How to Grow Succulent Plants? Detailed Methods and Precautions
When you see succulent plants outside, don't you want to buy a few pots and take them home to grow? Yes, with their adorable looks they have won countless fans. Below, the editor will introduce the methods for growing succulent plants and some precautions.
1. Methods for Growing Succulent Plants
1. Pot Selection
To grow beautiful succulents, choosing the right pot is very important. Depending on the material of the pot, different management methods should be used. If you choose a porcelain pot, the watering frequency can be appropriately reduced, because porcelain pots have strong moisture retention but are not breathable; clay pots are breathable but lose water quickly, so the watering frequency should be higher; although plastic pots are not attractive, they save more space.
2. Variety Selection
Succulents can be divided by type into summer-growing succulents and winter-growing succulents, and different varieties require different care methods. Therefore, when buying succulents, you need to distinguish the varieties clearly. Usually, succulents need their potting soil changed once a year, and during the growing season, insecticide should be sprayed once every half month to do a good job of pest and disease prevention.
3. Watering Frequency
During the growing season, the watering frequency for succulents is 1-2 times a month, and when watering, pour slowly along the edge of the pot. Succulents whose growing season is in spring and autumn need to be watered thoroughly only after the soil has dried out, and they have a high demand for sunlight. In addition, the amount and frequency of watering in winter and summer need to be reduced.
Note: Overwatering will cause succulents to develop black rot or turn to mush; too little watering or going without water for a long time will cause the succulents to dry out and die.
4. Soil Selection
The soil for growing succulents generally uses granular media such as peat, kanuma soil, diatomaceous earth, and rice-husk charcoal. When there are few granular media in the pot, the watering frequency should be lower; if there are many granular media, the frequency should be higher.
5. Growing Environment
As far as possible, choose an environment with plenty of sunlight, good ventilation, and shelter from rain. If the plant does not receive enough sunlight for a long time, it may grow leggy, and its plump little form will become long and thin, which is no longer cute.
2. Precautions
1. Supplemental Lighting in Summer
To avoid direct sunlight, the best method is to use a shade net for shading, and the shaded area must not exceed 50%.
2. Water Control Techniques
The best way to control water is to act according to the specific temperature of the growing location. When the indoor temperature stays at around 25°C, water once a week, watering thoroughly after the soil dries out; when the temperature rises to around 28-30°C, extend it to watering once every 10-12 days, keeping the potting soil moist; but if the temperature climbs to 35°C or above, watering must be stopped immediately.
3. Ventilated Environment
In a hot, humid, and unventilated environment, succulents will be attacked by fungi and pests, causing the roots, stems, and fleshy leaves to rot, so an electric fan can be used to maintain ventilation.
4. Dealing with Dead Leaves
If too many dead leaves accumulate, bacteria are likely to breed. Therefore, to prevent fungi and pests from affecting the plant's condition, use sterilized tweezers to promptly remove the dead leaves left on the succulent.
Growing plump and beautiful succulents requires careful tending. If you plan to grow a pot of succulents, you need to be serious and responsible. Succulent fans can follow the above growing methods and precautions for succulents when caring for them.