Newly bought succulents dying within days? You need to trim the roots first so they grow fast and strong
How do you handle a newly bought succulent?
1. Trim the root system.
Do not assume that a succulent with a well-developed root system will be easy to keep alive, especially succulents bought online, which generally need root trimming.
Take a look at the succulent seedling you bought. If the root system is fairly developed, cut off the lateral roots and keep only the main root; otherwise it will affect the development of new roots and slow down growth.
When cutting, be careful not to damage the leaves.
2. Clean up the leaves.
If the succulent you bought has many dry, withered, or wilted leaves at the bottom, remove them first.
In addition, any leaves found to be diseased must also be removed immediately; otherwise pests and diseases will quickly spread to the healthy succulent leaves, causing the whole plant to become infected and eventually die.
3. Sterilize and disinfect.
The cleaned succulent is best soaked for 30 minutes in a potassium permanganate solution or a carbendazim water solution to sterilize it.
If you find that too troublesome, you can also rinse it with clean water; the purpose is to reduce the harm of pathogens.
4. Air-dry the roots.
This step must be done. Whether or not you washed or disinfected it with water, you need to air-dry the roots.
Place the succulent baby that has gone through the first three steps head down and roots up (if the head is small, lay it flat) in a spot at home with scattered light, and let it air-dry for 2-3 days.
5. Choose soil and pot it up.
For a succulent to grow well, soil is essential. Generally, for growing succulents at home, we just mix peat soil or coconut coir with perlite in a 1:1 ratio.
When transplanting, be gentle to avoid damaging the roots.
Before potting, it is best to first sun-expose the soil to sterilize it, so the succulent's growing environment is healthier.
One thing to note:
Huahua knows a common habit everyone has! You like to pull at your succulent whenever you have nothing better to do, just to see whether it has rooted! Please hold back your hands and do not touch it!
How do you care for it after handling?
1. How do you water?
Do not water a succulent after potting! It has a process of adapting to the environment, and giving water directly will hinder that process, so do not casually water it!
After one week, once it has settled into the pot, you can water a little, but do not overdo it.
2. How do you give it sunlight?
After planting, first place the succulent in a cool, ventilated spot without direct sunlight so it can adapt to the environment. After one week, gradually increase the light along with watering. In summer, be careful to provide shade.
Physical stores and online stores: what to watch out for when buying!
1. Buying in a physical store.
Going directly to a flower shop to buy is still better; at least you have a chance to observe for yourself, and the potting soil is already prepared.
After choosing the variety you want, you can ask the owner for the variety's name and the key points of care. If they cannot explain clearly, they probably do not know the quality of the succulent either, so try to avoid buying from them.
2. Buying online.
What you buy online is generally succulent seedlings, so you need to prepare nutrient soil and a flower pot yourself. The nutrient soil can be mixed as described above, and be sure to choose a flower pot with drainage holes.
The quality of succulents bought online varies, so try to choose shops with high credibility, but everything should still be based on the actual item received.
Some flower lovers say that the shipping process has already air-dried the succulent, so it can be potted directly when it arrives. It is not impossible, but if you want to ensure long-term growth, Huahua still recommends handling it according to the above steps.
Give your succulent a good start,
so it can grow carefree!
That is all from Huahua today,
Remember to share it with friends who grow succulents!