Pruning Portulacaria afra in autumn makes the plant shape more beautiful and can turn one pot into ten

Autumn is the season of harvest for vegetables, melons, fruits and other foods, and also the season when flowers and plants grow vigorously. We can take this opportunity to apply some fertilizer to the flowers and plants at home and prune the branches a little, which can not only promote the growth of the plants and flowers, but also make their appearance more beautiful!

People nowadays love to grow plants with symbolic meaning; for example, many flower enthusiasts keep Portulacaria afra at home, which is what we commonly call the purslane tree. Its stems are upright and its leaves are emerald green, and viewed from a distance it really is a treat for the eyes. However, Portulacaria afra needs frequent pruning, otherwise the branches and leaves become messy and it loses its original beauty.

The pruning of Portulacaria afra branches is best concentrated in spring and autumn, when the temperature is milder and the sunlight is not too strong, and in autumn Portulacaria afra is in its growing period, which is even better for the branches to heal. The pruning styles for Portulacaria afra include the straight-trunk style, the slanting-trunk style and so on. Of course, flower enthusiasts can also go by their own sense of aesthetics and then use string to tie and shape the branches, so that they can have even more shapes.

If you do not know too complicated pruning methods, you can also simply cut straight down with one cut, so that one side has more branches and the other side fewer, and it will also have an asymmetrical beauty. When pruning Portulacaria afra, remember not to damage the main stem; just prune the side branches. The Portulacaria afra branches we cut off should not be wasted either; collecting them for cuttings is a good choice, so that one pot can become many pots.

When taking cuttings of Portulacaria afra, it is best to choose side branches, then trim them into small branches of about 10 cm, preferably keeping the leaves on them. The next step is to place the branches in a shady spot to dry for a few days, and then these branches can be used for cuttings.

The soil medium for Portulacaria afra cuttings should be one with relatively good drainage, so that the chance of waterlogging and root rot can be reduced. When taking cuttings you can use a sand bed, and the flowerpot should also preferably be one with good air permeability. After preparing the cutting medium, we can insert the branches into the sandy soil, to a depth of about 2 cm, and afterwards we can also lightly spray the soil moist, which is relatively helpful for the branches to take root.

After the cuttings are done, place the Portulacaria afra in a place with diffused light and wind, so that the roots will grow out very quickly. Once rooted, the Portulacaria afra can be moved under the sun for care; generally the more sunlight there is, the better it will grow, but when the light is strong you should still pay attention to providing shade. Normally, do not water Portulacaria afra too much, because it is not tolerant of waterlogging; it is best to wait until the potting soil is dry before watering.

Flower enthusiasts who are currently growing Portulacaria afra at home can take advantage of the cool autumn now to prune its branches, so that it looks beautiful and also grows faster and faster.