Aeonium care is a slow art, and growing them into stunning form amazes everyone

Foreword

Follow the encyclopedia, meet the beauty (WeChat ID: duoroubaike)

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Thanks to the author [I want to be called Ye Kai] for theoriginal submissionsharing

Editing and organizing: Encyclopedia Jun

Location: Qingyuan, Zhejiang

Many thanks to Encyclopedia Jun for the hard work of pushing this post, giving me the chance to share with everyone. This article can be considered a sequel (see the previous one: "Growing Succulents Is a Slow Art, Waiting for Them to Slowly Grow, Slowly Become Beautiful!"). First, to give the aeoniums that did not appear last time a chance to show their faces; second, to reply to the comments from fellow succulent lovers. The replies will involve some care experience. Writing about experience really burns brain cells, and conditions vary across the country. Even in the same province, same city, same neighborhood, the environments differ, so do not blindly copy. If my article can give you even a tiny bit of inspiration, that is already a great honor. The key is still to grow them yourself slowly and accumulate experience slowly.

Red variegated aeonium (Aeonium 'Red Variegatum')

The wild grass makes the red variegated aeonium look even more beautiful

Black aeonium (Aeonium 'Zwartkop'). This set of pots has 12 in total, tall, short, fat and thin all included. The ink paintings on the bottles are each different too, with a distinctive charm. I specially asked someone to bring them back, one of a kind. This tall pot is about 70 cm tall

1. About flower pots

My love for collecting flower pots is second only to flowers. For every potted plant, I hope to match a pot that belongs exclusively to it according to color and shape. When I have time, I also like to go to flower shops and volunteer to help buyers match suitable pots. If the flower and the pot share a same or similar color that can bring out the best in each other, and if the flower shape and pattern can also complement each other, then it is perfect. Those interested can buy some books on color matching or books on aesthetics and art to read, accumulate slowly, and inspiration for matching will flow naturally like a living spring. In college, I especially loved soaking in the library, reading shelf by shelf, especially aesthetics and visual books. Over time, I truly gained a lot.

Yulong Guanyin (Aeonium 'Yulong Guanyin'). The green of the upper half of the pot and the yellow of the lower half match perfectly with the colors of Yulong when it is in form

Bronze pot aeonium (Aeonium 'Tonghu'). The colorful top-dressing stones match the color of the pot, and the color of the pot's lines matches the leaves

Black aeonium

As for my flower pots, there are probably at least a thousand. The garage, the firewood room, and the display cabinets at home are all filled with all kinds of pots. Most were specially brought back by the flower shop owner when restocking, some were bought on business trips or travels, and a small portion were bought from Taobao. For growing aeoniums I prefer large and deep pots, so they can grow freely, and of course they can go many years without repotting. Every time I repot on a large scale, it lasts several months, tiring body and mind. To be clear, besides the aeonium series, my home also has the aloe series, the Cuban oregano series, the fern series and the sedum series... To repot less, I really like using large pots. Except for water culture, flower pots must have holes drilled in the bottom. I cannot stand being nervous every time I water, and seeing roots grow out from the bottom is also important information that repotting is needed.

Black aeonium

Bronze pot aeonium and white peony (Graptoveria 'Titubans') mixed planting. Aeoniums are succulents quite suited to tall pots

Black aeonium 'Lineatum' and ruby necklace (Sedum rubrotinctum) mixed planting

Black aeonium

2. About soil mix

Aeoniums are quite easy to keep alive. I have grown them in pure garden soil, in grit, and in various ratio mixes, and they all grew happily. But for old aeonium stems, having coarse grit at over 70% is a bit better, more breathable, and even after several days of rain you do not have to worry too much about black rot. At the same time, it also makes shape control easier. If an old stem still grows too fast, the branches break easily, and the good shape you worked so hard to grow is ruined. For grit, I prefer maifan stone; I feel its ability to improve soil is relatively strong. Of course, when I am broke, ceramsite, coarse sand and coal cinders all get used to mix with peat soil and garden soil. For small seedlings, you can use a bit more peat and coconut coir, which helps root growth.

