Early summer succulents are stunning too: sharing joy and care experience
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Thanks to the author [Liu Guofeng] for theoriginal submissionsharing
Edited and compiled by: Encyclopedia Jun
Coordinates: Boshan, Zibo, Shandong
A blooming smile
You know the happiness
Happy family
00:00/03:43
Once, one glance was a lifetime
On that very day
Meeting you, you turned the love of the years
into a kind of beautiful, harvested peace of mind
Promising never to part, we keep each other company in joy
The four seasons turn, waiting for you to be radiant
On that very day
I made a wish for you
Clear waters and blue skies, settling in the deep mountains
So many days and nights without sleep
Now the promise is fulfilled
There is a kind of happiness called keeping each other company
There is a kind of joy called walking together
I am willing to join hands with you
No matter beautiful or plain
In life there is much joy and helplessness. Some people are used to sinking into the sorrow of the past; I choose to immerse myself in joy and discover beauty, sharing every little bit of happiness, because each of our joys is unique. Only by sharing can this joy from the bottom of the heart be passed on, and only then can it touch people who are lost in the melancholy of life. This world is not short of suffering; what it lacks is the perseverance and creativity to overcome suffering. If we are all willing to be messengers of joy, I believe this world will be more beautiful because of sharing!
When I wrote this article it was already early morning. Accompanied by long-term exhaustion, I did not feel very tired, but my heart was happy. It had just passed midnight, and I had already received birthday wishes from friends from all over the world. Thank you very much for everyone's blessings, and thank you very much for your friends' long-standing trust and support. Here, through Succulent Encyclopedia, I express my heartfelt thanks to all friends, and I also wish everyone that in the days ahead you will discover beauty in every little thing and feel joy in every moment. Let us all be happy because of succulents, and beautiful because of succulents!
Time flies. With the fall of the last spring rain, it is already the Start of Summer in the blink of an eye. As time goes on, for those of us who deeply love succulents, many cannot help but begin to worry about the difficulty of getting through summer. In fact, in recent years, because of environmental changes and global warming, near the Tropic of Cancer there is no longer much difference in summer, so in summer everyone faces the same problem that is not hard yet not easy. Today I will take this opportunity to chat briefly with friends.
First, let us look back at the article pushed a few days ago, "Stumbling along, growing a whole world of life from succulents!", which introduced in full some Aeonium varieties and their care issues, hoping to help succulent lovers somewhat. For Aeonium summer care, let me say a few more words about the most basic issues: when the soil mix suits your own environment, if growing outdoors you must pay attention. Light rain occasionally means you can leave them uncovered, but continuous rainy days require rain cover. Keep the air circulating, and check carefully for pests, because pests are the biggest culprit that create wounds in summer and lead to fungal invasion and black rot. Be sure to pay attention!!! Overall, Aeonium care is not entirely the same as that of other Crassulaceae succulents. Try to keep the potting soil dry, avoid rain and control water as much as possible, and maintain ventilation; this can basically greatly reduce the occurrence of problems. The difference is that Aeonium is more sun-tolerant than other succulents and basically does not need shading, but water droplets must absolutely not remain on the leaves, otherwise sunburn spots will appear.
In fact, succulents can also develop their colored state in summer without temperature differences, and this state is what is called being "pushed" into being. Everyone knows that the basic source of the state is the anthocyanin deposition produced by the plant for self-protection, which causes differences in color. Several possible conditions for producing anthocyanins include: low-temperature stimulation, high-temperature forcing, and drought. In summer, the temperature difference problem is basically impossible to achieve, unless, as mentioned in my article last year, refrigeration is used to create a temperature difference. Since temperature difference cannot be used, then we can only use drought to push them, and it is not directly cutting off water, but increasing the drying cycle of the potting soil and giving a small amount of water appropriately. This can also stimulate succulents to produce a large amount of anthocyanins in their bodies to satisfy the idea of state. The basic principle is like this, but you still need to care for them reasonably according to your own environment, and cannot follow a fixed routine step by step. When growing succulents, you cannot just push them ruthlessly. If pushing them makes them unhealthy, then never mind the state!!!
