11 moments when you just can't keep your hands off your succulents - doing any one of them could kill them
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Author / Old Cat solo
Location / Beijing
Editor / Succulent Plant Hub
Have you all ever experienced, when growing succulents, your wallet and your plants suffering because you couldn't keep your hands still? For example, watering when you shouldn't, or messing with your succulents when you shouldn't.
Today let's list one by one the things succulent lovers might do when they can't keep their hands still, so we'll have a reminder going forward.
I'll write whatever comes to mind; additions are welcome if it's not comprehensive enough.
Throw in a picture to grab attention!! Hahaha
Number one, the most common one: watering when you shouldn't.
Are your succulent leaves wrinkled? Do they really need water? Is it because the succulent needs water, or because you think it should be watered?
Number two: pulling succulents out of their pots for no reason.
Because of some tiny reason, like the leaves not looking great or a few mealybugs, you pull the succulent out of the soil. The harm from doing this is far more serious than the plant's current condition.
Number three: buying all kinds of legendary miracle drugs or fertilizers to use.
For example, this one claims to prevent black rot, that one claims to enhance color and control shape. When using these products, keep your eyes open. The most important thing is basic care. Some nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium mixed formulas aren't that magical.
Number four: the temperature is already 35°C, or in winter it's already minus 10°C, and you're still buying, buying, buying?
Will it even adjust to the pot? Will it freeze or suffocate on the way? Can you hold off for two months before buying? (The picture shows a silly cat still smothering itself in summer)
Number five: changing the soil for no reason.
Is there too much or too little grit in the soil? What soil is trendy now? Actually, among the author's succulents, some have been grown in pure coconut coir for three years.
A stable environment is more important. If you really need to change it, you can do it in spring and autumn, at most twice a year. But if you're growing them in garden soil, then hurry up and change it.
Number six: I want to behead, I want to leaf-propagate - calm down!
Look at the current season and climate. Is it hot and humid? Has it entered dormancy? Can it still branch out? Will leaf propagation still sprout? In a hot and humid environment, wounds on the mother plant easily get infected and cause black rot.
Number seven: for plants being rooted, taking them out to check for roots for no reason.
Succulents will only send out roots if they continuously sense that the environment is suitable for growth. Constantly picking them up may interrupt the microclimate. Of course, in seasons when they can root even on a table, you can mess around all you want.
Number eight: aerial roots look so uncomfortable - should I pull them off?
Actually, there's no need to pull them off. There are many reasons for aerial roots - some due to variety, some due to air humidity, some due to season - but they don't necessarily mean the succulent is doing poorly. After growing succulents for a long time, you'll basically ignore aerial roots.
Number nine: rubbing off the farina with restless hands.
This problem may only occur with very, very new succulents; most succulent lovers treasure the farina on the leaves. Sometimes it's harder to keep an eye on neighbors, friends and family, so pay attention to how you communicate.
Number ten: the leaves are so dirty, so you keep rinsing with water.
Actually, using an air blower regularly achieves a very good effect. Rinsing with water invisibly increases the amount of watering, and easily causes water to pool in the leaf centers, both of which increase the chance of the succulent dying.
Number eleven: besides the products marketed by sellers mentioned in number two, some commonly used medicines should not be overused either.
For example, carbendazim - some succulent lovers add it every time they water, and over time the succulent's own immunity gets worse and worse. Actually, the author basically doesn't keep carbendazim at home anymore. It's not used in regular watering, and when black rot really happens, carbendazim doesn't work either.
Let me write these eleven for now; additions are welcome.
To be honest, I was once someone who couldn't keep my hands still. The watering, soil changing, pulling aerial roots, leaf propagation, touching leaves, and buying, buying, buying mentioned above... I've done them all. Really, the past is too painful to look back on.
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