Aeonium 'Zhongzan Qu', grown in pure maifan stone with controlled culture for four years, finally showing some form this year

Aeonium 'Zhongzan Qu'. Look at these long leaves and you can tell not much grit was used. I hope it grows in size first. There are still several pots, all with long leaves. When one day they stand tall and graceful, they will appear on camera again

Black aeonium 'Lineatum', a variety that changes especially dramatically. In spring it is lush green. Also grown in pure maifan stone

Black aeonium 'Lineatum'. Look at the stem and guess its age

Black aeonium

3. About watering

I always water thoroughly only after the soil dries out completely. As for how to judge complete dryness, mainly look at whether the leaves droop, or feel the leaves to see if they are soft. Of course, you also have to rule out leaves softening due to strong sun, disease and other causes. In winter and summer, extend the watering interval, but it is still water thoroughly after complete dryness. In my memory, half-watering is almost a plant killer. Given that everyone's pots, care environment and plant age differ, it is really hard to give a fixed watering schedule. Everyone should still pay attention and observe. To keep a plant alive and beautiful, you absolutely cannot be lazy and cannot expect to do it once and for all!

California incense burner (Aeonium 'California Incense Burner'). Last time a fellow succulent lover left a comment wanting to see it. Originally its form was still far from camera-ready, but it is easy on watering. The leaves are thick; water once and rest for a month

California incense burner, with 5 side shoots. The leaves are really thick. Looking at the withered leaves, even pulling hard will not pull them off

Aeonium 'Shaoxiu' single-head combination

Another pot of aeonium 'Shaoxiu' single-head combination

Black aeonium

Black aeonium

4. About leaf propagation

At first I also thought aeoniums could not be propagated from leaves, because the leaves are generally too thin. One spring, for shaping purposes, I picked many leaves from bronze pot aeonium and casually put a whole fruit basin of layered leaves on the lowest flower rack beside the sink. After about 10 days, surprisingly almost all the leaves sprouted. After that I started leaf propagating continuously. For aeonium leaf propagation, place them in a cool spot with high air humidity and not-too-good ventilation. There is no need to arrange them one by one; only by placing them densely together do they sprout easily. Choosing the growing season for leaf propagation gives a higher sprouting rate, and spring feels a bit higher than autumn, probably because spring air humidity is greater.

Black aeonium, the aeonium I leaf propagate most frequently, ordinary yet incomparably beautiful all the same

Aeonium 'Xiangfu'. I do not know if this is right. Some people say some aeonium varieties have large-leaf and small-leaf forms. I feel it is formed by controlled versus non-controlled culture, unrelated to variety

Another pot of aeonium 'Xiangfu'

Yet another pot of aeonium 'Xiangfu'. Actually these three pots of aeonium are all from the same mother, but with different pots and different forms

Common aeonium and sedum mixed planting, which also pairs nicely

Round-leaf aeonium single head

5. About encouraging multiple heads

For larger aeoniums like Cyclops and 'Yanzi', multiple heads do not sprout easily, so beheading needs consideration, as it may turn into a bare pole commander. For most other aeoniums such as purple velvet, Halloween, eight-foot mirror, 'Xiangfu', 'Shaoxiu', 'Yanrihui', black aeonium and so on, I have beheaded them or directly stripped all the leaves. Usually this is done in autumn below 30°C, and when spring comes you can harvest a multi-headed aeonium. Of course, you can also directly pinch the growing tip to encourage multiple heads. Beheading or stripping all leaves carries some risk and leaves marks. To be safer, we can do it by picking leaves. After a newly acquired aeonium seedling has been grown fairly sturdy, pick leaves from the middle layers to encourage new heads.

My aeoniums were originally all kept on the north balcony, with insufficient light all year, only scattered light, so the leaves grew leggy with large gaps. Picking leaves at the edges will not produce new heads, but picking leaves three or four layers in usually does produce new heads. Whichever method you use, the aeonium may look rather ugly for a while. Only if you can stand its ugliness do you have the chance to witness its stunning beauty!

