How did the unpopular succulent make a comeback? The method is here

There are about 10,000+ species of succulents worldwide, belonging to over 100 families in plant taxonomy.

There are many beautiful succulents, but I love Aeonium alone.

Among Crassulaceae succulents, Aeonium ranks as one of the varieties with the richest and most colorful range,

Red, purple, green, black, yellow, and variegated..

Spring and early summer are also the most beautiful seasons for Aeonium, so I want to share such wonderful succulents with everyone in early summer.

I remember going to a greenhouse to buy succulents three years ago, and I saw lots of Aeonium. The greenhouse owner said sales were especially good in the south, and the bigger the Aeonium, the better they sold.

That was my first time buying Aeonium, and then I went through the heartbreak of growing succulents for the first time!At that time, whether grown indoors or outdoors, there was no way to grow it well. In the end, it still could not escape death!

Later, in order to grow a pot of Aeonium well, besides searching and asking about everything online, I also found many succulent friends to exchange ideas with.

I would even go to the greenhouse to ask the owner whenever I had time. Can you understand how I felt about wanting to grow a pot of Aeonium well? Later, I became good friends with the greenhouse owner, and he often gave me some succulents~

I hope to share some of my growing experience with everyone, wishing you won't take detours. Most importantly, I don't want to see succulents die. I believe every friend who grows succulents feels the same as I do.

Environment:

Spring and autumn are the growing seasons, with the optimal temperature 20°-25°;

Summer is the dormant season; when the temperature is ≥35°, ventilation and shading are needed;

In winter, whether it grows depends on the temperature (there are differences between the south and the north). If the indoor temperature is suitable, the growth rate in winter will also be very fast. When the temperature is below -5°, growth stops. (When winter temperatures are low, it must be placed indoors. When Aeonium encounters cold air, problems such as rot and black stem will appear.)

Aeonium likes sunlight more than other Crassulaceae succulents, so its growing environment must bea place with ample sunlight, warmth, dryness, and ventilation.

Many people always fail to keep Aeonium alive in summer. The most important reason is that in a high-temperature environment it is stuffy and not ventilated, and when grown outdoors without shading, sunlight scorches the leaves.

Propagation:

Cuttings, leaf cuttings, beheading. The most common method iscuttings. Choose a green, less mature section lower down on the top part and cut it off. Put the cut stem in a ventilated place to let the wound dry naturally for about 3 days, and apply carbendazim to the wound on the main stem.

(For the soil used for cuttings, follow the growing-season soil below.)

Leaf cuttings：

Everyone knows that propagating Aeonium from leaf cuttings is especially difficult, but if it can be done, isn't that a gain? Pull off a pot of leaves and grow n Aeonium, and from then on become a succulent tycoon and reach the peak of succulent life.

The most suitable season for leaf cuttings is spring. The leaves should be plump and thick, not too tender, and not leaves from the bottom of the Aeonium that have lost nutrients.

Soil is also very important. Use leaf mold or special nutrient soil for planting, then mix in coarse sand.Shading can increase the air permeability of the soil and prevent the leaves from rotting due to water accumulation.

After potting, place it in a cool, ventilated place. There must absolutely be no light, becausethis prevents rapid water loss from the leaves, which leads to shriveled leaves and failed leaf cuttings.

Beheading:

Do not use the beheading method unless absolutely necessary. Once beheaded, the beauty and completeness of the mother plant are seriously affected.

Soil:

Repotting soil in the growing season (spring, summer):Repotting in spring and summer is for better surviving the summer. Aeonium goes dormant in summer, so for repotting, do it two months before dormancy. In this way, the Aeonium can go through spring growth, the roots can become more and more firmly established in the soil, and it can get through the hot summer to the greatest extent.

Therefore, the soil must be loose and breathable.

1. You can use "peat soil + coconut coir, perlite, sand (to avoid soil compaction)"

This combination can also be used for Aeonium cuttings; just add a little slow-release fertilizer.

For cuttings, plant in moist soil, inserting the beheaded stem into the moist soil;

2. You can also use "75% granular soil",

Granular soil is better at maintaining water drainage and air permeability between the roots.

3. Sand (5) + peat soil (3) + perlite (2),

This maintains maximum drainage while also providing sufficient nutrients for root absorption.

Autumn repotting:For better growth. In autumn, Aeonium's dormancy ends. After enduring the torment of summer, when the green main stem turns brown and gradually becomes woody, we need to do the second repotting of the year.

If it has not become woody, you do not need to repot.

Soil mix:Peat soil 5 + coconut coir 2 + perlite 2 + sand 1. When mixing the soil, add some slow-release fertilizer (it can supplement nutrients).

Finally, watering:

Watering Aeonium requires observation; do not wait until it is completely dry before watering. During dormancy, try not to water, but do not stop watering completely either.

During dormancy, the roots absorb very, very little water, and it relies entirely on water stored in the body and nutrients produced by photosynthesis for low-consumption survival. Too much water will cause the main stem to rot, wither, and the leaves to drop layer by layer, to the point that it cannot be saved.

If the leaves begin to wilt or are no longer firm, and feel soft when you touch them with your hand, that means it lacks water. You can water a small amount along the edge of the pot.