Detailed Explanation of the Planting Methods and Cultivation Techniques for Symplocos paniculata (with pictures)
The Symplocos paniculata tree, also known as grey wood, seed-broken tree, Wuyu, Zimu, fence firewood, etc., is a deciduous shrub or small tree of the genus Symplocos in the family Symplocaceae. It is widely distributed in northeastern China and areas south of the Yellow River, and is especially common in the provinces south of the Yangtze River basin. It has the advantages of tolerance to drought and barren soil, a well-developed root system, strong sprouting ability, and easy propagation. Now let us take a look at the cultivation techniques for Symplocos paniculata!
Growth Habits of Symplocos paniculata
Symplocos paniculata grows on mountain slopes, roadsides, open forests or dense forests at an altitude of 760-2500 m. It prefers a warm and humid climate and deep, fertile sandy loam, and likes light but also tolerates slight shade. It is a deep-rooted tree species with strong adaptability, cold resistance, drought tolerance and barren tolerance, and grows best along riverbanks and at village edges and field borders. It is more common in the south; this species is suitable in both north and south, and its white flowers and blue fruits make it good for flower hedges, forest edges or roadsides.
Seed Collection of Symplocos paniculata
Select a mature Symplocos paniculata tree as the mother tree for seed collection. The seed collection time is from late September to early October, and picking immature seeds early must be strictly avoided. After collection, the fruits need to be piled and composted for 3-5 days. Once the fruit skin becomes soft and ripe, put them into a cloth bag and rub and wash repeatedly to remove the fruit skin and impurities and obtain the seeds. The thousand-seed mass is about 140 grams, and the moisture content should be kept at about 30%. They must not lose water, and should not be sun-dried or stored dry.
Seed Treatment of Symplocos paniculata
Symplocos paniculata seeds should absorb enough water before sowing or treatment. The seeds have good water permeability; after soaking for 24 hours, the seeds can absorb 30-40% of their water. For forced dormancy, acid scarification can be used; generally, concentrated sulfuric acid with a specific gravity of 1.84 is used for 5.5 hours, then placed in running water to rinse for 18 hours, reducing the restriction of the seed shell on the embryo and increasing the permeability of the seed coat. Treatment with gibberellin can regulate and break the physiological dormancy of the seeds.
Nursery Site Selection for Symplocos paniculata
Choose a nursery site that is sheltered from wind and shady, flat and not waterlogged, and convenient for drainage and irrigation, with loose, moist sandy loam soil. Deeply plow the soil 20-30 cm, remove stones and weeds, and during plowing apply 45 tons/hectare of high-quality decomposed organic fertilizer. At the same time, the nursery site should be deeply dug and turned for sun exposure in combination with the soil to kill insects and sterilize. For insect killing, use 2 grams/square meter of 50% zinc-phosphorus, mix with an appropriate amount of fine soil, spread it on the soil, and cover the surface with soil. For sterilization, use 3 grams/square meter of zineb, mix with an appropriate amount of fine soil, and spread it on the soil. Then level the seedbed. The seedbed should run east-west, be slightly compacted, and then be covered with a 10 cm layer of substrate. The bed surface width is 1 m, the bed height is 20 cm, and the path width is 35 cm. If the bed is made and sown in a sunny, open place, a shade shed needs to be built, about 1.5 m high, covered with double-layer shade netting to reduce the light intensity in the nursery.
Timely Sowing of Symplocos paniculata
The sowing time for Symplocos paniculata is mid-to-late April. The sowing method is manual broadcasting or drilling, and 12-24 grams can be sown per square meter. The soil cover should be shallow. For drilling, the row spacing is 20 cm and the sowing furrow depth is 8 cm. First apply decomposed base fertilizer at the bottom of the furrow, cover the base fertilizer with 6 cm of garden soil, and then sow. If seedling transplanting is carried out, the sowing density can be increased, with a sowing rate of 75-100 kg/mu. After sowing, cover with soil 1.5 cm thick, preferably with rice straw, which can help retain moisture and inhibit weeds. The thickness of the straw cover should be such that the seedbed is neither too dry nor too wet.
Management and Care of Symplocos paniculata
1. Seedlings generally begin to emerge in early May. At this time, weeds in the nursery should be pulled out promptly. After weeding, loosen the soil and apply 0.11% dilute nitrogen fertilizer water to promote seedling growth. If cutworms harm the seedlings during the seedling stage, trichlorfon or pyrethroid insecticides can be sprayed for control. In severely affected plots, spray 2.5% trichlorfon powder at 2-3 kg/mu before the larvae reach the third instar.
