Is it better to grow succulents hydroponically or in soil?
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Images and text: Qingmeng
Hydroponic plants are clean and hygienic, and have now become a popular way of growing plants. The hydroponic plants we commonly see are pothos, pennywort, and so on. Now succulents have also joined the hydroponic ranks, so exactly is it better to grow succulents hydroponically? Or in soil?
1. Ornamental value
When succulents are in a transparent container, every state can be seen very clearly. Compared with soil cultivation, care also becomes a bit simpler and cleaner, and it also has a good ornamental effect. Whether placed on a desk or a bookshelf, it is a beautiful sight. A hydroponic succulent placed anywhere as decoration can also bring a refreshing feeling to the home.
2. Convenient care
For succulents grown hydroponically, when cared for with nutrient solution, rooting is relatively fast in the early stage, and they are less prone to pests and are cleaner. This can make home care a bit more convenient. Other aspects of care are similar to soil cultivation; based on the succulent's habit of loving sunlight, place it in a light-filled environment. And there is no longer the problem of watering. Only when the water quality is found to have gone bad or the water is low do you need to change the water and add water, and appropriately supplement nutrient solution. It is even a bit less worrisome than soil cultivation.
3. The benefits of soil cultivation for succulents
(1) Soil cultivation of succulents can provide all kinds of nutrients needed by succulents over the long term, while although hydroponics can involve pouring in nutrient solution, the effect is far inferior to growing them in soil. Moreover, because of the particularity of succulents' water needs, the roots must also be carefully exposed to the air, similar to aerial roots, which ultimately easily leads to the root system drying up. And during the growth process, the water must be changed and nutrient solution added regularly, otherwise the succulent will suffer nutritional imbalance, with rotting leaves and yellowing leaves, and the water quality will also deteriorate, ultimately leading to the death of the succulent.
(2) Under hydroponic cultivation, succulents will grow very beautifully in the early stage, but because they grow in water, succulents will have no awareness of water shortage and will not store water in their leaves. Hydroponic succulents will be a bit more shrunken than soil-grown ones, and their size will not be as large and round as succulents grown in soil. If it is only for ornamental purposes, hydroponics is a good choice. If you want to grow strong mother plants for propagation, soil cultivation is still better.
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