In fact, based on my usual care summary, succulents with good roots and no pests or diseases generally have no problem getting through summer. So once a problem appears in summer, first judge the two issues of roots and pests, and you may avoid many detours.
[The following pictures were basically taken on May 5 during intermittent showers. Because the sun occasionally appeared in between, there was a different kind of colorful splendor. It is just a pity that because of the rain, the water in the fish pond was muddy, which spoiled the scenery. Old Liu is a succulent grower who cannot really work a phone camera, so please bear with me!]
Blue Apple, also called Blue Elf, a succulent whose name does not match reality; its red brilliance often makes people wonder whether its name is wrong. It is also a succulent that easily becomes leggy with the slightest carelessness, so reasonable water control must be maintained and light increased. If conditions allow, using mountain spring water or purified water will make the leaves even more crystal clear.
Blue, rain strikes and clouds hide the sun
Brilliant, undiminished like blazing fire
Nimble, in the mortal world so full of splendor
Beautiful, like a heavenly immortal astonishing heaven and earth
Little Beauty, an ugly duckling variety that only becomes beautiful once it forms a stem. It cannot be controlled into a gorgeous color in a short time. It needs long-term water control and appropriate misting. Full sun is best.
Marcus, a typical old variety. Everyone says succulents have dropped in price and are worthless, but that is only said of small seedlings. In my eyes, no matter how cheap an ordinary variety is, after being grown for a long time it has the value of years, not a substitute for money. Whether a succulent is expensive or not depends on how you examine its value!
Pink Beauty, a state truly worthy of the name.
Purple Butterfly, a succulent that is very afraid of stuffiness. If it is stuffy and wet for a long time, it will surely die. It is suitable for planting with a high proportion of grit, and my succulent garden has no habit of buying soil, so I planted it in pure sand.
Yangjin, personally I like the healthy state of plump leaves. Although it is not so fully red, at least it is better than the sub-healthy kind that is half-dried and fully red from being pushed. Yangjin is a succulent that likes water. As long as the potting soil remains sufficiently permeable and breathable, and light and air circulation are increased, you can water it often.
Red Lips, a fuzzy little monkey I did not like at first, unexpectedly slowly turned into "Red Lips," with crystal-clear translucent leaves. Many people also ask me why, and I think it should be because I use pure mountain spring water to water my succulents! Because my succulent garden is located on a mountain in a national forest park, and behind the greenhouse there is mountain spring well water that never dries up all year round, so it fits the saying of favorable terrain.
Flame Tiya, a variety that easily becomes leggy, develops its state quickly, and fades quickly. Do not worry if it turns green in summer; keep it as dry as possible, and the stunning look will slowly return!
Jinhui, a variety that shines brightly with just a little sunlight, and is even more golden under the sun.
Chunmeng, one of the succulents that becomes leggy, with a fragrance of its own and a jelly-like state, extremely cute.
Only after the rain, with the muddy water, did I feel that the reflection of the blue sky was even more beautiful!
Xiangfu Lotus, an Echeveria series succulent that likes sun and water; long-term water control instead makes its color dull.
Pig Nose Cupid, a variety that develops its state easily with sufficient light; for care, refer to Debbie.
Dark Ice, only develops its state with more light and long-term water control without completely cutting off water
Crested Jelly Girl's Heart, for summer care be sure to control water and shade, otherwise the leaf tips are extremely prone to sunburn.
Last year on my birthday I happened to receive the express delivery of the ranking benefit from Encyclopedia Jun, and it also happened that this pot became a birthday gift. Not long ago I chose this Snow Field to pair with it.
This is the Aeonium after being washed by one shower after another during the day; it feels like there is a different kind of beauty!
