How to Grow Firestorm Succulent? Cultivation Methods and Precautions
Firestorm succulent is a succulent species that readily forms clusters, and it can now be seen in many places in our country. Many people are attracted by its appearance and like to buy some to grow at home. However, when growing it, you must pay attention to the methods; if you do not master the techniques, some problems may arise.
How to Grow Firestorm Succulent
1. Repotting: Repot in early spring every year. If the plant grows too tall, it can be pruned or pinched back during repotting to reduce its height.
2. Watering: Water once a week during the growing season, and once every 2 to 3 weeks at other times, just keeping the potting soil slightly moist. In winter the plant is in a semi-dormant state, so keep the potting soil dry and avoid excessive moisture, which can cause leggy growth and affect the plant's shape.
3. Fertilizing: Fertilize once a month, using decomposed organic fertilizer or special succulent fertilizer, and stop fertilizing in winter.
4. Water culture: In spring, cut 10 to 15 cm stems, insert them in water or sand, and they will root after 2 to 3 weeks. Then place them in a glass bottle to grow, being careful that the water level does not cover the stem.
Cultivation Methods for Firestorm Succulent
1. Soil: You can use coal cinders mixed with a small amount of peat, without laying stones, because Firestorm stems tend to creep and also root easily. So do not lay river sand either.
2. Watering: During the growing season the plant is red-green; when water is withheld or during dormancy the color is red or pink. Normally water thoroughly when the soil is dry. Spring and autumn are the growing seasons; water thoroughly when dry, and the plant is not afraid of rain.
3. In winter, place it indoors in full sunlight and keep the potting soil dry; it can overwinter safely above 5°C. Repot once every 1 to 2 years in spring, and the potting soil should be sandy soil with good drainage and aeration.
4. Light: Firestorm needs full-sun cultivation. If there is too little light, the spacing between leaves will lengthen, meaning the plant becomes leggy, and the leaves will also turn emerald green and elongate.
5. Cultivation: When the plant grows too tall, prune it promptly to control its height, encourage new branches and leaves to sprout from the base, and maintain a beautiful plant shape.
6. In summer, remember to control humidity, otherwise it will rot very easily. There is a brief dormancy in summer, requiring ventilation and shading; generally, once the high temperature persists at 32 degrees, shading is needed. Gradually reduce water, giving only 2 to 3 waterings a month to keep the roots from drying out. When the weather turns cooler, gradually resume watering. As long as the temperature is not below zero, normal watering is basically possible; Firestorm can tolerate a low temperature of minus 5 degrees when the potting soil is dry.
Precautions for Firestorm Succulent
Some older Firestorm plants gradually lose their lower leaves. To keep them attractive, they should often be renewed with new plants, or the old plants can be made into bonsai by removing old leaves to encourage new leaves to sprout. In winter, Firestorm should be placed indoors in a sunny place, keeping the potting soil dry, and repotted once every two years. When watering in summer, be sure not to overwater, otherwise root rot is very easily caused.
Propagation Methods for Firestorm
1. Beheading propagation of Firestorm: For beheading, first cut off the leggy top of the Firestorm, remove some leaves to expose part of the stem, and then dry the wound in a cool place. Insert the cut small top into the same pot, directly into slightly moist soil with good permeability, and wait for it to root.
Care notes: The cuttings of Firestorm are basically green, and the soil for Firestorm should also use a small amount of peat soil. When cuttings are taken, no top dressing stones are needed, because Firestorm stems creep very easily and root quickly. After the small plants have rooted, they can be watered appropriately. In summer, Firestorm enters a brief dormant period, requiring ventilation and shading. If beheading is done in spring and summer arrives immediately afterward, good ventilation and cooling work must be done, otherwise the newly rooted small plants can easily die halfway.
2. Leaf-cutting propagation of Firestorm: Cuttings of Firestorm are often combined with pruning. In the growing season, cut off the leaves, dry them in one or two places for a few days, and after the cut ends are dry, lay them flat on the soil.
Before leaf cuttings, be mentally prepared that rooting will take a very long time. At least about one month is needed for rooting, but sprouting takes a very long time, sometimes more than half a year before sprouts appear. So before rooting and sprouting, pay attention to watering to keep the soil moist.
The cultivation of Firestorm succulent is actually relatively simple, generally starting from several aspects such as fertilizer and water, repotting, and light. When summer comes, watering for Firestorm should be reduced, mainly because Firestorm enters dormancy in summer, and excessive watering will cause necrosis.