Want to fatten up your succulents in autumn? The most important key is right here

After finally making it through the scorching summer, in the face of the dry autumn, how do our succulents need us to care for them?

It's autumn, and the weather is gradually turning cool. How should succulents be grown? Below, we'll teach you the autumn care methods for different types of succulents. Come take a look!

I. Spring-and-autumn-growing succulents

1. Representative species:

In the Crassulaceae family: Tianjinzhang (Adromischus), Cuilushi (Adromischus cristatus), Zhuchunshi (Adromischus), Mingyue (Graptosedum 'Francesco Baldi'), Guanyinlian (Echeveria runyonii), Yunüxin (Sedum pachyphyllum), Baqiandai (Sedum 'Baqiandai'), Heifashi (Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop'), and Xiongtongzi (Cotyledon tomentosa); in the Asteraceae family: Lansong (Senecio mandraliscae), Niqiuzhang (Senecio), and Lüzhiling (Senecio rowleyanus); most varieties of the Haworthia genus in the Liliaceae family; and Yanzhaohui (Aeonium) and Airanjin (Aeonium) of the Aeonium genus, and so on.

Apart from summer, spring-and-autumn-growing types can grow in spring, autumn, and winter.

2. Key care points:

Watering:

In the relatively cool northern regions, spring-and-autumn-growing succulents begin growing in late August, while in southern regions growth is delayed until early to mid-September.

In the early stage, growth is relatively slow,so you can water appropriately, but not too much, and do not fertilize, to avoid root rot caused by excessive fertilizer or water.

After the plants resume growth, for succulents of the Haworthia genus and the Sansevieria genus in the Liliaceae family, which have slightly higher requirements for air humidity, you can mist the plants in the morning and evening.

You can also cover the plant with a transparent, colorless beverage bottle with the top cut off to increase air humidity, making the leaves thick and plump with a bright, beautiful color.

Fertilizing:

Wait until the plants have fully resumed growth before carrying out normal water and fertilizer management. Depending on the variety, apply a dilute liquid fertilizer once every 15 to 20 days.

Light:

As for light, from August to September, keep them in a place with bright light but no direct sunlight. From October to November, give them ample light so they absorb as much sunshine as possible, making the plants compact and helping the plant shape look attractive.

II. Summer-growing succulents

1. Representative species:

Leishen (Agave), Wangfei Leishen (Agave), Renwang Guan (Agave), Ji Longshelan (Agave), Huweilan (Sansevieria trifasciata), Baitan (Sansevieria), Wuyuyu (Lophophora williamsii), Yingyingquan (Cereus), Jinshanhu (Euphorbia), Baiyi Kuiweiyu (Euphorbia), Luoxuan Qilin (Euphorbia), Lüwei Qilin (Euphorbia), and so on.

2. Key care points:

Ample sunlight:

Most summer-growing types can be placed outside to receive sunlight so they grow robustly, maintaining a graceful plant shape and a beautiful epidermis with good appearance.

But in early autumn, seedlings are best kept in a place with bright light but no direct sunlight, to avoid overly strong light that turns the small seedlings red and slows or halts their growth.

Water when dry, and let dry between waterings:

Neither waterlogged soil nor excessive drought is good for normal plant growth. If there is continuous autumn rain, stop watering and pay attention to drainage to prevent waterlogging.

Fertilizing:

In northern regions, after October you should control watering and stop fertilizing, so the plant's stems and leaves become compact and lay a good foundation for overwintering later.

Because the climate in southern regions is relatively warm, the water-control period can be postponed until late October.

III. Winter-growing succulents

1. Representative species:

In the Aizoaceae family: Shishenghua (Lithops), Rouzhuihua (Conophytum), Lingyaoyu (Lithops), and Tiannü (Lithops); in the Liliaceae family: Da Cangjiaodian (Albuca) and Woniu (Gasteria); in the Crassulaceae family: Yuchun (Crassula) and Lüta (Crassula), Lü Qianhui (Crassula), and so on.Most Lithops, Conophytum, and other Aizoaceae succulents bloom in this season.

Winter-growing succulents generally begin growing in early to mid-September.

For bulbous succulents with curled leaves such as Tanhuangcao (Albuca spiralis) and Yicao (Albuca), they only begin to sprout and grow new leaves in mid-to-late August, so they must be given ample light.

If conditions allow, it is best to grow them outdoors in a sunny spot, to avoid insufficient leaf curling caused by lack of light, which would fail to highlight the variety's characteristics and affect the ornamental effect.

Water and fertilizer management:

In autumn, watering succulents can follow“the principle of watering more for varieties in the growing period, less for varieties in the dormant period, more for vigorous, healthy plants, and less for weak-growing plants.” principles.

In short, you must both meet the plants' water needs for growth and avoid waterlogged soil, to prevent root rot, which in severe cases can rot the entire plant.

Rain protection is also an important part of succulent care in autumn, because autumn rain often lasts for several days, keeping the soil and air saturated with moisture for long periods, which is extremely unfavorable for succulent growth.

Therefore, if you encounter this kind of weather, pay attention to rain and waterlogging protection, and place the flower pots where rain cannot reach them.

In the crisp, clear days of autumn, everyone is putting on autumn weight. Don't forget to seize the opportunity and put your heart into fattening up your succulents too, so they grow nice and plump!