A succulent Aeonium's inspiring growth record from limp and droopy to radiant glory

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Thanks to the author [A Jiu] for theoriginal submissionsharing

Submission date: 2018-05-05

Edited and compiled by: Baike Jun

Location: Wuhan City, Hubei Province

The must-read platform for every succulent grower is Succulent Plant Baike. Once you've achieved a little success, you start thinking about writing something to record your own growth. I remember my first article published on Baike was "The Inspiring Succulent Record of Greater Wuhan". This kind of popular comparison post is what succulent enthusiasts love to show off the most, and it best reflects the sense of achievement in growing succulents.

After three years of growing succulents, more than 7000 photos on my phone have completely documented the growth trajectory of every pot of succulents I have. They also document my journey from being indifferent to Aeoniums to now being deeply obsessed with them, finding them sweet as honey.

Compared to the common Echeveria, Sempervivum, and others in the Crassulaceae family, the Aeoniums in the Aeonium genus are larger in size and more diverse in their changes. I set a time watermark on my phone so the trajectory of transformation can be seen more clearly.

First, let me post a photo of my beloved favorite to anchor this post, then let's go see my inspiring Aeoniums.

First, a beautiful front-facing photo

Here's a close-up detail shot

And another one taken from above in the early morning, a perfectly formed bouquet shape.

One, My favorite thousand-faced beauty --- Halloween

When I first fell into the Aeonium pit, the variety I heard succulent enthusiasts mention most often was Halloween. They said the name comes from her unpredictable colors, with different beauty in each period. At that time, she was still a luxury item, costing 3 to 400 at any time.

The great master Su Jun once wrote an evaluation that Halloween possesses all the merits of Aeoniums, is the nobility among Aeoniums, graceful and luxurious. She is also the most romantic Aeonium, with brilliant colors, distinct layers, and endless variations. It really is a very accurate interpretation.

January 9, the first Halloween I acquired in 2018, arriving home just before Wuhan's freezing weather. Although she was a plain vegetable color and the leaves were not spirited, her form was very well-proportioned. I served her with half a bag of Qianmo soil, looking forward to her magnificent transformation.

January 26, although the temperature was very low, she established herself in the pot quite quickly, and the leaves were already spirited.

Halloween has several names: Halloween, Red Heart Aeonium, Salad Bowl, and so on. Actually, they are all just different states she goes through in each period.

February 8, under the warm winter sun, the Red Heart Aeonium's beauty begins to show.

March 15, the peak period of the Red Heart Aeonium. The leaf center is very red, the leaves present a yellow-green color, and the leaf patterns are also very obvious now.

March 26, the Red Heart Aeonium begins to transform, the leaves turn purplish-red, and the leaf center begins to turn green.

March 30, Halloween's diverse changes are truly astonishing. Nurtured by the warm spring breeze and sun, the leaves have curled in slightly, and the leaf center is getting greener and greener.

April 4, every morning when I get up I can't resist taking a photo of her, hoping for new changes.

April 6, taken at noon, the color is different again

April 21, the temperature rose to 28°C. I think the current state can be called Salad Bowl now. The leaf center is layered and very tightly packed. The color has also changed from the dark red commonly seen in Aeoniums to yellow, interspersed with jade green. Among all the red Aeoniums, she is very eye-catching, fully displaying her noble temperament.

Two, The most unbelievable transformation --- Black Aeonium

This perfect bouquet-shaped Black Aeonium cluster, pleasing to the eye, right? Note, the next photo might make you doubt whether it's the same one

The Black Aeonium just bought back, with thin and long leaves, limp and droopy like a bowl of noodles, also like a comic protagonist's messy red hair. How much love must I have to pot her up with such hope

February 8, after a week of acclimating behind glass, the leaf center began to turn green, clearly established in the pot, but the leaves had no luster at all.

February 26, after two weeks of being placed outside the windowsill to sun, the leaves had a bit of luster. Although the long leaves hadn't been fully consumed yet, the beauty was beginning to show.

March 9, under the warm sun and large temperature difference, the Aeonium grew very fast. Plus, since I love plucking leaves and often help her shape up, isn't she much prettier now

A surprise discovery of a leaf that appears to be variegated

April 8, after two months, she is already a completely different plant from when she first came back

April 19, finally achieved the ink-black color of the Black Aeonium

Three, The most stunning transformation --- Shaoxiu

This is an ordinary Shaoxiu, but this perfect bouquet shape makes me feel there is no more well-proportioned Aeonium in the world

Shot from above to get a perfect circle, a 360-degree flawless bouquet

October 28, 2017, the first batch of Shaoxiu from a group buy in the succulent enthusiasts' group. Clearly forced out by heavy watering, with long large leaves sticking out, and carrying a twisted effect, you couldn't even see the shape of each plant clearly. Extremely disappointing.

November 5, after full-day sun exposure in the warm sun, she gained some color, but the form still hadn't changed much.

This posture reminds me of Medusa's hair in mythology. From then on, when talking about her with succulent friends, we all called her Medusa Shaoxiu. (At that time I had no idea there would later be an Aeonium variety actually named Medusa)

January 12, 2018, after more than two months of growing, through her own consumption and my tireless leaf plucking, she barely had some shape. You could see the leaf center turning green, and the signs of growth were very obvious.

February 8, the changes during this period were the most obvious. The new leaves growing out were short and plump, and the leaf center also began to turn red

March 15, she had already transformed from a wild type to a gentle type

March 23, the bouquet is formed. After becoming beautiful, I have to take a photo every week.

April 19, the leaves have already started to curl in, even more beautiful!

Took an artistic ID photo against a black background, and she actually radiates glory all on her own!

Four, The most magnificent transformation --- Large Shaoxiu

This Large Shaoxiu was called Dutch Shaoxiu at the time. Now she is my treasure that anchors the home, the number one seat in A Jiu's Succulent Garden.

Speaking of this Shaoxiu, I often nickname him Big Guy. Because her size (around 20 jin, even heavier when rained on) is a big challenge for me with lumbar disc herniation.

This is the photo of succulent friends helping me pot her up after the group buy. I couldn't move her, so I could only foster her at Belle's place first.

The big temperature drop in winter had me worried every day, but fortunately she often sent photos and videos to relieve my longing. Seeing her grow more and more "sturdy", I truly thank Belle for her care.

A whole ring of pups burst out from under the main head

March 7, finally brought her home. The way she looked when she just arrived home, very green and fresh.

Placed in the sunniest spot for full-day sun exposure, and after a few days she began to show some color

April 15, give her a little sunshine and she shines! In just over a month she perfectly transformed, and took the number one seat in A Jiu's Succulent Garden.

Standard pagoda bouquet shape

Took another photo a week later, even more beautiful

Today I've only listed the transformations of four representative Aeoniums. Have those of you watching felt their radiant glory? Hurry and jump into the Aeonium pit to enjoy it!

Finally, a photo of a corner of A Jiu's Succulent Garden to close the post!

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This article isexclusively authorizedby the author to WeChat public account: Succulent Plant Baike (ID: duoroubaike). The article content does not represent the views and stance of the public account

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