How to Grow "Ruo Lü" Succulent? Full Guide to Cultivation Methods and Precautions

The Ruo Lü succulent has strong vitality, wide adaptability and fast growth, and is deeply loved by everyone, especially when planted together with other flowers and succulents, looking very beautiful and elegant. So what tricks and precautions are there for growing the Ruo Lü succulent? Let's find out together below!

How to Grow the Ruo Lü Succulent

Pot and soil: Repot in early spring every year, using a mix of leaf mold, potting soil and coarse sand, plus a small amount of bone meal. In winter it enters a semi-dormant state, so keep the potting soil dry.

Watering: Water once a week during the growing season, and once every 2-3 weeks at other times, just keeping the soil slightly moist.

Fertilizing: Fertilize once a month with diluted cake fertilizer water or "Huiyou" 15-15-30 special fertilizer for potted flowers. Do not fertilize in winter.

Pests: When indoor ventilation is poor, the stems and leaves may already be harmed by red spider mites; when this happens, spray with a 1000-fold dilution of 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate.

Cultivation Methods for Ruo Lü

1. Light and temperature

Grow Ruo Lü in a sunny room with full sun; during the growing season keep the soil moist and avoid waterlogging. Ruo Lü can tolerate low temperatures of around minus 2°C, which refers to indoor temperatures, not outdoor ones; if the temperature drops further, the growing points at the tips of the leaves will suffer frost damage and die back, and new side branches will sprout from the withered spots the following year.

2. Watering

Basically cut off watering throughout winter, and start gradually reducing water once temperatures fall below 5 degrees. During the high temperatures of summer the whole plant grows slowly or stops growing completely; at this time ensure good ventilation and appropriate shading, avoid exposure to strong sun, restrain watering, and do not let it be rained on for long periods, so as to prevent the plant from rotting.

3. Propagation

Ruo Lü is generally propagated by beheading: take healthy branches with growing points, cut them into sections about 3 to 5 cm long, let the wounds dry, then insert them as cuttings; they can also be inserted directly into dry granular soil and given a little water after a few days.

Ruo Lü is a very easy variety to propagate, and small roots tend to grow between the leaves; when they touch suitable soil, the roots will firmly take hold in it.

Beheading propagation has another advantage: it lets the mother plant develop a better shape, and new growing points will sprout from the cut area, sometimes two branches.

Precautions for Growing Ruo Lü

1. Pruning

Ruo Lü needs frequent pruning during cultivation; cut away overly messy branches to keep the plant's shape beautiful and well formed.

2. Controlling watering amount and frequency

The most important thing to note is that the amount of water must be small and the watering frequency low. Since Sedum-type roots are very weak and need well-drained conditions, especially in winter excess water must be drained away as quickly as possible, otherwise root rot will occur.

3. Light treatment during the growing season

From September each year to June of the following year is the growing season for Ruo Lü (it may be appropriately shortened or extended depending on differences between north and south). If light is insufficient, the plant will grow leggy, the distance between leaves will lengthen, making the plant shape loose and the leaf stems tender; whereas plants grown in a spot with ample sunlight have a short, sturdy shape with relatively compact spacing between stem nodes.

Precautions for Ruo Lü Cuttings

Although Ruo Lü cuttings have a very high survival rate, flower lovers should not be overconfident and just stick them in casually and ignore them; sometimes Ruo Lü will inexplicably die!

When taking Ruo Lü cuttings, pay attention to protecting the cut. After cutting off a branch, let the wound dry, then soak it in clean water overnight, and insert it into the potting soil the next day; the survival rate this way is almost 100 percent.

For the soil used for Ruo Lü cuttings, it is best not to use akadama soil, as akadama soil does not easily promote rooting and the cuttings tend to rot after being inserted.

For freshly inserted Ruo Lü, do not rush to water; you can leave it in a ventilated place to air for a while, and watering the next day is fine too. Do not use too much water; a light spray is enough.

From the above, I believe everyone has gained some understanding of Ruo Lü growing techniques. Ruo Lü has strong propagation ability and can quickly cover the empty spots in the pot soil; when you occasionally feel down or your eyes are tired, looking at this touch of green instantly makes you feel relaxed and happy!