Succulents are a class of plants with succulent stems or leaves, they have a variety of forms, colors, flower shapes, can adapt to arid and barren environments, and are very popular ornamental plants. Succulents can not only beautify our living space, but also purify the air, regulate humidity, reduce noise, increase negative ions, and benefit our physical and mental health. So, how can you have a pot or a window of succulents? This article will introduce you to the methods and skills of purchasing, maintaining and propagating succulents from the following aspects.
1. How to buy succulents.
There are many types of succulents, some are common, some are rare, some are cheap, some are expensive, some are easy to raise, and some are difficult to raise. So, how should we choose the right succulent for ourselves? Here are a few principles to refer to:
According to your preference**. Succulents have their own appearances, some are cute, some are elegant, some are peculiar, and some are gorgeous, you can choose according to your own aesthetics and preferences, and you don't have to blindly follow the trend or compare. Of course, you can also try a few more different varieties to enrich your succulent collection.
On their own terms**. Succulents, although they are drought tolerant, also have different needs for light, temperature, humidity, and soil. You need to consider whether your conservation environment is suitable for the succulents you want, for example, whether your balcony has enough light, whether you have the right temperature indoors, whether your water quality has an impact, whether your soil has nutrients, etc. If your conditions are not ideal, you can choose some adaptable succulents, such as cactus, sedum, stone lotus, tiger pill orchid, etc.
According to the state of the succulent**. When shopping for succulents, you need to carefully observe the appearance of the succulents and judge their health. Generally speaking, a healthy succulent plant should have the following characteristics: the stems and leaves are fleshy, without wilting, softening, decaying, discoloration, insect moth, disease spots, etc.; The root system is well developed, and there are no problems such as rotten roots, broken roots, and entanglement roots; The buds or flowers are bright, and there is no shrinkage, falling, blackening, etc. If you find that the succulent has any of the above adverse symptoms, you can choose to forgo the purchase, or ask the seller to give a discount or exchange.
2. How to maintain succulents.
Succulents are not complicated to maintain, as long as you master some basic principles and methods, you can make your succulents thrive and bloom beautiful flowers. Here are a few important points to note:
Illumination**. Succulents are light-loving plants, and they need sufficient light for photosynthesis and to maintain normal growth and metabolism. Generally speaking, succulents need at least 6 hours of direct or scattered sunlight every day, and if the light is insufficient, succulents will grow, change color, and shrink. Of course, don't let succulents be exposed to the sun for too long, otherwise it will cause the leaves to turn yellow, dry up, or even burn. Depending on the season, climate, and variety, you can adjust the placement and timing of the succulents so that they can enjoy the right amount of light.
Moisture content**. Succulents are drought-tolerant plants that can survive in arid environments because their stems and leaves can store a lot of water. However, this does not mean that succulents do not need to be watered, just that the frequency and amount of watering depends on the actual situation. Generally speaking, the watering principle of succulents is "less water, more watering, see dry and wet", that is, water thoroughly each time to let the water flow out of the bottom of the pot, but wait until the soil is completely dry before watering again, do not let the soil be moist all the time, otherwise it will cause root rot. Depending on the season, climate, and variety, you can adjust the frequency and amount of watering of your succulents to keep them hydrated.
Soil**. The soil requirements for succulents are loose, breathable, drained, and fertile, so that the roots of the succulents can breathe, absorb, and grow. You can choose a special succulent soil, or prepare your own, the general recipe is: garden soil, sandy soil, humus, perlite, mix according to the ratio of 2:2:1:1, and then add some organic fertilizers, such as bone meal, chicken manure, eggshells, etc. You can also adjust the composition of the soil according to the characteristics of different succulents, for example, cacti prefer sandy soil, sedum likes humus, etc. You need to change the soil of the succulents regularly, generally once a year, preferably in spring or autumn, when changing the soil, pay attention to cleaning the old soil at the roots, cut off the bad roots, leave a healthy root system, and then put in new soil, water thoroughly, and then maintain normally after a week.
