How to grow Graptosedum 'Francesco Baldi' (Mingyue) succulents so they look beautiful? Growing methods and precautions
Mingyue is one of the succulents that can bloom, and when it flowers it usually produces small white flowers with great ornamental value. It is precisely because of Mingyue's beauty that it has attracted many consumers to buy it. But after taking it home, is everyone familiar with how to grow Mingyue?
How to grow Mingyue succulents so they look beautiful
1. Color. The small potted Mingyue is a succulent plant, originally from Mexico. When grown well, the small potted Mingyue takes on a green color tinged with pink, which is very beautiful. To make the small potted Mingyue have this delicate pink appearance, ultraviolet light exposure is very important. Only by understanding the growth habits of the small potted Mingyue can you keep its beautiful appearance all along.
2. Propagation. The small potted Mingyue has a sturdy plant structure, and each leaf is thick and round. As long as the growing environment is kept drier with a large temperature difference, under these conditions the small potted Mingyue can stay pink all along. The branches of the small potted Mingyue can be propagated by stem cuttings or leaf cuttings, and this method can be used to propagate it in all four seasons. Cut off the branch of the small potted Mingyue with a knife, let the wound dry, then carry out the cutting, and it will soon survive once given water.
Mingyue growing methods
1. Soil: To grow Mingyue, you can use soil suitable for most succulents, generally peat mixed with coal cinder, with the ratio kept at about 3:7. Overall, Mingyue is a very easy variety to grow, and even vegetable garden soil can grow it well, so there is no special soil mixing ratio, but be careful to keep it loose.
2. Watering: Mingyue is an extremely drought-tolerant variety. It originates from the desolate desert regions of Mexico, so it does not need frequent watering. In spring and autumn, water only when the soil is completely dry, and water thoroughly; if it is not dry, do not water. In the hot summer, water 4 to 5 times a month, without watering thoroughly, just enough to maintain the plant's normal growth. Too much water in summer easily causes rot, and in winter, after the temperature drops, it enters dormancy and watering must be controlled. When watering normally, try to pour the water into the soil rather than onto its leaves, which causes rot.
3. Light: This is a plant that likes light. Although it grows slowly and the plant is short, it still needs enough sunlight to develop normally. Spring and autumn are the growing seasons for Mingyue. At this time the temperature is suitable, neither cold nor hot, and Mingyue can be given full sun. In summer it goes into slight dormancy, so be careful to give it ventilation and shade, while in winter it needs to be deliberately placed in a warm area with enough light for growing.
4. Temperature: Overall, Mingyue is a plant with relatively great adaptability to temperature. The high temperature of 30 degrees in summer cannot make it wither, and in winter, as long as it is kept dry, it can also withstand low temperatures of around zero degrees. However, note that when the temperature is below 5 degrees, watering should be gradually stopped; below 3 degrees, keep the pot soil dry, and try to keep it no lower than minus 3 degrees. Under such conditions, Mingyue can safely pass through the winter.
5. Fertilizing: This is a plant that is very tolerant of poor soil, so normally there is no need to fertilize it frequently. Applying a slow-release fertilizer once every quarter is enough to meet its growth needs, and each time it should be done according to the size of the plant and the season it is in. For example, during the winter dormancy period, fertilizing can be stopped. Its plant growth characteristics favor light fertilizer, so do not apply too much when fertilizing, to avoid burning the roots and leaves.
Precautions for Mingyue
Care during the summer dormancy period. In the high summer temperatures, Mingyue is in brief dormancy, so reduce watering, keep good ventilation, and prevent diseases and pests from breeding.
Pest control for Mingyue
Scale insects: Once Mingyue suffers from scale insect damage, it causes yellowing leaves, withered branch tips, plant decline, and easily induces sooty mold. Scale insects have strong reproductive capacity, and the peak pest season is the high-temperature period in summer. They like stuffy, hot and humid environments, often attach to the leaves, and during crawling they destroy the tender green leaves of the Mingyue, producing patches of gray lesions.
Control method: Scale insects generally have 1 to 3 generations per year, and a few have 4 to 5 generations. Before the nymphs transform into adults, there is often an intermediate stage in which their appearance is sluggish and some even stop feeding. This time is, first, around the Awakening of Insects each year, and second, from the end of May to the beginning of June. At this time most nymphs have hatched not long ago, the body surface has not yet secreted wax, and the scale shell has not yet formed, so pesticide is still easy to kill them. Spray once every 7 days, for 2 to 3 times in a row.
Mingyue needs light to grow well, and under different sunlight it may show differences in color! The growing methods for Mingyue can be carried out in terms of soil, light, fertilizer and water, etc. Later, pest management also needs to be strengthened. Only in this way can Mingyue's growth be guaranteed.