Allen, a small seedling a friend once gave me, has now become what it is today.
Red Berry, let me mention here that its care cannot involve too much direct blazing sun, otherwise the color will become too black-red. With appropriate scattered light, frequent misting, and maintained ventilation, it will be crystal clear
Cinnabar Mole, a variety that develops its state with a large temperature difference; in summer, basically water control, shading, and rain avoidance are enough.
Golden Mountain, dormant in high temperatures, its state will get better and better. As for care, everyone can search the Encyclopedia for relevant rose-series care experience!
Dahejin, a variety cared for in a semi-dry, semi-moist way and brought into state by increased light; avoid stuffy humidity and blazing sun in summer.
Carnival, one of the Three Immortals, a variety I personally super like
Halloween, many sellers call it Salad Bowl, and too many succulent lovers are misled when collecting varieties
Red Fuji, a variety from the same period as Christmas
Copper Kettle Aeonium
Star Shadow Crested, in summer my care is basically to cut off water to prevent black rot!
Agita Rose, also last year a succulent friend contacted me through Encyclopedia Jun and gave me succulents together with a large box of flower pots. Coincidentally, the day I received them was exactly my birthday. If that Teacher Xiao Wang from Beijing sees this here today, please rest assured, I am still carefully caring for our succulents!
In the sparse light rain, the muddy mist still cannot hide the Aeonium's seductive beauty.
Sun shower, with a touch of sunlight, the colors are even more enchanting!
Chihuahua, a traditional succulent, hailed as one that has fallen to cabbage price, but I think people who say this have never truly loved it!
Opalina, a succulent whose color turns disastrous under blazing sun, so in summer it is best to use scattered light and water appropriately.
Jade Cup Echeveria, not prone to black rot in summer, but prone to turning green and growing rapidly.
Ji Hazel Moon, once unwelcome because of becoming leggy, but the years have given it a woody stem, which is stunning in its own way!
Light Snow, a succulent with an unclear relationship to Ghost Princess. For care, you can basically try water control rather than cutting off water, because this fellow tends to become leggy as soon as it gets water, which makes it especially easy to train into a cliff-hanging stem.
Rose, already beginning to go dormant and become beautiful.
Fire Offering, with proper care, it is red and prosperous all year round!
The Coral Stick that you never need to worry about losing its state
I forgot what this fellow is called. Although it is not beautiful, I cannot treat it unequally either. Let it come out and show itself, and strive to grow into a great beauty!
Lucina, grown from leaf propagation long ago. It needs ventilation and more sunlight, semi-dry and semi-moist potting soil, and attention to shading in summer.
White Peony, the very one that once went with me onto the construction site tower crane. Hailed as certain to die in summer, it is very wrongly accused; that is because of improper care. In fact, it is not necessarily doomed in summer.
Jun Beauty Aeonium, a variety often confused with Yanzi Aeonium, while Yanzi has a larger leaf shape with a rounder leaf tip.
Because the care environments for succulents differ and individuals vary, their state and color also differ greatly. My geographical location is a mountainous area, cold enough to make your breath visible and bizarrely hot. As early as April 18, the temperature in the greenhouse had already reached 60 degrees, the outdoor midday temperature reached over 40 degrees, and the nighttime temperature was often around ten degrees. So under such a temperature difference, bizarre succulent states are nothing rare!
Just as a succulent friend said in the Encyclopedia article a few days ago, as a succulent grower, although I am a seller, not every succulent can turn into money. Because of this, some succulent friends tease me: Old Liu has grown big now, has become a big shot, this one is not for sale, that one is not for sale! In fact, I want to say that although I am indeed a seller, I am also a hobbyist. I also have far too many fine specimens grown over time. Those are not merchandise, but my little by little companionship, just like my own family. How could I treat them as merchandise? Everyone has this feeling; it is not something money can control.
