How are old succulent stems grown, and how do you handle daily care and management?

Who says you have to wait3or5years for a succulent to become an old-stem plant? Master these few tricks, and you can turn an ordinary variety into a stunning cascading cliff-style specimen in just1year!

Step 1: Grow the roots

Spring and autumn: mix leaf mold+garden soil at2:1, then add1part perlite. It is loose, airy and comes with its own fertility, and when you change the soil you can trim away any rotten roots at the same time.

Summer: river sand+perlite1:1for the soil mix, then spread a layer of pine needles and nut shells as a base fertilizer. Roots will not suffocate on muggy days, and water drains through in seconds.

Winter: perlite+garden soil+leaf mold1:1:1mixed evenly. It keeps them warm and nourished, and the roots still grow like crazy in winter.

Step 2: Controlled growing

Watering: do not water until the leaves start to wilt. In summer, watering once every10days is fine, in spring and autumn once every7days, and in winter cut the water off completely. When you do water, water thoroughly until it leaks from the bottom of the pot.

Light: in spring and autumn, just put them outdoors for full-day sun. In summer, move them back to a shady spot at10o'clock-14o'clock, avoiding the scorching sun; in winter, put them on a south-facing balcony, where they can still get light through the glass. The more sun they get, the thicker the stems become, and the speed of lignification doubles.

Step 3: Pruning+Branch weighting

Branch weighting: use a small stone or fishing line to gently weight down the branches, simulating a cliff effect. Gradually you can grow an elegant cascading cliff-style plant, with the premium look maxed out.

Pruning: cut off the dense leaves at the base and any leggy branches. All the nutrients are concentrated into the main stem, and you can see obvious changes in3months. The leaves you cut off can also be propagated by leaf cuttings, giving youNpots of new succulents.

Pitfall guide

1.Do not repot too often. Succulents use a lot of energy adapting to a new environment, so repotting once every1-2years is enough. Handle them gently when repotting, and do not damage the roots.

2.Check the backs of the leaves regularly. If you find fungus gnats or mealybugs, quickly wipe them off with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol; if black spots or rot appear on the leaves, isolate the plant immediately and spray carbendazim to rescue it.

3.Succulents have just gotten used to the light and temperature, so do not suddenly move them to a place with blazing sun or freezing shade. At best they drop leaves, at worst they die outright. Remember to transition them gradually when you move them.

4.When using stones to weight down branches, never press too hard, or you may snap the branch directly. Adjust the position regularly to avoid cutting into the succulent.

5.Beginners should not start off by fertilizing heavily. During the growing season, using a succulent-specific fertilizer once every1-2months is enough. Never use concentrated or raw fertilizer, or it will burn the roots in no time.

In short, master these three moves, and growing an old-stem succulent in1year really is not a dream!