Winter Care Tips for Orostachys boehmeri to Help It Survive the Winter Safely
Orostachys boehmeri is a succulent plant of the genus Orostachys in the Crassulaceae family, and it is also a relatively common succulent in our daily lives. Anyone who loves succulents will certainly be familiar with Orostachys boehmeri. The leaves of Orostachys boehmeri are semicircular, blue-green, with a slight white powdery substance on the surface. Like Orostachys boehmeri 'White Lotus', its leaves cluster into a rosette shape, and it produces numerous side shoots by means of creeping stolons. Orostachys boehmeri often fills its pot after being planted for a period of time, which is quite spectacular. We know that winter is the dormant period for most plants, and Orostachys boehmeri also goes dormant during this time. In spring, with full sun and warming temperatures, Orostachys boehmeri can often put on a spectacular display of filling its pot. So, during the winter when Orostachys boehmeri is dormant, how should we care for it? Qinnong Web now tells you: winter care tips for Orostachys boehmeri.
1. Growth Habits of Orostachys boehmeri
If you want to grow Orostachys boehmeri well, then understanding its growth habits is essential. Only by grasping its requirements for climate and temperature can you give this flower the best care. Below, let us take a specific look at the growth habits of Orostachys boehmeri!
Orostachys boehmeri has particularly strong vitality. Unlike other succulents, it is not afraid of strong light exposure. Apart from the scorching afternoon sun in the hottest part of summer, it can accept sunlight at all other times without issue. Orostachys boehmeri likes humid air, but its roots are not very large and do not have strong water-storage capacity, so it can only be watered every day or sprayed with a spray bottle to maintain leaf humidity.
Orostachys boehmeri is small in size, but it still needs enough space to grow. If the succulent bought from the flower shop comes in a simple pot, then the succulent must be repotted and the soil changed, otherwise the roots of Orostachys boehmeri in the small pot cannot extend outward, and leaf growth will also be restricted, making it grow more and more listless.
The growing seasons for Orostachys boehmeri are spring and autumn. During these two seasons, you must pay attention to whether it lacks water. If water cannot be supplied in time, they will slow down their growth rate. There is no fixed rule for watering in these two seasons; as long as you see that the soil in the pot is dry, water them. Only in this way can you meet their water needs during rapid growth.
Orostachys boehmeri enters dormancy when the temperature is too high or too low. Summer and winter are their dormant seasons. So when you see the leaves of Orostachys boehmeri wrapped together, that indicates that they have already begun to go dormant. During the dormant period, normally watering once every three days is enough. Watering too frequently means the plant cannot absorb it, and instead it may cause root rot.
2. Winter Care Tips for Orostachys boehmeri
1. Light
In winter, it can be placed in a bright spot with indirect light for care. Sufficient light can often make Orostachys boehmeri more and more beautiful. Sufficient light can make the plant compact, with short semicircular leaves. If there is insufficient light, the plant will become loose, the distance between leaves will lengthen, and the leaf shape will shift from semicircular toward long ovate.
2. Temperature
If the winter temperature is not lower than 0°C, Orostachys boehmeri can generally continue to grow. If it is lower than that, it should be moved indoors to overwinter, and a sunny indoor spot should be chosen as much as possible.
3. Watering
In winter, watering must be strictly controlled. When the temperature is below 5°C, watering should be gradually stopped. Below 3°C, keep the potting soil dry. Watering can be done around midday in winter, during the warmer time period.
4. Fertilizing
As mentioned earlier, winter is the dormant period for Orostachys boehmeri, so it does not need much fertilizer in winter, and fertilizing can be stopped.
5. Pot and Soil Selection
Normally, it is not recommended to repot or change the soil for Orostachys boehmeri in winter, but if you purchased Orostachys boehmeri in winter or in late autumn to early winter and need to repot and change the soil, generally choose soil with good drainage, such as a 1:1 ratio of peat soil and granular soil.
The above are the winter care tips for Orostachys boehmeri introduced to you by Qinnong Web. We hope they can be of some help to all friends who love succulents. If Orostachys boehmeri can overwinter safely when grown, then after the temperature warms up in spring, Orostachys boehmeri filling its pot will definitely be a big surprise for you.