There is also another situation: if the succulent a buyer needs is not suitable for their environment, I will not sell it. Although selling one, no matter how much, brings profit, and it is the buyer's money being spent, once it dies because the environment is unsuitable, it is still the buyer's loss, and I have no loss at all. But what dies is what I raised with my own hands. This is no different from personally ending my own child's life, and that feeling is equally heavy. Sometimes succulents follow fate. Some succulents have nothing to do with money. There are countless succulents given away by fate, and that is because they went to places where they could be treated well. As their natal family, I am entirely willing! Do not say a succulent is just a plant. In the hearts of succulent lovers, she is a deep love, a spiritual pillar in life. She has a soul that connects heart to heart, accompanying us through spring, summer, autumn, and winter. She is an inner reliance and a comfort to the soul!
Although I now live a life of seclusion in the deep mountains, toiling endlessly every day, almost cut off from the bustling city, forgetting the clamor of heavy traffic and without the glamour of bright lights and wine, I would rather keep a garden of succulents, listen to the chirping of birds, and enjoy the beautiful waters and green mountains. Is this not accompanying an ordinary life? Such a life has gradually made me realize that only a plain, calm, and unhurried life is true. Growing succulents cultivates the heart, and grows a different kind of life!
Finally I still want to say that no matter how stunning, behind it there is no escaping our day-and-night hard work. There is no success without effort, only failure from not trying.
In the rain the succulents are especially enchanting
Green mountains and beautiful waters make people charming
Though I live in seclusion apart from the mortal world
There are often visitors knocking at the door
If you who see this article have a different succulent story, why not write it out too and share your joy with everyone. The words Encyclopedia Jun said long ago in his little musings are also a kind of spiritual support and encouragement, making me always stay true to my original intention and keep walking this road well and far. Here, I also thank Encyclopedia Jun for his long-standing support and encouragement. This feeling, greater than that of friends and almost like brothers, I think will grow stronger and stronger, because it is a kind of bond with nothing mixed in! I am willing to accompany the Encyclopedia until the end of my life, never leaving or forsaking it, and I hope even more that more succulent friends will walk this road together with us and witness this fate born of succulents!!!
Too many succulent friends ask where Old Liu is. When you reach Boshan, Zibo, navigate to Old Liu's Succulent Garden. Old Liu is here with fragrant tea waiting, looking forward to chatting with you about succulents and life. Be there or be square!
In fact, Old Liu's Succulent Garden has three treasures of old stems: Big Brother, Second Brother, and succulents. In life, there is nothing more worth protecting and accompanying than this. Being a father is a kind of selfless cherishing and unrequited giving, and also a responsibility of being human. Here I also wish all parents and children in the world a happy life!!!
Big Brother is introverted, and taking his photo has become a luxury to beg for, so I can only seize the moment to snap one; Second Brother is lively and active, becoming Big Brother's best complementary partner.
Encyclopedia Jun's little musings:
First, happy birthday to Old Liu! It has been a long time since I wrote little musings. Life always passes amid all kinds of busyness, and perhaps only in summer is there more spare time. Thinking of Old Liu's first article submitted to the Encyclopedia, and then recalling his submissions again and again, watching Old Liu go step by step from an ordinary succulent hobbyist to having his own succulent garden, I think only the person involved can understand the effort involved. I am also very happy to witness this process, and very pleased to see his sharing. Many great masters have come out of the Encyclopedia. They are grateful to the Encyclopedia for making them widely known in the succulent circle, and the Encyclopedia is also grateful for the experience sharing they bring. Some people scatter as they walk, and some things fade as you watch, but thanks to the many authors who have accompanied the Encyclopedia's growth from beginning to end. To use a popular saying: I have confirmed through your eyes that I met the right person... I think as long as people love succulents, we will eventually meet in the Encyclopedia! Just as Old Liu said: I hope more succulent friends will walk this road together with us and witness this fate born of succulents!!!
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