3. How to propagate succulents.
Succulents can be propagated in many ways, such as cuttings, dividing, sowing, leaf cuttings, stem cuttings, and so on. Here I will only introduce the two most commonly used methods: cuttings and leaf cuttings. Cuttings are the process of cutting off the stems or branches of succulents and inserting them into the soil to allow them to take root and grow new plants. Leaf cuttings are done by gently plucking the leaves of succulents and placing them on the surface of the soil to allow them to germinate and grow new plants. The specific steps for these two methods are as follows:
Cuttage**. First of all, you need to choose some healthy, mature, branched succulents, use sterilized scissors or knives, and cut a section diagonally along the node of the stem or branch, about 5-10 cm in length, with a flat incision that does not damage the fleshy part of the stem or branch. Then, you need to put the cut stem or shoot in a cool, ventilated place to allow the incision to scab over, this process will take about 2-3 days, do not let the incision come into contact with moisture, otherwise it will lead to rot. Next, you need to prepare a basin suitable for cuttings, which can be a ceramic basin, a plastic basin, or a basin made of other materials, the size should be moderate, not too big or too small, and there should be drainage holes at the bottom to drain excess water. Then, you need to prepare some soil suitable for cuttings, which can be special succulent soil, or prepare your own, the general recipe is: garden soil, sandy soil, humus soil, perlite, mix according to the ratio of 2:2:1:1, and then add some organic fertilizers, such as bone meal, chicken manure, eggshells, etc. You can also adjust the composition of the soil according to the characteristics of different succulents, for example, cacti prefer sandy soil, sedum likes humus, etc. You'll need to fill the pot with soil and compact it to leave some gaps for inserting stems or shoots. Finally, you need to insert the scabbed stems or shoots into the soil at a depth of about 1-2 cm, not too deep or too shallow, keep a certain distance between them, not too crowded, then water them thoroughly, put them in a semi-shaded place, and wait for them to take root. Generally speaking, it takes 2-4 weeks for succulents from cuttings to take root, you can gently pull the stem or branch and feel resistance, which means that it has taken root. In the process of rooting, you need to pay attention to the following: do not water frequently, as long as the soil is not dry, otherwise it will lead to root rot; Do not directly expose to the sun, avoid high temperatures, otherwise it will cause the leaves to turn yellow, dry up, and even burns; Do not move the pot, keep it stable, otherwise it will affect the growth of the root system; Do not fertilize, wait until the roots have taken root before fertilizing, otherwise it will irritate the root system and cause damage.
Leaf cuttings**. First of all, you need to choose some healthy, mature, intact succulent leaves and gently pluck them off with your fingers, not with scissors or knives, so as not to damage the fleshy part of the leaves. Then, you need to put the plucked leaves in a cool, ventilated place and let the petioles crust, this process will take about 1-2 days, do not let the petioles come into contact with moisture, otherwise it will lead to rot. Next, you need to prepare a basin suitable for leaf cuttings, which can be a tray, saucer, or other material, the size should be moderate, not too big or too small, and there should be a drainage hole at the bottom to drain excess water. Then, you need to prepare some soil suitable for leaf cuttings, which can be special succulent soil, or prepare your own, the general recipe is: garden soil, sandy soil, humus soil, perlite, mix according to the ratio of 2:2:1:1, and then add some organic fertilizers, such as bone meal, chicken manure, eggshells, etc. You can also adjust the composition of the soil according to the characteristics of different succulents, for example, cacti prefer sandy soil, sedum likes humus, etc. You need to fill the soil into the pot, compact, flatten, leave no gaps, and place the leaves easily. Finally, you need to lay the crusted leaves flat on the surface of the soil, do not bury them in the soil, keep a certain spacing, not overcrowded, and then spray some water, put them in a semi-shaded place, and wait for germination. Generally, succulents with leaf cuttings take 3-6 weeks to germinate, you can look at the roots of the leaves, and if you see small white spots, it means that they have germinated. During the germination process, you need to pay attention to the following: do not water, just spray some water and keep the soil slightly moist, otherwise it will lead to root rot; Do not directly expose to the sun, avoid high temperatures, otherwise it will cause the leaves to turn yellow, dry up, and even burns; Do not move the pot, keep it stable, otherwise it will affect the growth of the root system; Do not fertilize, wait until germination before fertilizing, otherwise it will irritate the root system and cause damage.
The above is the method and skills I wrote for you to buy, maintain, and propagate succulents, I hope it will help you.