Succulent Autumn Care Methods and Precautions
Text
Images: Internet
Nowadays, succulents are loved by many gardening enthusiasts for their adorable appearance, and they can be seen in every corner of the home. The best seasons for succulents are spring and autumn. After finally making it through the hellish summer, what should we do for our succulents when autumn arrives? How do you care for succulents in autumn?
How to care for succulents in autumn
1. Be cautious with watering in early autumn
In summer, many people restrict or even cut off water for their succulents, though some do water normally. For succulents that have had restricted or no water, after the weather cools down, it is recommended not to water thoroughly right away for the first one or two waterings. The amount of water should be gradually restored to give the succulent roots an adjustment period, so as to avoid increasing the chance of rot.
2. Introduce sunlight gradually
Shading succulents in summer is a task many people take on. If your succulents have spent one or two months in the shade, it means they have already adapted to an environment without direct sunlight. If you suddenly remove the shade netting, and the autumn sun is not as gentle as we imagine, sunburn can easily occur. It is recommended to remove the shade netting gradually, for example by progressively reducing the daily hours of shading, or by shading only during the strongest midday sun.
3. Take your time with repotting and soil changes
Among the various factors that affect root development, climate matters more than watering and soil mix. Although autumn has already begun, the weather is still muggy and humid. It is better to wait until the daily high temperature stays stable below 30 degrees before repotting and changing the soil. You can also take the opportunity to trim the roots, let them dry, and then plant. Combined with reasonable watering and soil mix, this can lay a good foundation for your succulents. If you can wait until the high is around 25 degrees and the nighttime low is in the low teens, root development will be much easier. Actually, succulents do not necessarily need to be repotted or have their soil changed every year. If they are growing well and you are satisfied with everything, then there is no need to change.
4. Watch out for pests
After the start of autumn, when temperatures drop slightly, mealybugs begin to increase. Mealybugs also fear heat, so during the hottest part of summer their activity decreases, and once the weather cools a bit they start to reproduce. At this point, it is recommended to apply medication where needed, and on the other hand to observe your succulents more, especially under the leaves - lift them up and take a look - and also check the base of old stems carefully, because... you may find mealybugs. Don't panic. The old approach works: apply preventive medication and insecticide together, and the problem should not be serious. For example, spray insecticides such as mealybug spray, and at the same time apply DX to prevent recurrence.
5. Clean up dead leaves promptly
After an entire summer, less diligent owners may have accumulated many dry leaves in the pot. This is the time to clean them up properly, because neither the temperature nor the humidity has truly dropped. If the succulents are smothered by dry leaves again, problems may arise. As for the principle of removing dry leaves, only pull off those that come away with a gentle tug. If you forcefully pull off leaves that are not completely dry, it will leave a relatively large wound on the succulent and increase the risk of infection.
6. Be cautious about removing leaves for leaf propagation
When removing leaves for leaf propagation, the leaves you take are inevitably not completely dried out but relatively plump. After such leaves are removed, they leave a relatively large wound on the succulent, increasing the chance of infection in this season, so be careful. Moreover, in this season the sprouting rate of leaves has not yet recovered to a high level, and the removed leaves are also relatively prone to rot, so everyone should be careful and cautious.
The article was compiled by the Succulent Boutique House. Copyright belongs to the original author. For some articles, the source cannot be identified and is marked as from the Internet. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately and we will handle it promptly.