Friends Talk About the Cultivation Precautions of Succulent Plants
The editor brings you content about succulent plants, with friends discussing the cultivation precautions of succulent plants. The following is an introduction for you in detail.
The classification of succulent plant families will not be discussed here. Let's focus on the cultivation precautions of the Crassula family. First, let's talk about some characteristics of Crassula plants. They are called succulents because their leaves store nutrients. Their native habitats are relatively barren, the plants grow slowly, and they all have the characteristic of high-temperature dormancy. During this period, the plant roots almost do not absorb any nutrients or water, and the entire plant relies on the nutrients stored in the old leaves to maintain life. If you have experience with cuttings, you will find that the old leaves will continue to shrink. I call this phenomenon nutrient backflow, where the nutrients stored in the leaves are transported back to the plant to promote the growth of new roots until new roots are established. Therefore, do not remove yellow leaves as soon as you see them. A Crassula leaf can remain undried for two to three months, but during nutrient backflow, the leaves will dry within a few days.
Light and Temperature
Succulent plants do require a fair amount of light, but not necessarily full sun. Most plants need three to five hours of light per day. My plants by the east-facing window do not show any signs of stretching. Most small Crassula plants in their native habitats are shaded by large plants, except for some large rosettes or powdery varieties that need strong light and full sun to become more beautiful. Those without powder (powder is an evolutionary feature to protect leaf surfaces from strong light burns) should avoid sunlight after noon and be given appropriate shade.
The color of succulents is influenced by light, but half of the factor is temperature. When light is strong, the plant leaves will stand up to reduce the area of light exposure, and conversely, they will flatten to increase the area of light exposure. Most succulent plants are not accustomed to high temperatures. Most varieties will stop growing during high temperatures and even change the chemical composition of their leaves (appearing as leaf color change) to protect themselves from excessive UV radiation or heat, and they are most active when the temperature drops at night.
This is also a good time to water them. Watering during the day or during the summer dormancy period can easily cause root rot or root decay. If your plants suddenly start to have yellowing or falling leaves, it is definitely caused by root decay. The remedial measures at this time are to increase ventilation and let the potting soil dry quickly. If a large number of leaves fall off, it means root decay has occurred, and you need to remove the plant from the pot.
Soil Preparation, Watering, and Propagation
As mentioned earlier, the native habitats of Crassula plants are relatively barren and lack water. The reason for the stretching of Crassula plants at home is not only sunlight but also soil preparation. An abundant soil nutrient supply combined with excessive water can easily cause excessive growth of succulents. For some varieties that easily stretch, half of the granular planting material (to increase soil aeration and prevent root rot when there is too much water) and the other half for attaching rootlets can be used. For nutrient-absorbing materials, you can choose those with low nutrient content, such as peat or coconut fiber. For some varieties that look better when plump, you can use grass charcoal or decomposed leaf soil.
I have never used expensive soils like Akadama or鹿沼土. These types of soil can be completely replaced with furnace slag that has been soaked to remove alkali. The watering method for Crassula plants is also to water when the soil is completely dry, but I do not water thoroughly, or water along the pot wall, or give a little water without the saucer. Since the soil is mixed with many granules, water will leak out immediately after watering, so you might ask, isn't the middle or top of the potting soil dry? As everyone knows, any plant absorbs water and nutrients from the root tips, and when rotting occurs, it is at the junction of the plant's root and stem. With this watering method, I'm sure you understand. The only downside is that it is too troublesome and not as convenient as direct watering.
Let's talk about fertilizing next. Crassula plants also like fertilizers, but their characteristics determine that they need more phosphorus and potassium fertilizers and very little nitrogen fertilizer. For thick-leaved varieties, nitrogen fertilizer should be applied with caution as it can easily cause the leaves to become too plump and split.
Next, let's talk about the precautions for leaf propagation. Most Crassula plants can be propagated by leaf cuttings, except for the Echeveria and Sempervivum genera. The conditions for leaf cutting to sprout and root are light and hormone concentration. Strong light can cause hormones in the leaves to accumulate towards the leaf tip, and the hormone level in fresh leaves is often not enough for germination. These two points are especially obvious for leaves that are difficult to germinate.
Based on the above two points, when leaf cutting, first place the leaves flat on dry soil in a place with diffused light, then spray a little water on the leaves after they become wilted, and they will quickly develop roots. A temperature above 30 degrees Celsius will affect leaf germination, and at this temperature, the leaves are almost dormant. As for stem cuttings or side buds, they are much faster. After the stems or side buds become wilted and the hormone concentration inside them is sufficient, because of sufficient nutrition, they will quickly develop adventitious roots when inserted into moist soil or placed near the mouth of a water bottle with moisture.
...... After talking for so long, I've said whatever comes to mind and it's a bit disorganized. My level is limited, and some of this knowledge is what I've realized myself, and some is from other materials. If there are any mistakes, please correct them in the comments. Our goal is to make all the plants in our hands thrive.
The specific content mentioned above about friends discussing the cultivation precautions of succulent plants is prohibited from being copied without permission!