The eight-foot mirror that had all its leaves stripped last autumn quickly burst out new heads, but it is still ugly. Look, it even got bitten by insects

The same pot of eight-foot mirror, beautiful again

Bronze pot aeonium, trypophobia is about to kick in

Another pot of bronze pot aeonium

Black aeonium, even if your price plunges, my love for you does not decrease but increases

The black aeonium grand elder, kept in the living room too long and starting to spread into a big pancake, moved to the greenhouse to salvage its beauty

Red-edged houseleek (Aeonium 'Red Edge'). Count how many heads. In the future when my daughter learns math, I plan to let her count them

Gray aeonium. The promised gray turned red. Although it appeared last time, it is so absurdly beautiful that I will let it appear once more from another angle

6. About fertilizing

My dad likes to fertilize, mainly using the milk powder my daughter left over. There was once a fully outdoor-grown black aeonium he raised into a wild sprawling thing, and later it mysteriously developed black rot. I never fertilize. For old aeonium stems, the less fuss the better; lighter is better. Watering it with spring water or letting it get rained on counts as fertilizing. I have also never used pesticides. I feel aeoniums themselves do not attract insects much, perhaps related to their smell. After insects appear, my approach is rather crude: move it under a big plum tree at home, and after a period of sun and rain it recovers without medicine.

Here comes a wave of top-down views, please ignore the messy background

Aeonium 'Shaoxiu'

Aeonium 'Halloween'

Aeonium 'Shaoxiu'

Aeonium 'Plum Perdy'

Aeonium 'Voodoo'

7. About why I love aeoniums

Just from the name you can tell it is magical. In 2010 I saw a black aeonium on Taobao. It was not beautiful, but I thought that since succulents are ever-changing and colorful, if it dares to be called a mage it must be even more magical, so I would buy one and see. Aeoniums indeed mostly do not smell very good, and they feel sticky to the touch, but these small flaws cannot hide their beauty that changes with the four seasons and differs year after year. Most importantly, they are not fussy and are easy to keep alive. So far only three aeoniums have died on me: one black aeonium 'Lineatum' (too old), one green aeonium original species (too much rain in summer causing black rot), and one black aeonium (my dad fertilized too much). Compared with sedums, the survival rate of aeoniums is simply sky-high. So gradually I stopped getting sedums and focused on growing aeoniums. I only need to start taking insulation measures when winter temperatures reach 4 or 5°C.

Aeonium 'Yanzi'. The pot is very heavy, but my dad can carry it

Aeonium 'Yanzi'. After moving into the greenhouse it was reborn, and it can actually turn this red, almost wrapping into a rose

Aeonium 'Damo'. Look at the stem and guess the age

Aeonium 'Damo', another shot from a different angle. Look at its stem and I feel old myself

Aeonium 'Lily Lily', just moved in from outside, lush green

Black aeonium

8. About growing succulents and money

I have always felt that you should live the life you can enjoy with the money you can earn. Do not overdraft, do not borrow, do not leech off your parents, do not puff yourself up beyond your means, and even more, do not use money to measure whether a person is successful. Materially I am not wealthy, but spiritually I am rich. I used to write articles and novels outside work to earn some extra money, but that money quickly turned into various plants, pots and books. Before I became obsessed with succulents, most of my income went to buying books, clothes, accessories and cosmetics, because the inner and outer are equally indispensable. After becoming obsessed with succulents, I rarely go shopping even once a year. My favorite places to visit are flower shops, flower markets, greenhouses and growing bases. Even when traveling I have to find a place with a succulent base, and when taking my daughter out to play I have to find one with many flowers in the yard. I still buy books; besides literature, I also started buying gardening books and magazines. Gardening books are the truly expensive ones.

Have you noticed that among the photos I post, crested aeoniums are very few, because crested ones are really too expensive. Just admire other people's. I will sit and wait for crested aeonium prices to plunge... hahaha I am not in a hurry, I am not in a hurry!

Appearing on camera again, so beautiful, I love it... it might even be a cross between red bronze pot and round-leaf aeonium

Aeonium 'Plum Perdy'

Aeonium 'Plum Perdy' disfigured by my dad. Just make do with looking at it. Its original shape was truly impeccable

Aeonium 'Plum Perdy' before being disfigured by my dad

Purple velvet and Halloween together

Aeonium 'Starburst', seems to have blood spots

Another pot of aeonium 'Starburst'

9. About my family's support

The ones who always support me most are my dad and my husband. My dad is always like a friend, never forcing me to do anything, but when I have something going on, he always steps up without hesitation, supports, helps and takes it all on. For example, my aeonium greenhouse was built entirely by him. Of course, my dad likes to brag a bit. He said he could build it in three days, but because of all kinds of daily chores, it took him over a month. After the greenhouse was built, he began his territory-claiming journey. Tomatoes, wild orchids and Chinese roses all marched openly into the greenhouse, and the empty space in the greenhouse even became the perfect place for drying herbs. Well, my dad, so much for the elegant and upscale plan! My dad also likes to water, and when watering he often accidentally breaks aeonium branches. Now I have stripped him of the right to water the aeoniums - for life! He helped pull the shade net once in May, then removed it again when the rainy season came. Today he asked whether it should be put up again. My dad is just that thoughtful and reliable...