2. June to September is usually the peak growth season for Symplocos paniculata seedlings, so frequent weeding and generous fertilization must be carried out, with nitrogen fertilizer as the main fertilizer. During the rainy season, deep ditches should be dug around the seedbed to facilitate drainage and prevent root damage from waterlogging on rainy days. In July and August, potassium fertilizer should be added to the fertilizer water to promote lignification of the seedlings and enhance their resistance. No more fertilizer should be applied after September.
3. Around September each year is the flower bud formation period. At this time, watering should be consciously controlled so that the stems and branches appear slightly wilted, which helps flower bud formation. Perhaps keeping it dry at this time may cause red spider mites to spread, but after slight damage by red spider mites, flower bud formation and differentiation will be promoted. This phenomenon is even more obvious in its variegated cultivar Yamabuki.
Cultivation History of Peony | Distribution Areas of Peony
The pioneer of biology Darwin wrote in the 1870s in his book The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication that the peony had already been cultivated in China for 1,400 years. Counting back 1,400 years from the 1870s gives the 5th century AD, that is, the early years of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, which broadly corresponds to the history of peony cultivation in China.
In the Sui Dynasty, during the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui (AD 605-618), "a area of 200 li in circumference was opened as the Western Garden... All birds, beasts, grasses and trees within the realm were ordered to be sent by post to the capital (present-day Luoyang, Henan)... Yizhou (present-day Yixian, Hebei) presented twenty boxes of peonies." The Sui Zhi Suwen Pian says: "At the fifth period after Qingming, the peony blooms." This is enough to show that the scale of peony as an ornamental plant was even larger.In the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), peony cultivation began to flourish. During the Kaiyuan era it was prosperous in Chang'an. Legend has it that at that time there was a man in Luoyang named Song Danfu who was good at growing flowers. At the summons of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji, he went to Lishan and planted more than ten thousand plants, with different colors ("Longcheng Lu"). Li Bai's three poems "Qingping Diao", including "Clouds remind me of her clothes, flowers remind me of her face; the spring breeze brushes the railing, revealing the rich dew. If not seen at the peak of Qunyu Mountain, one would meet her under the moon at Yaotai," praised several peonies of different colors. "The herbaceous peony in the courtyard is bewitching but lacks dignity; the lotus on the pond is quiet but lacks feeling. Only the peony is truly national beauty; when it blooms, it stirs the capital." (Liu Yuxi: "Appreciating Peonies") "In the capital city, spring is about to end, carriages and horses pass noisily; everyone says it is peony time, and they follow one another to buy flowers. Prices are not fixed by rank; the payment depends on the number of flowers: brilliant are a hundred red blooms, slender are the bundled white silks.... Every household takes it as a custom, everyone is infatuated and does not awaken...." (Bai Juyi: "Buying Flowers") From these poems one can see the grandeur of peony cultivation in the capital Chang'an at that time. By this time, peonies not only had more color types, but also some novel variations and double-flowered forms appeared. "In Xingtang Temple there was one clump of peony; during the Yuanhe era it bore one thousand two hundred flowers, with colors including upright halo, inverted halo, pale red, pale purple, purple-white, white sandalwood, etc., but no deep red. There were also those with no blotch in the center of the flower and those with layered flowers, whose flower face was seven or eight cun." ("Youyang Zazu") "Emperor Muzong planted a thousand-petaled peony in front of his hall. When the flower first opened, its fragrance assailed people; one flower had a thousand petals, large and red." ("Duyang Zazu"). This also shows that as early as the 9th century AD, China already had double-flowered peonies.
In the Song Dynasty (AD 960-1279), the center of Chinese peony cultivation shifted from Chang'an in the Tang to Luoyang. There were more peony varieties, and cultivation techniques became more systematic and complete. A number of theoretical monographs also appeared, greatly improving the study of peonies. Works of this period include Ouyang Xiu's "Luoyang Peony Record"; Zhou Shihou's "Yinjiang Zhou Family Luoyang Peony Record" and "Luoyang Flowers and Trees Record"; Zhang Xun's "Luoyang Flower Manual", and so on. They described peony cultivation and management and summarized a relatively complete set of mature experience. Ouyang Xiu said: Generally every household in Luoyang has flowers, but few have large trees, because if they are not grafted they will not be good.
