Handle the roots of succulents like this when potting them up, and they will stay strong and never rot, no matter how long you grow them

Whether you buy bare-root succulents at a flower market or online, it is best to trim the roots. The essential difference between succulents and ordinary green plants is that they are not afraid of root disturbance; in fact, they need it. The benefit of root trimming is that you can check how the roots are growing, promptly find and remove any insect eggs that may be on the roots, remove old roots, stimulate new roots, and promote growth.

When repotting a succulent, hold the pot with your hand and tip the whole plant out together with the soil, then remove the excess soil with your hands without damaging the roots. If there are too many roots, you can pull off the bottommost part directly, especially the gray-black dead roots, and pull them out cleanly in one go. Then rinse once with clean water, and if you find pests or diseases, you can soak the roots in a medicinal solution for 3-5 minutes before planting. Dead and rotting leaves at the base of the leaves also need to be cleaned off.

For trimming the roots of succulents, generally speaking, cut off all the dried and aged fibrous roots, leaving only the strong main roots, usually about two centimeters long. After trimming the roots, leave the plant in a cool, ventilated place to dry for one to two days, and leaving it for two more days does no harm. The purpose is to let the wounds heal so they do not become infected after planting. Many growers like to place the trimmed plant on the soil surface and wait for new roots to emerge before planting it, which is even safer.

Wash the roots of the plant. Make sure the soil carried on the roots is basically rinsed off. This is because it very likely contains a large number of insect eggs and bacteria. Wash gently; some root damage is unavoidable, but keep it to a minimum. You can hold the roots in a basin of water and shake them back and forth. It is best not to turn on the faucet and blast them with a very strong stream, as this will break off a large number of roots. Repeat the shaking and soaking several times until the white main roots are visible.

When a plant has just been potted up, its roots are inevitably damaged, so acclimating the plant is really about acclimating the roots. While the roots have not fully recovered and cannot absorb nutrients and water normally, the plant relies on consuming the nutrients stored in the outer old leaves to maintain normal physiological functions and the growth of new tissue. Therefore, the state it shows is limp stems and leaves, and the outer old leaves gradually shrivel and fall off.

Try to choose healthy plants with plump bodies, thick leaves and no pests or diseases for planting. Some succulents have no roots, which is not a big problem, because most succulents can be propagated by cuttings to grow roots; of course, plants with more developed roots are still the first choice. For growing succulents, the indoor temperature is best kept at around 15-28 degrees; generally indoor temperatures are suitable, with the absolute minimum not below 5 degrees and the maximum not above 35 degrees. Succulents do not need fertilizing in summer; in winter, if conditions allow, you can fertilize succulents once a month, and the fertilizer can be decomposed thin liquid fertilizer or compound fertilizer.

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