Succulents can make people cry - have you ever had that experience?

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Thanks to the author [Nian, Company Commander Yang!] for theoriginal contributionsharing

Submission date: April 1, 2018

Edited and organized by: Baike Jun

Location: Dandong, Liaoning

Having been in the hobby for over a year and still at the beginner stage, even though I am deep in the free-shipping zone, my passion for succulents has not diminished. Today I finally got motivated to organize my photos and document my journey of progress. I cannot compare with the experts, so if you do not like it please do not criticize, and please offer guidance.

First, a group photo from last year and this year.

Some pots have bottle caps in them because some succulents grew lopsided, so I propped them up.

In Dandong's climate, summer temperatures basically max out around 32-33, so getting through summer is basically not a problem as long as ventilation is adequate. In winter, the heated room is above 20°C, there is a temperature difference, the indoor air is dry, and the UV intensity through the glass is insufficient, so they are basically in a dry and leggy state. Without the superior conditions of the cheat-mode regions, and without experience as a windowsill grower, no matter what I do I cannot get them to look their best, but as long as it is for succulents, I am available 24 hours a day.

My first pot of succulents was a mixed planting of Sedum adolphii (Golden Sedum), Graptoveria 'Titubans' (White Peony), and Lampranthus spectabilis (Yellow Flower Sunplant). Because I was a beginner, it was not long before the supposedly tough Lampranthus spectabilis died, followed by the Graptoveria 'Titubans' that every beginner must have, and the only survivor is the Sedum adolphii that is still growing leggy now, and the leaves I pulled off have already produced many babies.

Most of my succulents are leaf propagations. At first I did not understand what a healthy state looked like, and I was quite happy that each one was growing tall, until they looked like bean sprouts and I realized they were lacking light. It happened to be early autumn and I read a post saying they could be grown outdoors, so I put the leaf propagation seedlings outside the window and then went out to play. In the afternoon my husband told me, look at your succulents, the color is like the cookies you baked. At that point, after two months of hard work, they were all wiped out, and for the first time I cried on my husband's shoulder over succulents.

At the end of August 2016 I started a new round of leaf propagation, which could count as officially entering the hobby. They are all common varieties, children I raised myself, and they look pleasing to me. So whenever a friend asks me for a succulent, I feel a million reluctances inside, because I poured so much effort into them over a year and a half.

Here is a round of comparison photos, so you can see that over this year and a half I really have improved a tiny bit.

Echeveria 'Sagitta' (Arrow), a variety that is very easy to care for. For me, not growing leggy probably counts as easy to care for.

Echeveria derenbergii (Silent Night / Jingye), which was submerged by heavy rain last summer, was not affected at all, and is currently budding.

Echeveria 'Gemini', the color is getting pinker and more delicate, and the photos cannot capture the feeling.

Echeveria 'Black Claw', which I once did not think much of, turned out to be a champion at producing pups. The leaves are not so tightly wrapped just after watering.

This is a Haworthia cooperi (Jade Dew) that took ten months to establish. So with succulents, you can not love it, but you cannot abandon it, because who knows, one day it might become beautiful.

I do not know whether Mammillaria gracilis (Thimble Cactus / Bainiao) has a multi-headed form.

Is this Echeveria 'Raindrop' (Yuyan?)? Seems so, I do not quite remember.

Echeveria 'Luna'? Echeveria 'Lusiana'? Echeveria 'Lilacina'? I am hopelessly confused. Actually it is very pink and delicate.

Echeveria 'Sasa' (Queen Sasa), everyone else's are pink, but the one I grow is yellowish and dull. What is the difference?

Succulents I raised myself, no matter what, I like them all.

Echeveria chihuahuaensis (Chihuahua), probably a variety every succulent lover has.

Echeveria laui x Echeveria cante (Furong Snow Lotus), very pink and well-formed.

Unknown variety. Back then I disliked it and threw it into a corner of the windowsill without care, and it made itself beautiful.

Echeveria 'Perle von Nurnberg' (Purple Pearl), my wish is to grow the leaves thicker.

Graptopetalum mendozae (Jiqiuli), quietly waiting for it to fill the pot.

Echeveria 'Moon Fairy' (Moon Fairy), last autumn had an outbreak of mealybugs. There were too many pots, and every day I simply could not poke them all with toothpicks or spray them all with medicine. Later I bought small white medicine and small purple medicine on Taobao. Although the small white medicine smells like rotten cabbage, I have to say, the effect is really good and very worry-free. After sprinkling some medicine I went off to play, and the mealybugs all died. This year I sprinkled the small white medicine early for prevention.

A while ago I read a post saying that carrot water can bring out color, so I made some myself, and it smelled stinky. A few leaf centers have a bit of jelly color, but after watering they turn green again in no time.

Echeveria 'Ruby' (Red Ruby) with only a tiny bit of red.

Echeveria 'Red Claw' has a rather distinctive shape.

Echeveria 'Orion', which still has some color, is also an easy-to-care-for variety for me.

A 4-headed Echeveria glauca (Blue Stone Lotus) from leaf propagation, about to become 6-headed.

Echeveria runyonii 'Topsy Turvy' (Special Jade Lotus), not watered for two months. I could not bear it and gave it some water, and it came back to life. There is also a ring of pups below.

Echeveria pulvinata (Jin Huangxing / Chenille Plant), also rescued from the mealybugs.

Aeonium 'Sunburst' (Yanrihui)

Echeveria 'Frosty Morn' (Shuangzhi Zhao), very easy to grow into an old stump.

Echeveria 'Fiona', once a baby that was almost abandoned.

Senecio rowleyanus (String of Pearls / Lover's Tears), people with busy hands do not need to worry, giving more water is fine.

Here, I want to deeply thank my husband. Although I do not grow them very well, my husband has always been supportive. Even though the succulents have seriously taken over his living space, he still encourages me. He says everyone has a hobby! I say I have no pots left, and he says buy, buy, buy. No soil left, buy, buy, buy. I say a succulent friend paints pots beautifully, and he says you should try it too. Up to now he says you should sell off the duplicate varieties, free up space to swap in some varieties you do not have, and stop always growing these. Love you. But as for painting pots, I have really decided to give up.

Leaf propagation in thumb pots. Recently I super love thumb pots. The effect of thumb pots on controlling shape and color is really good.

Also, a flower rack my best friend gave me, I love it so much.

My succulents have a common problem: the leaves get thinner and thinner the longer I grow them. I read posts from all kinds of experts and also asked Baidu, and they all say control water, control water, water thoroughly when dry. I controlled water for a long time and there was no obvious effect. I really love chubby succulents. How do I fix my thin leaves? Please teach me.

When I was buying a house, my mom said, do not buy the top floor, it is hot in summer and cold in winter, and prone to leaking *&%#@*. And now I super wish I had a top floor, with an attic and a terrace, letting sunlight fill the succulents! This should be the wish of every balcony grower. Finally, I have to say one thing: my husband and succulents cannot be touched!

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This article has beenexclusively authorizedby the author to WeChat public account: Succulent Plant Encyclopedia (ID: duoroubaike). The article content does not represent the views or stance of the public account.

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