In the late Northern Song, warfare continued, and Luoyang peonies began to decline. Chenzhou peonies took their place. Zhang Bangji wrote in "Chenzhou Peony Record": "The varieties of Luoyang peonies are seen in flower manuals, but they are not as abundant and numerous as Chenzhou peonies. Garden households grow flowers like millet, often measured by the hectare."
In the Southern Song, the center of peony cultivation moved south, from Luoyang in the north to Tianpeng in the south (present-day Pengzhou, Sichuan), Chengdu, Hangzhou and other places. The peonies cultivated in Tianpeng were the finest in Shu and were known as "Little Xijing." The poet Lu You served as an official in Shu, went there in person to admire them, and wrote "Tianpeng Peony Manual" (1178). After the Song court moved south, peony affairs in Luoyang declined, while Hangzhou developed, and some novel varieties appeared, such as 'Chongtai Jiuxin Pale Purple Peony' and 'White Flower with Green Edge Peony.'
The Yuan Dynasty was a low period in the development of Chinese peonies. Good varieties that could be seen in Chang'an, Luoyang and other places were already few, varieties degenerated, and double-flowered varieties were rarely seen. Hence the lament: "A thousand-petaled one is especially hard to encounter; it is like one outstanding among a thousand people, one hero among ten thousand, especially one that does not appear even once in a century" (Yao Sui, "Preface to Peonies").
In the Ming Dynasty (AD 1368-1644), the center of peony cultivation shifted to Bozhou, Anhui. Xia Zhichen's "Evaluating Bozhou Peonies" says: "Our Bozhou peonies have flourished increasingly in recent years. 'Jiaorong Sanbian' is especially among the best. Above this rank are 'Tianxiang Yipin,' 'Pomegranate Red,' 'Shengjiaorong,' 'Gonghongpao,' 'Liuli Guanzhu,' and 'Xinhong,' all of various kinds. 'Zahong' appeared last and is a rare variety. There is also a kind called 'Dahuang,' light and lovely, not inferior to 'Sanbian.' 'Fodingqing' is the finest among white ones. In general, among red flowers, 'Huazihong,' 'Yinhong,' and 'Taohong' are the best." It also says: "Within a few steps of the thatched hall, planting was almost complete. Usually two colors were planted together in one clump, red and white in different forms, interwoven among them. 'Pingtouzi,' 'Qingtianxiang,' and 'Xianchunhong' were also inserted into the flower clumps, sometimes combined to form patterns. When they bloomed later, they were brilliantly brocade-like." At this time, this pioneered Chinese flower arrangement techniques.
In the Ming Dynasty, although Bozhou peonies were famous, peony cultivation in Caozhou (present-day Heze, Shandong) and the capital Beijing also gradually flourished. Around the Taihu Lake region in Jiangnan, and in Lanzhou and Linxia in the northwest, there was also some development.
Both Caozhou and Bozhou introduced peonies during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty (1522-1567), and both reached prosperity during the Wanli era (1573-1620). The two places exchanged varieties with each other; "many Caozhou flowers were moved from Bozhou" (Qing dynasty, Yu Pengnian, "Caozhou Peony Manual"); Bozhou also introduced many famous Caozhou varieties. For example, "Bozhou Peony History" records a variety called "Jinyu Jiaohui," saying: "Produced in Caozhou, it is the finest." There were also two kinds, "Renji Hong" and "Pingshi Hong," also produced in Caozhou. "Caonan Peony Manual" also says: "By the Ming Dynasty, Caonan peonies were the finest within the seas." A scholar's family in Caozhou had peonies planted on as much as forty mu,... many reaching one or two thousand plants, and few only several hundred plants." ("Wuzazu"). From this it can be seen that present-day Heze, the main peony production area, had already begun to flourish in the Ming Dynasty.
Since Beijing was established as a capital by the Liao and Jin, peony cultivation there gradually flourished. The Ming Dynasty "Beijing Kao" records that Emperor Shengzong of Liao (AD 982-1031) went to Changchun Palace in the third month of the 12th year of Tonghe (995) to view peonies. In the Ming Dynasty, peony cultivation was extremely prosperous, and "peonies were planted inside and outside the golden halls." Outside the city there were also three famous gardens: Liangjiayuan, Qinghuayuan and Hui'anyuan. In Jiangnan, Jiangyin peonies flourished in the Ming Dynasty. In addition, Hangzhou, Suzhou and Shanghai also had considerable planting. Guanyang in Guangxi also produced peonies. According to the Ming Dynasty "Guangxi Tongzhi," in Guangxi "peonies come from Lingchuan and Guanyang. Guanyang peonies may reach one zhang in height, and the place is called Little Luoyang."
