Does the mountain rose still need watering when it goes dormant?

1 Q: Summer is here. Is it good to keep my succulents outdoors year-round on a north-facing balcony?

A: In a long-term north balcony environment lacking light, they will definitely become leggy, and long-term legginess will weaken their resistance, so it definitely won't work as well as shading on a south balcony. This is just my personal suggestion, for reference only.

2 Q: What's wrong with my Echea 'Derlu'? It was fine before, then suddenly it turned like this.

A: It's short of water and has closed up.

3 Q: This is a peach egg grown from a leaf cutting. I brought it back from Hangzhou. It looked a bit wrinkled, and when I took it out I found the base had rotted. I cut off the roots at the bend. Now the leaves still feel all wrinkled. You say that before it grows roots it keeps consuming leaves. Will it be too late for roots to grow??

Also, is the one in the middle a Graptoveria 'Titubans'? It grows especially fast, and it rooted and sprouted very quickly?

A: The best way to handle a peach egg after bringing it back is to transplant it with its soil, specifically to avoid damaging the roots as much as possible! Since you've already cut the roots, you can only put it in a moist soil, ventilated, bright-indirect-light environment to grow roots!

During root growth the leaves will keep shrinking and wrinkling, but don't worry. When you can clearly see fine hair roots coming out of the cut, then you can water appropriately! After absorbing water the leaves will plump up again, so don't worry about it not being able to hold on.

In the photo below, there is no Graptoveria 'Titubans' - the one in the middle is a Graptoveria 'Douglas Huth' leaf! Graptoveria 'Titubans' leaves are short and plump, with patterned coloring.

4 Q: In photo one, today I found that the Prince's black rot has set in on my succulent. I'm so sad - I've raised it for over a year. The lower part should almost be forming an old stem by now. Today I steeled myself and cut it off. Can it grow roots if I take cuttings in this weather?

Today I also soaked it in rooting solution. Photos two, three, and four - please help me see what varieties these leaf cuttings are. A friend gave them to me?

A: You can still take cuttings in this weather, but don't expose them to harsh sun - bright indirect light is enough.

The leaf cuttings below are hard to identify clearly, so I can only guess, haha! Don't blame me if I'm wrong!

Photo two: left is Pachyveria 'Clavifolia' (winter beauty), middle is Graptopetalum paraguayense (ghost plant), right is unknown;

Photo three: left is Graptosedum 'Francesco Baldi' or Graptosedum 'Golden Glow'?, middle is Echeveria 'Black Prince', right is Graptoveria 'Titubans';

Photo four: top is Sedum pachyphyllum (jelly beans), middle I don't recognize, bottom is Echeveria 'Painted Lady' (blue stone lotus)?

5 Q: Hello, this is the second time I've bought an Echea 'Derlu', but I feel like the leaves have been turning yellow lately. What should I do?

A: Not only are the leaves yellow, it's also leggy! You just have to be patient and first grow the roots well, then gradually increase light to strengthen resistance and shape it, and when watering, appropriately apply some fertilizer (diluted, not too high a concentration). Slowly it will become plump and good-looking!

6 Q: How can I prevent legginess? I keep them on the balcony at home - I don't dare put them outside for fear of sunburn. Can these leaf cuttings survive?

A: The only way to prevent legginess is to increase light and control water appropriately. For small leaf-cutting seedlings, increase light duration gradually. Small seedlings need relatively more water than old stems or mature plants. The soil shouldn't dry out completely - water when dry, let dry between waterings.

7 Q: Please take a look at these two guys. They've been all wrinkled, and giving water doesn't help? What on earth is going on?

A: From the timing, they've been planted quite a while! The roots should have grown by now. Terracotta pots drain water very quickly - try watering thoroughly!

8 Q: Look at what's wrong with my Sedum pachyphyllum (jelly beans)? It suddenly turned like this yesterday. Located in Guangzhou, on a balcony hanging rack. In summer there's no direct sunlight, and ventilation is very good. Also this Sedum sediforme (thousand Buddha hand) - I bought it over two months ago, and it keeps getting more wilted.

A: Both pots are short of water! Especially the Sedum sediforme - terracotta pot plus unobstructed balcony ventilation means the watering frequency must keep up! In this weather, a terracotta pot can dry out in three or four days. Controlling water is not the same as cutting off water! With such good ventilation, rest assured and boldly water thoroughly!

9 Q: What is the one on the left of the first pot called? Its roots seem to have rotted and it won't grow. The string of pearls on the right seems wilted, a bit flattened. The plectranthus column in the second pot has turned yellow - what's the reason, and what should I do?

A: The left one in the first pot is Echeveria 'White Egret'. The string of pearls wilted from harsh sun plus lack of water, and the plectranthus is the same. Terracotta pots drain and breathe quickly. As I said, controlling water is not the same as cutting off water!

10 Q: Please help me look at my rose. It was like this when I bought it. Is it dormant? How long does dormancy last? Do I need to water it? The seller said it's dormant in summer and I shouldn't water it.

A: It's true that mountain roses go dormant, but saying you can't water in summer is a bit ridiculous - unless you're planning to make a mountain rose specimen, haha.

The dormancy period of mountain roses is relatively long, running through the entire summer. During this time their water needs are very low, but it's not that they don't need any. After a while you still need to spray some water, to keep the roots alive for blooming in autumn!