Succulents Survive the Summer, and When the Autumn Skies Are Clear and Crisp They Develop Beautiful Form

Introduction

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Thanks to the author [Smiling Half-Step Crazy] for theoriginal submissionand sharing

Edited and compiled by: Encyclopedia Jun

Location: Guilin, Guangxi

Previously I published an article on the WeChat public account Succulent Plant Encyclopedia titled "Inspirational Comparison: Growing Succulents, I Am a Serious Beginner!", in which I talked about some experience, hoping to help everyone. I had originally planned to write another one right away, but after uploading the photos, laziness kicked in along with a shortage of words, and I kept putting it off until now...

I believe that except for the cheat-mode regions, everyone's succulents spend the whole summer enduring torment, especially in places like Guangxi, Guangdong and Hainan. Just like where I am, after Qingming Festival the temperature keeps climbing past 30 degrees, and summer is especially long for us. I do not know whether everyone, looking at all the cabbage-green plants or the empty pots, feels discouraged. What I want to tell everyone is that once they get through summer, the succulents will be reborn from purgatory, so please do not give up. Below, let us look at the comparison photos of my succulents from last year.

Shen Tong, the way it looked when it first arrived, glossy green, but not leggy

It bloomed, though it got thinner. The flower is very pretty, just like the hair bun on the boy attendants' heads in Journey to the West

In my previous article I wrote some personal views, so this time I will only talk about some things I did not cover last time. Also, every region is different, and methods really do vary, so everyone can compare with their own situation, and if you have suggestions, you are welcome to raise them.

Fen Zhao (Pink Claw), it was already spread out like a big pancake when I bought it

This is the best state it has reached. I feel Pink Claw is very hard to bring into color. There are also two others that have stayed glossy green the whole time, helpless.

In my previous article I talked about mealybugs and only briefly said to use Huhuashen. Actually there is another method, but at the time I had forgotten the name of the pesticide so I did not write it. There are quite a few ways to deal with mealybugs, but after I used this method there was no recurrence. The method is to dilute imidacloprid with water according to the instructions, spray the plant and also drench the roots. For places where the leaves are dense, be sure to spray more. Once a week, spraying three times in a row can eradicate them completely. Previously I read other people's articles saying that mealybugs have already developed resistance to imidacloprid, but I do not think that is entirely so, because when mealybugs break out they lay many eggs and generations turn over quickly, and the pesticide solution cannot kill the eggs. Mealybug eggs generally hatch in one to two weeks, so the pesticide's efficacy needs to last more than two weeks. By rights imidacloprid's efficacy can last two weeks, but to be safe I shortened the application interval and added one extra application. Succulent growers can moderately change the interval and number of applications according to their own situation. I think this method works very well, but after all it is a pesticide, so those with children at home or whose succulents are kept indoors should be cautious.

Te Yulian (Echeveria runyonii 'Topsy Turvy'), it was small when it first arrived, but after a little sun it turned purple. The stronger the sun, the faster the color changes

How about it, plump and thick, with a layer of powder too, the color is a bit lacking ha

Summer is the tribulation period for succulents. With a little carelessness they will grow leggy, or even rot, so you must observe carefully and tend them meticulously, and remember not to be impatient. The mantra for surviving summer is still those six words: "ventilation, shade, water control." Although a leggy plant has low looks, it shows it is still healthy. Rot is what is frightening; if not dealt with in time, you will be collecting an empty pot. There are also pests and diseases and the like. Getting succulents through summer can truly be described as beset with difficulties. Some people say succulents are plants for lazy people and can be left alone, but actually that is not so. When growing succulents you must observe carefully, so that when pest or disease problems occur you can solve them in time.

Da He Jin (Echeveria 'Dahojin'), the one with the best state when I bought it, only developing color under full sun

This color is very tempting, right? A little sun makes it healthier

After growing succulents for a year, I found that growing them must suit local conditions. Some succulents are extremely difficult to grow in a certain environment. For example, Rui Dian Monan (Crassula 'Sverige Monan' / Swedish Monan) is very delicate at my location. Although the soil mix I use has more than 60% grit, if there is a bit more water it rots, and if there is less water it quickly dries up under the high summer temperatures. After several attempts, I concluded that Swedish Monan is not suitable for growing in my environment. In this kind of situation, rather than spending enormous effort carefully cultivating it, it is better to put your energy into other succulents.

Ruo Geshi (Graptopetalum 'Ruo Geshi'), ever since I bought it, it has been leggy, always leggy, leggy whether I water or not. There is no way to deal with it, I can only cover my face... I cannot find the photo from when I first bought it. This is how it looks after growing leggy. I call it "a riot of demons dancing wildly"

I feel that the leaves of this "riot of demons dancing wildly" are deformed compared with other people's photos, but considering this fiery red color, I forgive it

The succulents I bought before were all not big, so what they turned into were little beauties~

Huo Ji (Fire Ritual) and Yi Nü Xin (Echeveria 'Derlu'), Yi Nü Xin later lost almost all its leaves because the spider mite pesticide was too concentrated. Huo Ji was fine, just growing slowly

These two simply refuse to grow big. It may be that there is too much grit. But the looks are quite high, I feel I have a special trait: I turn all the long-leafed succulents into short-leafed ones!