In the Qing Dynasty (AD 1644-1911), Caozhou peony cultivation became even more prosperous and replaced Bozhou. "Caoxian Zhi" says: "Peonies are not a local product. They first flourished in Luoxia (present-day Luonan County, Shaanxi), then flourished in Bozhou. At that time there were already six or seven hundred varieties, arranged in five colors. Up to the present, Bozhou is quiet, and the grand affair has all returned to Caozhou." "Garden households in Caozhou plant flowers like millet, often measured by the hectare, indeed with beds and borders continuous." ("Caozhou Peony Manual"). In his book "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio," Pu Songling also recorded that "Caozhou peonies are the finest in Qilu." At this time, peony cultivation in villages northeast of Caozhou city was already very common. There were those who made a living by growing flowers, and many formed gardens and nurseries, among which Wanglizhuang, Hongmiao, Maozhuang and Zhaolou villages were especially outstanding. During the Daoguang period, Zhao Yutian built a garden north of the village, specializing in peonies and herbaceous peonies, gathering the best of the village. Around the garden, mulberries were planted as a fence, so it was named "Sangli Garden." He wrote "Sangli Garden Peony Manual," which recorded 151 varieties and stated: "Among the ten commanderies and two prefectures of Shandong, when speaking of peonies, only Caozhou stands out. Among the ten counties and one prefecture of Caozhou, when speaking of peonies, only Heze stands out." "Heze has unknown numbers of prefectures and li; when speaking of the production of peonies, only the northeastern corner of the city, south of Lu Mountain and beyond Fan Dyke, extending less than ten li." Later there was "Qiyuan Peony Manual," in which more than one hundred forty names were verified. It also says: "After Grain Rain I went to see them, and saw brilliant purples and reds, all buds opening, interlaced like brocade, dazzling like clouds, glowing like a gathering of many jades, bright as the display of five colors." At that time the cultivated area had already reached more than 500 mu, with more than one hundred thousand plants shipped out each year to Guangzhou, Tianjin, Beijing, Hankou, Xi'an, Jinan and other places for sale. The largest number was shipped to Guangzhou, and the returns were also large. Local farmers had a proverb: "For fruit trees, none better than papaya and persimmon; for flowers and trees, still peony and herbaceous peony." In addition, with social fondness, the skill of Heze people in growing flowers, and the medicinal use of peony root bark, Heze peonies developed over the long term and have remained prosperous for a long time.
In the Qing Dynasty, most areas of Gansu also had peony cultivation. The center of cultivation was the Lanzhou, Linxia and Lintao area. The "Gansu New General Gazetteer," compiled in the late Qing, once recorded that in Gansu peonies "existed in all prefectures and counties, but were most flourishing in Lanzhou, with all five colors present." Yan'an Wanhua Mountain is located opposite Huayuantou Village in Dufu Chuan, and this place abounds in peonies. The Qing dynasty Jiajing edition of "Yan'an Prefecture Gazetteer" records: "Huayuantou produces extremely many peonies; woodcutters use them as firewood." Nearby people had the custom of coming here to admire flowers on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, a history of more than one thousand years.
Among Jiangnan peonies are Ningguo peonies and Tongling peonies. According to the 1936 "Ningguo County Gazetteer," "Ningguo and Panlong have long produced peonies, with white and yellow valued most,...." As for Tongling peonies, according to "Tongling County Gazetteer": "Immortal peony grows in a stone cave on Changshan; there is one white peony plant,... pure, beautiful and unsurpassed. Legend says it was planted by Ge Hong." Ge Hong was a person of the Jin Dynasty. According to this legend, it has a history of 1600 years.
After the founding of New China, Chinese peonies were restored and developed. At present, the peony cultivation area in Heze has reached more than 50,000 mu, with more than 600 varieties, and it has become the world's largest center for the cultivation, appreciation and scientific research of Chinese peonies in terms of area and number of varieties, ranking first in the world.
