How to grow the succulent Echeveria 'Meihuo Zhixiao'? Please save this care guide
Text
Images: Zhijiansha
Meihuo Zhixiao is a succulent plant in the Crassulaceae family, genus Echeveria. The leaves are densely arranged in a rosette, the base is thick and sturdy, the stem gradually thickens as it grows, the leaves are broadly ovate to scattered triangular-ovate, the leaf surface is smooth and not prone to water accumulation, the back protrudes slightly in a keel shape, and the leaf tips are sharply pointed. The leaf color is tender green to yellow-green year-round. In spring, autumn and winter, when the temperature difference between day and night is large, with sufficient light, the leaf margins to leaf tips will turn bright red or vivid red.
If the light is insufficient, the leaf color will be pale tender green, the leaves will also stretch out, and the red edges of the leaf margins will fade, leaving only the leaf tips red. Only when Meihuo Zhixiao receives sufficient sunlight will the leaf color and leaf margins become more brilliant, and the plant shape become more compact and beautiful. After many years of growing in clusters, the plant will be very spectacular, producing clustered flower spikes, with slightly yellow flowers and red tips, five-lobed.
Meihuo Zhixiao needs a sunny, cool and dry environment. It tolerates partial shade, fears waterlogging, and avoids stuffy heat and humidity. It has the habit of growing in cool seasons and going dormant at high summer temperatures.
During the growing season, it can be watered thoroughly, but long-term dampness and water accumulation should be avoided; watering should follow the principle of watering when dry and stopping when wet. At high summer temperatures, Meihuo Zhixiao grows slowly or stops completely. At this time, there should be good ventilation and appropriate shading, avoiding exposure to direct sun, restricting watering, and avoiding rain.
In areas where the winter temperature is above 5°C, water can be given normally; below 5°C, watering should gradually be stopped. When watering is stopped in winter, Meihuo Zhixiao can tolerate low temperatures of around minus 4°C; this refers to indoor temperature, not open air. If it is any lower, the growing point at the tip of the leaf will suffer frost damage, dry up and die.
The propagation of Meihuo Zhixiao is generally by beheading to produce offsets for cuttings and by leaf cuttings. The beheaded plant can be directly stuck into dry granular soil, and after rooting, a small amount of water can be given. It is a very easy-to-grow variety. The leaf cutting method is to take a complete and plump leaf, place it in a cool place to let the wound dry, then place it on slightly moist soil. It will slowly grow roots and then sprout. The process takes a while, but many small offsets can be obtained. When the offsets grow up, remove them and stick them in for cuttings.
This article was compiled by the Succulent Plant Boutique Pavilion. The copyright belongs to the original author. For some articles, the source cannot be identified and they are marked as from the internet. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately and we will handle it promptly.