Introduction to Aloinopsis and how to grow it, its shape closely resembles a cute bunny
Aloinopsis belongs to the genus Aloinopsis in the family Aizoaceae, and originates from the Little Karoo plateau of South Africa. Aloinopsis is also called hump flower, named for its hump-like top. Because it looks like a cute bunny when young, Aloinopsis gives people a very cute impression. Below let us take a look at knowledge about Aloinopsis.
I. Morphological characteristics of Aloinopsis
Aloinopsis is a perennial succulent herb, with low-growing plants; the clustered leaves are united into an elliptical shape, with a hump-like top, and a saddle-shaped notch divides the plant into two unequal united halves. The leaf surface is smooth, light green, with a triangular tip; the back of the leaf is arc-shaped and curves inward into a chin-like form. The flowers are light pink, stalked and without bracts, 2-3 cm large. When young, Aloinopsis looks a bit like a small rabbit, and when slightly larger it resembles a heart shape. The base of the fleshy leaves is united into an oval sphere or nearly oval shape, and the two sides of the fleshy leaves are symmetrical or asymmetrical. The leaf tip has a saddle-shaped notch. The leaf epidermis is thin and the surface is smooth. Young plants grow singly, while old plants grow in dense clusters. The leaf color is light tender green to light yellow-green. Flowers emerge from the middle slit between the two leaves; the flowers are pink, with slightly curved petals, about 2-3 cm in diameter, and generally each plant opens only one flower; when grown in clusters, the flowering is very spectacular. They open in the afternoon when there is sufficient sunlight and close at night, continuing this pattern of opening by day and closing by night for about 7 days. If there is cloudy and rainy weather or insufficient light in the cultivation site, they are difficult to open. The plant is cross-pollinated, and Aloinopsis plants tend to form clusters easily.
II. Ecological habits of Aloinopsis
Aloinopsis likes a warm environment with sufficient sunlight. It is drought-tolerant but not cold-tolerant, and fears waterlogging. It is suitable for growing in culture soil containing coarse sand. Choose a medium mixed from leaf mold plus garden soil plus granular soil or coarse sand. The suitable growing temperature for Aloinopsis is around 18-24 degrees. In summer, when temperatures are high, it goes dormant and needs shading and ventilation. Plants of this family all require controlled water; during the growing season, water according to the principle of watering when dry and letting dry between waterings. In winter, if the temperature is above 10 degrees and heating is good, a moderate amount may be given; otherwise, cut it off.
III. Cultivation techniques for Aloinopsis
The optimal temperature for sowing Aloinopsis is 15-25°C. When room temperature drops below 30°C, you can prepare to sow. To prevent the Aloinopsis seedlings from lacking light after sowing and becoming leggy, you can check the weather forecast for the next 7 days, and sow with peace of mind only after seeing that the weather within the week will be clear with no cloudy or rainy days.
1. Preparation before sowing
Use the substrate formula for sowing most plants in the family Aizoaceae, that is, mix peat and small-particle kanuma soil (1-2 mm) evenly at a ratio of 5:1, put it in a pot and set it aside. To prevent the soil from carrying weed seeds and harmful pathogens, disinfect it: on the evening before sowing, place the pot filled with soil into a potassium permanganate solution to soak, with the liquid level not higher than the pot surface. To prevent killing all the beneficial bacteria in the soil and affecting the normal growth of the seedlings, the concentration of the potassium permanganate solution must not be too high; it is best when the solution is dark pink. The next morning, the pot soil has been thoroughly soaked by the potassium permanganate solution. Take the pot out to drain and air, and by noon you can sow.
2. Sowing
Before sowing, first water the pot soil thoroughly. Aloinopsis seeds are very tiny. Pour them onto white paper, fold the white paper crosswise so that the paper groove faces the pot at an angle, and gently tap the paper groove with tweezers so that the seeds slide evenly onto the soil surface. After sowing, do not cover with soil. Carefully spray with 1000-times carbendazim water until water leaks from the bottom of the pot. The concentration of carbendazim must not be too high, otherwise it is unfavorable for seed germination. When spraying, the mist must be fine and the movements gentle to prevent spraying the seeds into the soil. Afterward, cover the sowing pot with plastic wrap and place it in a place with sufficient light.
3. Management after sowing
After sowing, open a small gap in the plastic wrap every day and ventilate for about 2 hours, then spray some water and cover it again. To prevent high humidity from causing bacterial growth, spray a fungicide once every 3 days. You can use 1000-times carbendazim and chlorothalonil, spraying them alternately to prevent bacteria from developing resistance. After 7 days, the seedlings sprouted. After sprouting, gradually uncover the plastic wrap and give the seedlings sufficient light to prevent legginess. After 1.5 months, the seedlings begin their first skin shedding. At this time, strictly control water; when the pot soil is too dry, a small amount of misting can be used to increase humidity. When the seedlings grow taller, they easily fall over, so evenly sprinkle small-particle kanuma soil around the seedlings, which both straightens the seedlings and ensures the root crown area is not sunburned by sunlight. After the first skin shedding, Aloinopsis looks extremely like a "little rabbit." After 2 months, the little rabbits gradually grow plump and turn into round little heart shapes. After 4 months, Aloinopsis begins its second skin shedding, but unlike the first time, the old leaves it sheds not only do not wither, but grow more and more robust. Then 10 days later, it undergoes a third skin shedding, and before a week has passed it undergoes a fourth skin shedding. As with the second time, the old leaves do not wither but continue to maintain vigorous growth. The small pot soon can no longer contain their crazily growing selves. After 5 months, so that the Aloinopsis can grow healthily, you can transplant them into a larger pot to make their growth even more vigorous. When the hot, long summer comes again, Aloinopsis, like the great army of Aizoaceae, will enter dormancy. I hope they can seize this brief spring light to grow hard, store enough nutrients before autumn arrives, and bloom gorgeous flowers.
The above is knowledge about Aloinopsis. I hope it can help you.
After 2 months, the little rabbits gradually grow plump and turn into round little heart shapes. After 4 months, Aloinopsis begins its second skin shedding, but unlike the first time, the old leaves it sheds not only do not wither, but grow more and more robust. Then 10 days later, it undergoes a third skin shedding, and before a week has passed it undergoes a fourth skin shedding. As with the second time, the old leaves do not wither but continue to maintain vigorous growth. The small pot soon can no longer contain their crazily growing selves. After 5 months, so that the Aloinopsis can grow healthily, you can transplant them into a larger pot to make their growth even more vigorous. When the hot, long summer comes again, Aloinopsis, like the great army of Aizoaceae, will enter dormancy. I hope they can seize this brief spring light to grow hard, store enough nutrients before autumn arrives, and bloom gorgeous flowers.The above is knowledge about Aloinopsis. I hope it can help you.