Senecio articulatus
Today, I will explain in detail the experience of caring for the senecio articulatus at home for netizens. The cultivation methods of senecio articulatus (senecio articulatus), let's get to know together.
From the beginning of spring to early summer is the season for senecio articulatus to bloom and grow metamorphic stems. Generally, it begins to bloom around New Year's Day, February is in full bloom, and the blooming is finished by the end of March and early April. Due to the long blooming period and a large number of flowers, and the dry indoor air, it is necessary to water with water close to room temperature once a week to keep the soil slightly moist, and it should not be too wet. Spray water on the metamorphic stems once a day or every other day at noon (also spray when flowering), until there are small water droplets on the stems and leaves without dripping (the same below).
Every 10 days, you can also add two or three drops of flower nutrient solution or a small amount of potassium dihydrogen phosphate in the spraying water. Insist on spraying water, and the stems and leaves will not wither and shrink after flowering, quickly turning to nutrient growth. For those who do not spray water, the stems and leaves will be thin and dry and hang down after flowering. In this case, it is not suitable to apply fertilizer or water too much. You can spray water on the stems and leaves once a day or every other day, and add 2 to 3 drops of flower nutrient solution or 3 to 4 granules of urea every 10 days, and it can recover its growth in about 2 months. Since senecio articulatus has many flowers and a long blooming period, a small amount of fertilizer can also be applied during flowering, preferably phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Avoid applying nitrogen fertilizer alone, so that it will not shed buds due to lack of nutrition in the later stage, and keep the flowers beautiful in the early and late stages.
After the flowers fade, when the minimum temperature is stable at about 8°C, you can move it outdoors and place it on a balcony or courtyard with good ventilation and sufficient sunlight. It should not be kept indoors for a long time. If the stems and branches are too long or dense after moving outdoors, you can prune them at this time. Repotting and changing soil should also be done at this time. When new leaves begin to grow on the stems and branches, water and fertilizer management should be kept up. Water once every 3 to 5 days, keeping the potting soil slightly moist and not waterlogged. Spray water on the stems and leaves once a day or every other day, and fertilize once every 10 days. The first two fertilizations should be mainly nitrogen fertilizers, and then switch to compound fertilizers or nutrient solutions with a focus on phosphorus and potassium, insisting on applying thin and frequent fertilizers until the end of June to mid-July when new leaves stop growing.
Senecio articulatus can be propagated by cutting or grafting. In the growing season, April to May is the most suitable time. Cuttings of 1 to 4 internodes or larger branched branches can be used. When cutting, do not let the wound come into contact with water, and let it dry in a place without direct sunlight for two to three days to heal the wound and prevent rotting. After planting, place it in a shaded and cool place, water less, and it will root in about 20 days. Although senecio articulatus roots easily, the roots are thin and weak, not tolerant to waterlogging, and the growth is poor, so it is often grafted onto other strong-rooted cacti to speed up growth. Common rootstocks include cacti, leaf cacti, cactus balls, and Rhipsalis. Cuttings or grafted seedlings can bloom in about two years. Under short-daylight conditions (8 to 12 hours of sunlight per day), they can bloom in 2 to 3 months. If shading is done at the beginning of July, it can bloom by the end of September. During the growing season, apply a thin organic liquid fertilizer once every 2 to 3 weeks, or a small amount of compound fertilizer can also be applied. After the bud formation, the potting soil should not be too dry or too wet to prevent the buds from falling off.
Cutting medium: refers to the nutrient soil or river sand, peat soil, and other materials used for cutting. It is difficult for home cuttings to get ideal cutting medium, so it is recommended to use the cutting medium provided by this site, which has been prepared and disinfected; medium-coarse river sand can also be used, but it must be washed several times with clean water before use. Do not use sea sand and river sand from saline-alkali areas, as they are not suitable for the growth of flowering plants. In the early spring or late autumn (when the highest daytime temperature does not exceed 28°C and the lowest night temperature is not lower than 15°C) during the peak growing season, cut the leaves or stems (with 3 to 4 leaf nodes) and let the wound dry before inserting it into the medium. Slightly spray the cutting and the medium, and as long as the medium is not too dry or waterlogged, roots and new buds can grow quickly. In late spring to early autumn when the temperature is higher, the cuttings are prone to rot, so it's best not to cut them.
The sharing of the senecio articulatus (senecio articulatus) maintenance methods mentioned above, I hope it brings a little help to your life!