How to grow Coral Stick? Detailed guide to cultivation methods and precautions

SummaryChoose a sandy soil with good drainage and aeration that is rich in calcium for cultivation, then select a healthy stem segment and plant it in a pot, and spray a small amount of water. In spring and late summer to early autumn, apply 2 rounds of fully decomposed liquid fertilizer every half month each time. During the growing period, the potting soil should be kept dry rather than wet, and the light should be kept relatively stable. In the second year after transplanting, you can choose to change the potting soil once before the spring growing period.

1. Soil requirements

You can choose a sandy soil with good drainage and aeration and rich in calcium for potting Coral Stick. It can be prepared with 2 parts shells, 3 parts river sand, 2 parts coal cinder, and 3 parts leaf mold (pond soil).

2. Planting method

1. Prepare a relatively large coarse clay pot with mixed soil, and keep it somewhat moist. Then select a relatively sturdy stem segment and plant it in the pot, then spray a little water so that the surface of the potting soil adheres. Then place it under direct sunlight. During this period, do not water frequently; you can keep the potting soil dry. After waiting for some time, small green leaves will begin to grow on a few stems, and the stems will slowly become flatter and wider, then show a tendency to become pad-shaped.

2. During this period, do not water frequently. This can force the growth of pad-shaped stem segments. Afterwards, for the newly grown ones, if they are kept robust and relatively moist from the very beginning, then the new stems will not show a tendency to become pad-shaped, but will grow in the same form as the original plant. When the stem segments grow to about 2 cm wide, they can be potted up.

3. Fertilization method

Coral Stick should not be given chemical fertilizer, as chemical fertilizer easily causes root rot. Therefore, in spring and late summer to early autumn, apply 2 rounds of fully decomposed liquid fertilizer every 15 days each time. The soil in the pot should be kept dry rather than wet. If it is too wet for a long time, it will cause rot at the lower part of the plant, and it will soon spread to the whole plant.

4. Light requirements

If Coral Stick is placed indoors in insufficient light for a relatively long time, it is prone to leggy growth, and the new stems will also become light green and relatively slender. But if the plant is moved outdoors in time, the newly grown stems will become thick again. Therefore, during cultivation, do not arbitrarily change the light conditions for Coral Stick; it is best to keep the light relatively stable.

5. Repot every year

In the 2nd year after transplanting, you can choose to change the potting soil once before the spring growing period. Once it enters the period of vigorous growth, all the stems will grow into pad-shaped stem segments. However, during this period the stem segments are not very large, and the plant is not tall either. If you want the stem segments to grow larger, you can break off some excess stem buds, and wait until the spring of the 3rd year to change to a slightly larger flower pot.

6. Avoid rot

For a fully formed pad-shaped plant, great attention must be paid to both watering and fertilizing. If the plant rots, it will be a great loss of years of effort. Therefore, be careful not to apply concentrated fertilizer, keep the potting soil dry rather than wet, and maintain sufficient light.