Succulent Plant Care in April: Don't Miss the Golden Season

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Original author: Yushan

Compiled by: Encyclopedia Jun

In April, the weather warms up, and succulent plants enter the golden season of growth for the year. Plants that have not been repotted can be repotted, have their soil changed, and be propagated by division. Indoor plants can gradually be moved outdoors to receive sunlight and the spring breeze. If there is continuous rainy weather, be careful to prevent them from being rained on for a long time, so as to avoid rot caused by low temperatures and humidity.

Represented by Crassulaceae: Echeveria 'Rainbow', Aeonium 'Black Prince', Pachyphytum 'Moon Fairy', Orostachys, Sinocrassula; Agavaceae: Agave 'Huishan', Agave 'Queen Victoria', Agave 'Raikou Nishiki', Agave 'Kichijoten'; Cactaceae: Echinocactus grusonii, Ariocarpus, Mammillaria; Euphorbiaceae: Euphorbia, Euphorbia tirucalli, Euphorbia bupleurifolia; Orostachys and Apocynaceae: Pachypodium, Adenium obesum, as well as Mexican Dioscorea elephantipes and Portulacaria afra, the "summer-growing type" succulents begin to accelerate their growth; these can gradually be moved outdoors to receive sunlight, and plants that have not been repotted can be repotted with fresh soil, and division propagation can be carried out along with repotting.

Represented by Aizoaceae species with a high degree of succulence such as Lithops, Conophytum, Gibbaeum, and Frithia; Crassulaceae species such as Sedum 'Sendenny', Cotyledon tomentosa, Crassula 'Yuchun', Crassula 'Huachun', Sedum 'Drifting Island', as well as Bulbine, Bulbine natalensis, Bulbine latifolia, and South African Dioscorea elephantipes, the "winter-growing type" succulents gradually slow their growth rate, or even stop. Meanwhile, epiphytic cacti such as Schlumbergera and Rhipsalis, Aizoaceae species with a low degree of succulence such as Bergeranthus and Lampranthus, as well as most Crassulaceae species such as Sedum 'Falling Goose', Echeveria, Asteraceae species such as Kleinia and Senecio rowleyanus, and Aloaceae species such as Aloe 'Snow Queen' and Gasteria, the "intermediate type" succulents are in their peak growing season.

The management of various succulent plants should be carried out according to different species and the specific climate of each region. For example, in some areas, if there is continuous rain for a long time, attention should be paid to controlling watering to prevent leggy growth of succulents under insufficient sunlight; in other areas, attention should be paid to a sudden rise in temperature and excessively strong light, which can cause sunburn to succulents that have just recovered from transplanting or have just been moved outdoors.

In addition, it is worth mentioning that April is also the month when pests begin to emerge. If pesticides are sprayed and the light is too strong, pesticide burn is very likely to occur. Flower lovers who have the conditions can place the plants in a bright, ventilated place without direct light for two or three days after spraying. Related article recommendation: Succulent Plant Care [Pest and Disease Control] Super Collection!

Watering: In April, fast-growing succulent varieties can be watered more, while slow-growing varieties should be watered less. In short, it is necessary both to meet the plants' water needs for growth and to avoid waterlogging. For plants that are growing, "keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged" is the best choice. Watering is generally done on clear mornings or evenings. If tap water is used to water the flowers, it can be left to stand for 2 to 3 days before use, so that the chlorine in the water evaporates, which is beneficial to the growth of succulents. When watering, a small amount of fertilizer can be appropriately dissolved in the water to increase the nutrient sources for succulents and accelerate their growth; a small amount is enough, and it is important not to use too much. (Related article recommendation: Succulent Plant Care [Watering])

Fertilizing: In April, vigorously growing succulents can be fertilized. Fertilizing succulents can be divided into two main categories: base fertilizer and top dressing. Base fertilizer is generally mixed directly into the soil at planting time. Commonly used ones include plant ash, bone meal, shell powder, decomposed poultry and livestock manure, and cake fertilizer. In addition, there are some artificially synthesized slow-release granular fertilizers, which can be placed on the surface of the potting soil to slowly release nutrients for the plants to absorb; they are clean and sanitary and have good effects, and can be used for mid-to-high-end succulent species such as Lithops pseudotruncatella, Haworthia truncata, and Lithops. Top dressing should be carried out according to different varieties and differences in growth stages. Newly planted plants should not be fertilized within one month, and plants with weaker growth should not be fertilized either. For most succulents, fertilizer can be applied once every half month; for slow-growing varieties, it can also be applied once a month; and for some extremely slow-growing varieties, fertilization may not even be necessary. Do not water for a few days before fertilizing. After the potting soil is basically dry, first loosen the soil on the previous day, then fertilize on the next day, to help the plant roots absorb it.

Except for a few varieties such as Pereskia, the root osmotic pressure of most succulents is very low. Therefore, the concentration of the fertilizer solution must not be too high. The type of fertilizer should vary depending on the plant variety and growth stage. Generally, for seedlings, leafy succulents, and green plants, the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied can be slightly higher, while for varieties in the flower bud differentiation stage and flowering and fruiting stage, as well as varieties with spherical or columnar plant shapes and leaf colors of red, yellow, or other non-green colors, more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer should be applied, and stem-like succulents should be given more potassium fertilizer.

For organic fertilizers, you can choose water-fermented soybean cake, sesame cake, as well as chicken manure, pigeon manure, bone meal, etc. No matter what kind of fertilizer it is, it must be fully decomposed and diluted with water before use. Among inorganic fertilizers, urea, monopotassium phosphate, superphosphate, and various compound fertilizers sold on the market and special fertilizers for home flower growing can also be used when the plants are growing vigorously, but the concentration should be low and the frequency should be small; otherwise, it will cause soil compaction and affect plant growth, making the loss outweigh the gain. However, undecomposed eggshells, soybean milk, fresh milk, etc., as well as salty meat soup and bones, must not be used. When fertilizing, be careful not to splash the fertilizer solution onto the plants.

In April, when repotting, succulents that have propagated too much can also be made into bonsai or combination arrangements to increase their ornamental value. They have the characteristics of taking shape quickly, being easy to process, and being easy to maintain, and are very suitable for home creation and enjoyment.