Thumb-pot succulents are charming too, so why obsess over big clusters?

Do you prefer big clustered old stems, or little succulents in thumb pots? Before you answer, take a look at these first~

When it comes to growing succulents, many succulent lovers want to grow extra-large succulents, either clustered or big old stems. Big succulents really are impressive, but the "tiny ones" have their own unique beauty too! Don't believe it? Just look at what this succulent lover from Hunan grows and you'll see!

I have an apartment in the mountains that had always sat empty. I started coming to stay occasionally in the summer of last year, and afterward I also brought some succulents over, and discovered some differences in care.

Here they are placed on the window guard, with a rain canopy above, so it counts as pseudo-outdoor growing.

Starting in November I put out a few pots one after another. Usually I'd come by every two weeks, water them, and leave. They all made it through winter fine, not a single one died.

The studio is all indoor growing, and I've posted a lot about the care involved, so let me talk about the pseudo-outdoor growing.

The wind in the mountains is very strong and it's relatively dry. I still used my previous soil mix, basically mainly large gritty stone materials, and it's a bit on the dry side, so I watered more than before. After all, it was winter then, below 15°C, and succulents don't grow much, so I didn't water too aggressively.

In my case I basically control the pot, and the soil mix has no clay content, so watering until water flows out the bottom of the pot is about right, once every five days. If you grow in garden soil, I suggest just a little at a time, because if it's too wet the plants usually turn out rather ugly.

It seems autumn doesn't exist in Changsha; summer to winter arrives in a flash, and the most beautiful season for growing succulents is these short few months. What I grow in the mountains also faces southeast, so basically when the sun comes out it can get sun all day. In cold weather they grow slowly, and new leaves color up as soon as they emerge, so you can barely feel them growing. Comparing side by side, you can still sense it a bit.

I suggest friends in Changsha give pot control a try in cold weather too. After all, these are ornamental plants, and growing them big and growing them beautiful are two different things. It would be a shame to miss winter~

Let me post some photos; some were potted up only after being dragged out for over two months. They were roughly brought to the mountains in November, given some cold wind, and the leaf shapes all improved, with good color too.

As for blood spots, the chances are much higher in the mountains than in the studio. It seems there are two reasons~

First, a funny story: I didn't bring my duck-bill watering can over, so I bought a spray bottle here to water. Then one time I came by and found half a bottle of water left, so I sprayed it directly, and noticed it smelled a bit sour... I didn't think much of it at the time. A few days later my mom said she had come over to clean and used that spray bottle, with white vinegar and baking soda added to the water... to clean the glass!

The second reason is that when I stay in the mountains, I sleep especially well, and the moment I wake up the whole room is full of sunlight. The sun makes the succulents look gorgeous, and I'm in a great mood. When a person is happy, plus having confidence in the outdoor ventilation, I spray water now and then and post some videos to tease my friends~

Aside from that one time thanks to my mom, the blood spots probably come from slight sunburn after spraying water. Changsha's UV is very gentle, so it's hard to get scars from sunburn. If you have good ventilation, you can give it a try too~

Alright, that's all for today. After reading this, don't you think tiny succulents are pretty tempting too~ So do you prefer big clustered old stems or little succulents in thumb pots?