The history of Chinese peony cultivation formed a pattern with the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River as the main cultivation center, and other areas as secondary cultivation centers or important cultivation places. With the change of dynasties, the peony cultivation center also changed accordingly, but the main cultivation center was always located in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. Its transfer process was: Luoyang (Sui) - Chang'an (Tang) - Luoyang (Five Dynasties, Song) - Bozhou, Caozhou (Ming) - Caozhou (Qing). This is the main line of the formation and development of Chinese peony variety groups. In addition, there were several development centers: first, the Yangtze River Delta, the area around Taihu Lake and southeastern Anhui; second, Chengdu and Pengzhou in the northwestern corner of the Sichuan Basin; third, Lanzhou and Linxia in Gansu; fourth, Guanyang in Guangxi. They can be listed as follows.
Dynasty
Sui
Tang
Five Dynasties
Northern Song
Southern Song
Ming
Qing
Years
581-618
618-907
907-960
960-1127
1127-1279
1368-1644
1644-1911
Cultivation Center
Luoyang
Chang'an
Luoyang
Luoyang
Tianpeng
Bozhou
Caozhou
Secondary Cultivation Center or Important Cultivation Place
Luoyang,
Hangzhou,
Mudanjiang
Chengdu,
Hangzhou,
Chenzhou,
Hangzhou,
Wuxian,
Chengdu,
Hangzhou
Jiangyin, Beijing, Chengdu, Luoyang, Guanyang
Beijing, Shanghai, Jiaxing, Ningguo, Chengdu, Luoyang, Linxia, Lanzhou,
Chinese peonies have a history of about 1,650 years from being introduced from the wild into ornamental cultivation. Cultivated varieties gradually evolved from single flowers to semi-double, double, and even terrace-type forms. The main driving force promoting the evolution of peony varieties toward double flowers was good cultivation conditions. It is known that the excellent traits and branch variations of varieties were fixed through grafting, and from this, new varieties emerged in large numbers.
In short, since the Tang Dynasty, the peony has been praised as "national beauty and heavenly fragrance." Because successive dynasties across the whole country cherished and loved it, wave after wave of peony enthusiasm was stirred up. In effect, the peony was already given the status of a national flower. Despite changes of dynasty, the noble status of the king of flowers, the peony, as leader of all flowers and as national beauty and heavenly fragrance, has never wavered! In the hearts of the Chinese people, the depth of its influence, the prominence of its reputation, and the honor of its position are beyond the reach of other flowers.
Succulent Plant Management Monthly Calendar (First Quarter)
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January January is commonly called the first month, and it is the coldest season of the year, as well as one of the months with less sunlight. Therefore, the management of succulent plants this month should focus on cold protection, warmth preservation and increasing light. We know that although succulent plants are diverse, according to their habits they can be divided into "winter-growing types" that grow in winter and go dormant in summer, and "summer-growing types" that grow in summer and go dormant in winter. In addition, there are also some "intermediate types" that grow in spring and autumn and are dormant during both high summer temperatures and low winter temperatures. Therefore, warmth preservation should also be carried out according to different types: those that should be dormant should be allowed to pass the cold winter through sleep in a low-temperature environment, while those that should grow should be allowed to grow at a certain temperature. Most species of the Aizoaceae genera Lithops, Conophytum and Dinteranthus; Aloeaceae Haworthia genus plants such as Vast, Yu Shan, and Shou; Crassulaceae plants such as Phoenix, Fuji, Chihuahua, Xindongni, Qingzhu and Xiaolanyi and other "winter-growing type" succulent plants should preferably maintain a temperature of about 10°C in winter, and the lowest temperature should not be lower than 5°C; if the temperature is not lower than 10°C and there is a certain day-night temperature difference, watering can be done appropriately to allow the plants to grow. Watering time can be 10-12 a.m. on clear days, and the water temperature should be close to room temperature. You can put your hand in the water; it is appropriate if it does not feel icy cold. If such a high temperature cannot be maintained, watering must be strictly controlled, but water should not be completely cut off. Agavaceae plants such as Longzhi Baisi, Jiaxie, Leishen and Jiluanxue; Euphorbiaceae plants such as Tongye Qilin, Caiye Qilin, Zhouye Qilin, Anbowo Euphorbia, and most Cactaceae plants and other "summer-growing type" succulent plants should maintain a temperature of about 5-10°C. Although some varieties will not die even below 0°C, the plant surface will develop ugly yellow spots, affecting ornamental value. But the temperature should not be too high either, otherwise their dormancy will be broken, which is instead unfavorable for growth. Watering should be strictly controlled, and some varieties may even have water completely cut off. For example, if the overwintering temperature of Longwang Qiu, Baitan and others is too high and the soil is moist, the plants cannot fully dormancy, which instead affects flowering the following year. Aloeaceae plants such as Woniu and other "intermediate type" succulent plants are relatively easier to manage. If the temperature is relatively high, they can be managed as "winter-growing types"; if the temperature is