White Peony
Habits of White Peony
White Peony is an intergeneric hybrid between Echeveria and Graptopetalum. It prefers a sunny environment, is not cold-tolerant, and tolerates drought and partial shade.
The suitable growing temperature is 20-25°C, and the growing season is summer. In spring and autumn, watering should be done once a week.
For home care, propagation methods include sowing and cuttings. Common pests and diseases include: rust disease and scale insects.
Care Tips for White Peony
Soil: Repot once every two years, in spring. Use a mix of peat soil, potting soil and coarse sand, with a small amount of bone meal added. Keep the potting soil dry. When repotting, dead old roots can be trimmed off.
Watering: Water moderately in spring and summer, and control watering in autumn and winter. Because the plant has a high internal water content, White Peony easily rots in overly humid environments, so be sure not to overwater. It is best to use a pot with drainage holes at the bottom. Beginners can use a breathable terracotta pot; glass containers absorb heat and have poor breathability, so use them with caution!
Fertilizing: During the summer growing season, fertilize once every 2 months. Use a dilute fertilizer mainly containing phosphorus and potassium. Do not fertilize too much, otherwise the plant will become leggy and the leaf color will not turn red.
Light: The more sufficient the light and the greater the temperature difference between day and night, the more vivid the leaf color. When temperature permits, it is best to place it outdoors for care to ensure sufficient light. When light is insufficient or soil moisture is excessive, it becomes leggy, the whole plant turns light green or dark green, the leaves become sparse with elongated spacing, and it grows rapidly upward, seriously affecting its ornamental value, and it may even die because the plant's photosynthesis is hindered.
Propagation Methods for White Peony
Leaf cuttings: Lay a complete mature leaf flat on moist sandy soil, with the leaf surface facing up and the leaf back facing down. There is no need to cover it with soil. Place it in a cool area. After about 10 days, small leaf clusters and new roots will grow from the base of the leaf. Bury the root system in the soil, then let it get more sunlight and water it appropriately. Gradually, it will grow into a robust new plant.
Stem cuttings: You can use offset branchesor top branches. The length of the cut stem is not limited, but after the cut end dries, remove the lower leaves, then insert it into a sand bed to avoid excessive water evaporation. After insertion, roots generally form in about 20 days, and watering can begin after rooting; before rooting, it is normal for the lower leaves to dry up and shrink. Once the root system is well developed and water absorption is sufficient, it will naturally recover. The soil must not be too wet, otherwise the cut end is prone to yellowing and rotting. When the roots are 2-3 cm long, it can be repotted. Division is best done in spring.