Hei Tan Zhi (Black Ebony), to this day I still have not figured out what Ebony, Black Ebony and the like are all about, because some belong to the expensive category, which I have not dabbled in

Red edges, red tips, and a bit of jelly yellow, it looks very comfortable, counts as a success ha

Shan Hu Zhu (Coral Beads) and Chi Dou (Red Bean), each a tiny little plant, very miniature

Shan Hu Zhu was top-heavy and fell over, these two little things are also quite cute

Fen Pingguo (Pink Apple), at this time it can only count as a green apple

After it started changing color, I ran over to look at it every day, hoping it would turn fully translucent red, but it seems this appearance is the most beautiful state it reaches

Hei Zhao (Black Claw), also spread out like a big pancake, and it even got sunburned by the autumn tiger heat

Fortunately it was tough enough, and little by little it turned into a black claw, very cute, and it even brought along a little pup

Tian Jian Zuo (Sagittarius), also spread out like a big pancake

Now the leaves have drawn together, and the leaf tips have become sharp and keen, truly shaped like an arrow

Hei Wang Zi (Black Prince), at this time it still had long leaves

After a spell of sun and rain, the leaves became short and round, and the leaf tips are hard and pointed, really giving off a princely, dashing air

Da Mo Fu Niang (Damofuniang), it took a very long time to fully settle into the pot

Two months later the leaves became round and the color came out, very endearing

PINK, the leaves had long since tightened up, but it never changed color. For a while, when I looked at the succulents I would skip right over it

The clouds parted and the mist cleared, and at last I saw that ethereal lovely figure

This seems to be Dongyun (Echeveria 'Dongyun'), I am not sure. When I bought it, customer service said it was Tian Jian Zuo (Sagittarius), but actually it is not

Is it Dongyun? If any great expert knows, please tell me. It looks like a flame cup

This one was sold to me as Yu Yan Zuo (Echeveria 'Rainbow'), for this type of rosette I really am hopelessly confused

The leaves became shorter and prettier, with red edges, quite attractive

Man Lian (Creeping Stonecrop), a very pleasant-sounding name

It grew up and shrank into a bun shape, only the color did not change much

Xiao Mi Xing (Millet Star) and Shen Tong

You could describe them as slender and graceful

Lan Niao (Blue Bird), Hong Fen Jia Ren (Pink Beauty) and Qing Xing Mei Ren (Blue Star Beauty), not enough pots, so I put them together

Lan Niao has already passed on, Hong Fen Jia Ren was beheaded, and now it seems to look pretty good too

Ai Ge Ni Si Mei Gui (Agnes Rose), Fen Pingguo (Pink Apple) and Zi Le (Purple Joy)

This pot all has high looks. Ai Ge Ni Si Mei Gui has a bit of translucence that the phone cannot capture. Every morning when I get up I have to take a look.

Xing Ying Sang Qie Si (Echeveria 'Sangches')

It closed up and drew together, a bit like Yue Ying (Moon Shadow). I do not know if they are somewhat related

Qian Fo Shou (Thousand Buddha Hands), I feel it is still quite tough

The color can only reach this point, but it still looks quite nice, and it even popped several heads

Cheng Meng Lu (Orange Monroe), was it a bit pitiful to look at when I bought it

Its shape changed, but it never really changed color. At one point I doubted whether it was really Cheng Meng Lu, and then one day it finally became beautiful. Can you still tell it is the same plant before and after? But whether it is Cheng Meng Lu, everyone can leave a comment to let me know.

Bai Ji Lian (White Echeveria)

How about it, do you suspect it is not the same pot? A girl changes greatly as she grows up, and it even brought along so many little pups. Satisfied, satisfied

Shou Lü Xiong (Thin Green Bear)

Short, plump and round, the looks are quite good. This pot is a favorite

Wan Xia Zhi Wu (Dance of the Sunset Glow), pitiful to look at

Cabbage, a purple little cabbage, with a layer of powder too

Finally, a reminder to everyone: although summer has passed, at the turn of summer and autumn you must not let your guard down. At this time the heat has not yet faded, and the midday sun can still be very strong, very likely sunburning the succulents. Sometimes after rain comes sun, and collecting empty pots becomes a common occurrence. So if you lost succulents in summer and want to grow them outdoors, it is still better to wait until the weather is a bit cooler before moving them out. Below, let us look at my plump beauties. I love them very much too.

Tao Mei Ren (Peach Beauty)

Tao Mei Ren (Peach Beauty)

Tao Mei Ren (Peach Beauty)

Tao Mei Ren (Peach Beauty)

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