relatively low, they can be managed as "summer-growing types." No matter which kind of succulent plant, all like relatively sufficient sunlight. If light is insufficient, it will cause the plants to grow leggy, their plant shape will become loose, leaves will become thinner, and fleshy stems will become weak, deforming the plants. Once this phenomenon occurs, it is very difficult to return to the original state, seriously affecting appearance. This phenomenon is more likely to occur in an environment with higher temperature and insufficient sunlight. In addition, insufficient light will also lead to weakened plant growth, and in severe cases cause the plants to rot and die. Therefore, supplemental lighting is the top priority in January management of succulent plants. To borrow a grower's words, "In winter, no amount of sunlight for succulent plants is too much." The method of supplemental lighting can be carried out according to different cultivation environments. Professional growers have large greenhouses, which have good warmth preservation and light transmission; home growers can place the plants in front of a relatively sunny south-facing window or in an enclosed south-facing balcony. Hobbyists with conditions can also build a small greenhouse or small warmth-preserving box in a courtyard or on a rooftop. On the premise of making full use of natural sunlight, if the light is still insufficient, plant lights should be considered for supplemental lighting. This month, fertilizer is generally not applied, and repotting and propagation are not carried out. In addition, frequent inspections should be made, and frozen, rotting or dead plants should be removed promptly.
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February In February, as spring arrives, the temperature will gradually rise, but the temperatures in the north and south will differ greatly. The south is already warm with spring flowers blooming, while the north is still icy and snowy. Even within the same region, the temperature at different times can differ greatly. The management of succulent plants should be carried out according to the different climatic conditions of each place and individual cultivation environments. Northern areas should still follow the January management methods for succulent plants. Here we focus on the management of succulent plants in southern areas. In the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, daytime temperatures can reach 10 to 15°C. If the weather is clear, it can reach above 20°C inside a warm room, and at night it is also 3 to 5°C. But the temperature is still unstable, and cold waves often occur, which can be described as "first warm, then cold again." At this time, do not move the flowers outdoors, and do not rush to open the shed, because the blowing of cold wind will make the plants catch a cold. Also pay attention to temperature stability and avoid sudden rises and falls in temperature. Also prevent condensed water droplets from dripping onto the plants and causing rot. In terms of watering, winter-growing and intermediate types can be watered appropriately on clear mornings, while summer-growing succulent plants still need controlled watering. When watering, pay attention to controlling the water temperature, preferably consistent with the ambient temperature. This month, fertilizer is generally not applied. In a warm environment, this month Lithops begin to shed their skins, so they should receive more sunlight, and watering should be strictly controlled, even completely cut off, so that the old leaves dry up and wither and promote the growth of new leaves. This month, materials such as flower pots and culture soil can also be prepared for repotting and planting in March. The main pots used for planting succulent plants include clay pots, plastic pots, purple clay pots and porcelain pots. Among them, clay pots have very good air permeability and are low in price, but they are fragile and not attractive, so few people use them now. Plastic pots are rich in types, lightweight and not expensive, and are the pots more commonly used by hobbyists. Among them, square and round plastic pots are the most widely used. However, because their air permeability is relatively poor, they must be planted with a certain granular, well-aerated granular soil to achieve good results. Purple clay pots are simple and elegant, beautiful in shape and also relatively good in air permeability, but their price is relatively high, and they are suitable for planting some highly ornamental and relatively precious succulent plants. Porcelain pots are exquisite and beautiful, highly decorative, and moderate in price, but their air permeability is poor. Hobbyists can choose flower pots of different materials and shapes according to their own specific circumstances. For large-scale cultivation, plastic nutrition pots can also be used; they are low in price and the effect is also good. The basic requirements of succulent plants for soil are a certain degree of granularity, loose and breathable, good drainage, and containing a certain amount of humus and a small amount of lime, being neutral or slightly acidic (some varieties can be weakly alkaline). Commonly used materials include garden soil, leaf mold, peat soil, grass peat, furnace slag, sand, vermiculite and perlite, as well as akadama soil, lanstone, zhijinshi, emperor stone and other materials. At present, individual hobbyists commonly use granular materials such as akadama soil and lanstone plus grass peat or peat to plant some high-grade varieties of succulent plants such as Vast, Yu Shan, and Shou.
