A Complete Guide to the Latest Growing Methods for Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop'
Black aeonium, also known as purple-leaf aeonium, is a succulent plant of the genus Aeonium in the Crassulaceae family and a cultivated variety of Aeonium. It has a distinctive appearance, attractive leaf color and great ornamental value. The flower shape formed by its thick, clustered leaves is very beautiful. It can be planted in fertile culture soil that drains and breathes well. Now let us take a look at the growing methods for black aeonium!
Growth Habits of Black Aeonium
Black aeonium prefers a warm, dry environment with plenty of sunlight. It is drought-tolerant, not cold-tolerant, and slightly tolerant of partial shade. When there is too little sunlight, the leaves will turn green. Because the leaves themselves easily turn black, they absorb heat more strongly than other succulents, and too much sunlight will cause the leaves to soften. It belongs to the “winter-growing” type of succulents. During summer dormancy, the lower leaves will fall off, which is normal metabolism. It grows in cool seasons and goes dormant in summer, but the dormant period is not long.
Propagation Methods for Black Aeonium
Black aeonium can be propagated during the growing season by cutting healthy, plump fleshy stems and planting them in vermiculite or sandy soil. Plant it in fertile culture soil that drains and breathes well; volcanic ash is even better if available. It grows in cool seasons and goes dormant in summer, but the dormant period is not long. For propagation, cut off the rosette leaf disc in early spring for cuttings, and the remaining stem will sprout cluster buds. If cuttings are taken in early summer, not only will the survival rate be affected, but the stem will also produce fewer buds. Leaf cuttings are not easy to propagate.
Growing Methods for Black Aeonium
1. Dormancy: In summer, when temperatures are high, black aeonium has a short dormant period. At this time, the plant grows slowly or stops growing completely. It can be kept in a well-ventilated place, avoiding prolonged rain, with slight shading, reduced watering and no fertilizing.
2. Sunlight: Spring, autumn and early summer are the main growing seasons for black aeonium, and it should be given plenty of sunlight. Although it can also grow in partial shade, the area near the growing point will turn dark green, and the black-purple color of the leaves in other parts will also fade to light brown, affecting its ornamental value.
3. Watering: When growing black aeonium in winter, if the minimum temperature is not lower than 11°C, it can be watered normally so the plant continues to grow, but fertilizing is not necessary. If such a high temperature cannot be maintained, reduce watering to keep the plant dormant, and it can also tolerate low temperatures of 4-6°C.
4. Repotting: Black aeonium is usually repotted once every 1-2 years. The potting soil should be fertile and have good drainage. A common mix is 2 parts coarse sand or vermiculite, 1 part leaf mold and 1 part garden soil, blended evenly. If conditions permit, mixing in an appropriate amount of plant ash or bone meal as a base fertilizer will give better results.