Succulent flower stalks withering in summer: cleaning them up in time can effectively prevent leaf rot

Succulent flower stalks generally extend out from the middle part of the main stem or near the tip of the leaf buds. Sometimes people mistake a newly emerged flower stalk for an offset. Some succulents are indeed sometimes hard to tell apart, but there is still a general way to distinguish them: flower stalks basically do not grow from the bottom of the succulent, while offsets generally grow from its bottom. It takes a relatively long time for a succulent to grow a flower stalk, which is also due to the slow-growing nature of succulents, so growing a flower stalk consumes a lot of nutrients that would otherwise go to the main plant's growth. Sometimes, when nutrients are insufficient, the plant will actively consume its lowest leaves. Therefore, when you see a flower stalk growing, it is normal for the lower leaves of the succulent to turn yellow, shrivel and be absorbed and used up.

As for whether to cut off succulent flowers when they bloom, it mainly depends on the plant's condition. If the succulent is in good condition, you can certainly let it bloom. If the condition is poor or the environment is bad, for example in summer, cut it off early to avoid excessive unnecessary consumption. In addition, with Haworthia, because the flower stalk is relatively thin and its connection to the stem is not very firm, it is easy to pull off, so there is no need to cut the flower stalk; just press lightly on the plant and pull it off directly. How do you cut a succulent flower stalk? This is very simple: without damaging the leaves, just cut it off at the base. However, note that some succulents will drip sap after being cut, so remember to use paper or something similar to deal with it when cutting. It is just that simple.

Succulents, especially those in the Echeveria genus, particularly love to bloom in late spring and early summer. Whether you cut them or not, by summer some dried-up flower stalks will remain there, which not only affects the appearance but also becomes a small hidden danger for getting through summer. The base of the flower stalk is tightly clamped by the leaves. Once it rains or water accumulates in the leaf axils, the dried flower stalk easily becomes a breeding ground for pathogens, and the leaves around the flower stalk are also relatively prone to turning to mush and dropping. When you see some dried flower stalks, you can pull them out early. Because they are clamped by the leaves, sometimes pulling hard will drag the whole succulent out of the pot. The correct way is to gently spread apart the leaves clamping the flower stalk with your hands, then gently wiggle the flower stalk left and right or pull it straight out.

Succulent flowering affects growth. Blooming consumes a large amount of nutrients. During the flowering period, some lower leaves dry up and lose water, and it is not easy to produce new offsets, let alone grow taller and bigger. Several of my succulents that bloomed last year all looked dull and gray, and it took a long time after flowering for them to recover their vitality. I thought they would not bloom this year, but they grew flower stalks again. However, blooming succulents are more beautiful and have more layering. If you want to enjoy the flowers of succulents, let them bloom. If you want your succulents to grow better, cut off the flower stalk as soon as it emerges.

Once the flower stalk has fully grown, there are two outcomes: one is that after flowering, pollination and seed pod formation, the whole plant dies, such as the well-known Aeonium tabuliforme, Orostachys and Sedum lineare, etc. If you do not want to see your succulent die after flowering, you must nip it in the bud as soon as the flower stalk starts to grow. The other is that after flowering, pollination and seed pod formation, the whole plant will not die, but it will consume a large number of lower leaves, sometimes consuming a whole ring of leaves. Flower stalks that have not yet dried out are often tightly connected to the stem, and pulling them hard may cause some unnecessary wounds, so you can wait until they dry out before pulling them.

Many people say that succulents die once they bloom. This statement is incorrect. My succulents Tia, Alan and Peach Egg all bloomed last year, and they are growing just as well this year, and even have flower buds again. So not all succulents die after flowering. Currently, it is confirmed that succulents in the Orostachys genus die after flowering. Some in the Crassulaceae and Aizoaceae families also die, those in the Crassula genus die after flowering, such as Crassula and Moonlight, etc., and almost all in the Sempervivum genus also die after flowering. Therefore, the succulents above must not be allowed to bloom. Whether you let the others bloom depends on your mood.

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