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March In March, as the temperature continues to rise and the day-night temperature difference increases, "winter-growing types" and "intermediate types" that grow in spring and autumn all enter their peak growth season, and "summer-growing type" succulent plants also begin to awaken and prepare to grow. At this time, do not rush to move the flowers out. You can first open the windows of the flower room for ventilation and air exchange, so that the flowers gradually adapt to the outside climate. This is especially so when the weather in the south is clear and sunlight is abundant, to avoid damaging or suffocating the plants due to excessive temperature in the small environment. However, in northern areas, if cold waves, late spring cold or windy cooling occur, doors and windows should still be kept tightly closed to avoid damage to the plants from freezing. Watering This month, for growing "winter-growing types" such as Crassulaceae plants Crassula, Yuchun, Snow Lotus, and Dongyun, and "intermediate type" succulent plants such as Aloeaceae Woniu, the pot soil should be kept moist but not waterlogged; it should neither be waterlogged nor too dry. "Summer-growing types" such as Agavaceae Laiguangjin, Nuleishenjin, Chiyalongjin and Huishan, Cactaceae Jinhu, Baitan and Luanfeng Yu, and Apocynaceae Plumeria can be watered appropriately, but not excessively. If there are rainy days or a sudden drop in temperature, watering should be stopped. Aizoaceae Lithops and Conophytum succulent plants are in the skin-shedding period, so watering should be controlled, even completely cut off. Even if watering, do not pour water on the plants, especially not into their interiors, to avoid rot. It should be pointed out that most people think succulent plants grow in arid, low-rainfall desert areas and are very drought-tolerant, so they do not need much watering in cultivation. Indeed, due to environmental factors, most kinds of succulent plants are very drought-tolerant, but drought tolerance does not mean they like drought. For most kinds of succulent plants, water is still needed during the growing period. If there is long-term drought, although the plants will not die, they will grow slowly or even stagnate, their leaves will become thinner, their colors will become dull, and they will lack vitality, affecting ornamental value. Some plants, once stunted, are difficult to recover, and in severe cases may even die. Therefore, during the growing period, sufficient water must be given to allow normal plant growth, but do not allow waterlogging, otherwise it is easy to cause root rot and plant death. "Do not water until dry, and when watering, water thoroughly" is the best choice and is suitable for most common kinds of succulent plants, because "watering thoroughly" can not only provide sufficient water to the plants, but also wash away salts or other harmful substances from the soil through the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot, maintaining healthy plant growth. During the dormant period, watering should also be strictly controlled. The reason many people fail at cultivating succulent plants is "itchy hands"; they cannot control their hands and water improperly during the dormant period, causing the plants to rot. Therefore, during the dormant period, you must control your hands and never water blindly. Fertilizing Most kinds of "winter-growing type" and "intermediate type" succulent plants can be given a decomposed dilute liquid fertilizer or compound fertilizer about once every 20 days according to variety and growth conditions. Fertilization time can be on clear mornings, and be careful not to splash fertilizer liquid onto the plants. "Summer-growing type" succulent plants do not need fertilization. Repotting Because under artificial cultivation the root system of succulent plants is confined to the pot and can hardly stretch freely. After a period of growth, the root system fills the entire pot, which is not conducive to drainage and air permeability. Moreover, the soil contained in the pot is limited. After continuous absorption by the root system and repeated watering, nutrients are almost entirely lost, and the culture soil changes from its original granular form to powder form. In addition, during the continuous absorption of nutrients, the root system also continuously excretes acidic metabolites, acidifying the soil. These are very unfavorable to plant growth. Therefore, after the plants grow to a certain stage, the pots must be turned and the soil changed. According to different varieties and plant sizes, repot once every 1 to 2 years or 3 years (some small seedlings of certain varieties can even be transplanted several times a year, the so-called "move a little, grow a little"). For most "summer-growing type" and "intermediate type" succulent plants, repotting is generally carried out in mid-to-late March, and division propagation can also be carried out together with repotting. In addition, this month "intermediate type" succulent plants can also be propagated by cuttings. If the temperature is suitable, indoor sowing propagation can also be carried out.