My husband has endless good qualities. He especially supports my hobbies and respects all my strange and quirky ideas. He is not a rich man, but toward his wife, children and relatives he is absolutely generous; the only one he is stingy with is himself. I once witnessed this guy haggling over buying a few egg tarts, and in the end, because the price was not agreed, he actually did not buy them, which made me anxious! Once my husband helped me move a pot of purple velvet that was all maifan stone to the countryside and twisted his hand, and many heads of the purple velvet broke too. A shape that originally had no dead angles from 360 degrees collapsed instantly. It hurt my heart. I was about to launch a serious and earnest ideological education session, but when I heard he had hurt his hand, I quickly shut up. Injured as he was, he often acted cute, but he also often used his other hand to help me move this and that.

"To stick with a hobby for so long, and do it so extremely well, I think that is great!" my husband said to me once after I won first place at a succulent show. I also wanted to say, "To support your other half in developing a hobby long term without complaint or regret, and to be proud of what she achieves, you do even better!" Of course, to complain a bit, we do argue too, because sometimes a science-and-engineering guy really has a different brain circuit. After an argument, when I want to calm down, I leave home for a while (usually to eat dessert). Later, my husband said it is not safe for me to leave home, so next time we argue he will be the one to run away from home. But after he said that, we seem to have not argued for a long time... Sometimes I feel that since getting married I have been spoiled by him into being unable to take care of myself. Thinking back, before I met my husband I was also a proper tough girl...

Aeonium 'Charming'

Purple velvet

Aeonium 'Carnival'

Purple velvet

A few pots of aeonium 'Shaoxiu'

10. About that dream that has not come true

In middle school I already had a garden dream: one person, one dog, one garden. Since meeting succulents, the plants in the garden have found their place. People who are not ruthless enough cannot let go of their current life. Only by giving up can you gain. I cannot give up my current job and relatively stable life, so naturally I cannot gain the satisfaction and happiness of realizing the garden dream. The biggest obstacle to realizing the garden dream and turning a hobby into a career is actually that I cannot bear to sell the plants I grow, plus an endless late-stage procrastination. That day I told a friend that back in 2010 I was already thinking of setting up a succulent base. The friend said if I had really done it, I would have made a fortune long ago. Mm hm, late-stage procrastination is already incurable! So, to the entrepreneurs who bravely turn dreams into reality, I sincerely give a thumbs-up for your daring to fight and venture forth. The way you strive for your dreams is even more beautiful than flowers!

Aeonium 'Zhongzan Qu'

Aeonium 'Carnival'

Aeonium 'Carnival'

Aeonium 'Bingrong'. The one showing half of itself at the bottom is a very large and very green Yulong Guanyin. Once, all my aeoniums were kept on the north balcony with only scattered light, with hardly any form to speak of. The only advantage was being especially worry-free, needing no shading and no insulation. Now only these few pots are left in the city. I still feel the ones in the countryside greenhouse are prettier. To see their various beauties, a bit of hard work is worth it.

Bronze pot aeonium. Grown in the same pot, the bronze pots still have different forms. Aeoniums are just that magical

Life is not easy, and adult life is even less easy. Nine out of ten things do not go as one wishes. The word "endure" is very important: endure criticism, endure prejudice, endure being made things difficult, endure poverty, endure triviality, endure suffering, endure misery. So much must be endured. If you only desperately endure, sooner or later you will endure internal injury. Growing succulents is undoubtedly an outlet for our emotions. There are many other outlets we can find too; there is always one that suits you. Most of the time we have no choice but to endure, but do not wrong yourself too much, and do not forget to make yourself happy. I really like watching Aamir Khan's movie "3 Idiots". Our hearts are very fragile, so we must often coax it: "All is well!" We can also coax our succulents: "It is fine, I will just wait for you to slowly become beautiful! Even if you are green and spread out and attracting insects again, I still only want to say it is so good to have you!"

The black aeoniums

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