care for succulents: Succulent plant care experience and insights
Succulents are currently an extremely cute type of potted greenery suitable for outdoor landscaping, and they are very easy to maintain. They can look great without much management. So how do you care for succulents? Stay tuned.
How to raise succulents? What are the good methods for raising them? What precautions should be taken when raising succulents? Please bring your doubts and read on with me!
Succulent plant care methods (basic knowledge): The best propagation time should be in spring and autumn.
Best growing soil: It should be a sandy soil that is loose, breathable, well-draining, has a certain amount of soil colloids, and can provide the nutrients needed for plant growth.
Humidity requirements for growth: The main growing period is in the relatively cool autumn and spring, requiring a certain level of relative humidity.
Best growth temperature: A temperature of 15-28°C is most suitable, with a tolerance range of 5-35°C for the main plant.
Best sunlight exposure: Plants grown in semi-shade have thick and round leaves with high clarity. Therefore, a sunshade net can be added from May to September, and the net should be removed from October to the following April for full sunlight exposure.
Common problems in raising succulents: Fertilization: Winter and intermediate type plants should be fertilized with a thin liquid fertilizer or compound fertilizer every 20 days or so. Fertilizing should be done on a sunny morning, and care should be taken not to splash fertilizer on the plant. Summer type plants do not need to be fertilized.
Irrigation key points: Under normal circumstances, irrigation must be thorough, so it is necessary to turn the soil frequently to ensure even absorption of water. For already growing winter and intermediate type plants, the potting soil should be kept moist but not waterlogged. Irrigation should ensure that the soil is dry before watering, neither waterlogged nor too dry. Summer type plants can be watered moderately but not excessively. If it rains or the temperature suddenly drops, stop watering.
Pruning key points: Succulent plant pruning includes topping, thinning, hard pruning, removing spent flowers, removing buds, and cutting roots, which are beneficial for better growth.
Potting soil replacement: Depending on the type and size of the plant, the soil should be changed every 1-2 or 3 years (some species can even be planted once a year, which is known as the "move and grow" method). For most species, potting is usually done in mid-March, and combined with potting, fiber cutting propagation is carried out.
Preventing rot: Overwatering, excessive humidity, and failure to pest control can cause succulents to rot! Rotting succulents show signs of discoloration and loosening. If rotting is detected, it is necessary to cut it out promptly! The knife used should be disinfected to prevent infection of other plants! Propagation key points: After the leaves have roots, wait for the leaves to wither and the buds to grow before transplanting. Wait until the seedlings are 2-3 cm tall before discussing. When leaf-cutting, use a small pot, do not spray, and water when the soil is dry without sprinkling on them. Fiber cutting propagation: Many succulents are sprawling or have thickened tubers and can be propagated by fiber cutting. After removing the plant from the pot, try to remove the potting soil, and the actual method of fiber cutting depends on the plant's growth type. For example, Asclepiadaceae, Crassulaceae, and some cacti with double heads can be cut during potting, and healthy seedlings that have already rooted can be separated and transplanted independently. Side shoot propagation: Many cacti and succulents grow side shoots or bulbils at the base of the mature plant, which can usually be easily removed or cut, and after drying in the sun for a few days, they can be transplanted separately. This is also beneficial for the mother plant, as these side shoots or bulbils consume a lot of nutrients from the mother plant. Some plants also grow suckers on the leaf edges and flower stems, which can also be removed and cultivated.
Pest prevention: 1. Thrips can be controlled by increasing air humidity, reducing, and preventing the spread. They can be killed with a 40% trichlorfon 1000-1500 times solution or abamectin. 2. Aphids can be removed with a brush when the number is small. In addition, they can also be sprayed with a 800-1000 times solution of rapid kill. Mixing a certain amount of furadan in the growing soil has a preventive effect, but the efficacy lasts only 3 months. 3. Whiteflies can be improved by improving environmental ventilation. In the early stages, they can be sprayed with a 40% dimethoate emulsion 1000-2000 times solution or a mixture of malathion 500 times solution and dimethoate 1000 times solution. Two days after spraying, use a strong stream of water to wash off the dead insects and powdery mildew together.
Raising succulents in water and soil: Succulents in water culture: Crassulaceae plants are very adaptable to hydroponics, and Liliaceae, Araceae, and Commelinaceae are also suitable.
Succulents in soil culture: In fact, most plants prefer soil that is loose, well-draining, breathable, and nutritious, and succulents are no exception, except that they pay more attention to being loose and well-draining (because they easily rot when waterlogging).
Experience and insights in raising succulents: Most succulents are composed of water. Plants that can store water can survive without much watering. Conversely, excessive watering can cause them to rot and gradually wither. Therefore, it is necessary to observe the plant's condition during each watering.
The above experiences and insights in raising succulents hope to bring you some help in life!