How to grow Echeveria 'Golden Glow' (Huangli) well? A detailed guide to the latest care tips
Huangli is a perennial succulent of the genus Sedum in the Crassulaceae family. The plant has short stems and fleshy leaves arranged tightly in a rosette. It is often chosen for cultivation as a small potted plant or used as an accent plant grown together with other plants in a pot, decorating indoor living rooms, studies, windowsills and other places, and can make people feel cheerful. Let us take a look below at how to grow Huangli well!
Growth habits of Huangli
Huangli is a succulent that goes dormant in summer, but the dormant period is not obvious. It likes light and does not tolerate shade. When light is insufficient, the plant easily becomes loose in form, the leaves stretch out, the internodes increase, and the color is not yellow either, showing a leggy state. Under sufficient light, the plant form is compact, and the color also takes on a jelly-like yellow, truly a yellow beauty worthy of its name. Huangli readily produces side shoots; side buds easily sprout from the leaf axils at the top of the plant to form multiple heads, and side buds also easily sprout from the semi-lignified stems where leaves have already fallen off.
Propagation methods of Huangli
Huangli propagation mainly relies on side shoots, leaf cuttings and beheading. After beheading, new shoots growing from the remaining stem and roots continue the offspring, and it very easily grows side shoots, with a relatively high survival rate. Leaf cuttings are the first choice for greenhouse propagation, as they can produce large numbers of seedlings. Spring is the season when side shoots burst forth, and propagation and growth are fastest at this time. Huangli can be propagated in all four seasons; a small leaf dropped on the soil surface or inserted into the soil can grow into an independent plant.
How to grow Huangli well?
1. Soil: It requires loose soil with good aeration and water permeability. A mix of peat soil, potting soil and coarse sand can be chosen for cultivation. For Huangli's soil, peat mixed with coal cinder can be used, in a ratio of 3:7.
2. Light: Huangli likes light and does not tolerate shade; it is slightly tolerant of semi-shade, but when kept in semi-shade for a long time it easily becomes leggy and the leaves become loose. Spring and autumn are the growing seasons, and it can receive full sun. In summer it goes into slight dormancy. However, shade measures should be taken in summer.
3. Temperature: The suitable growing temperature is around 15-28°C. Above 30°C in summer or below 5°C in winter, the plant slowly enters dormancy. The overwintering temperature should be kept above 5°C, and maintaining good ventilation helps growth.
4. Watering: When watering, water thoroughly only when the soil is dry; do not water if it is not dry. It is afraid of long periods of rain and continuous watering that causes waterlogging. In hot summer, water 4 to 5 times a month, without watering thoroughly. It is enough to maintain the plant's normal growth; too much water in summer easily causes rot. When the winter temperature is below 5°C, watering should gradually be stopped; below 3°C, keep the potting soil dry, and try to keep it no lower than minus 3°C.
5. Fertilizing: Fertilization is relatively infrequent. Generally, a commercially available already-diluted cactus liquid fertilizer is chosen. Be careful not to let the fertilizer solution touch the fleshy leaves.