Caring for succulents at home and how to make soil with your own hands, rules for transplantation
In order to know how to properly care for a plant at home, you need to consider the rules for caring for succulents at home. Recently, this plant has become popular among gardeners and hobbyists. They are often used to decorate an office or simply planted in the backyard as decoration. Caring for them is very simple.
Plant characteristics
The plant looks funny, despite this it is very hardy. Succulents have very succulent, water-filled stems. They are not separate species, an ecological niche. Succulents can be found among cacti. Their distinctive ability is the accumulation of moisture. The plant survives in infertile soils, lack of water and bad weather conditions. They tolerate heat well, which is why they even grow in deserts.
How to choose a jar
The pot is chosen small.It also depends on the type you decided to get. Most often they take an earthen pot, sometimes an ordinary pot is used. Do not leave standing water in the container. Keep the roots dry and warm. Recently, Japanese pots have become popular. The plants look neater. Same for the glass.
Soil selection
The earth is chosen light, loose. It is also important to find good drainage, the roots must breathe, and excess moisture must disappear. The soil should not be too acidic, but the plant will thrive if the soil is rich in minerals and nutrients. Humus and nitrogen are not added in pure form.
Soil requirements
For succulents, light soil is used; it doesn't have to be nutrient dense. The main thing is that it is not too sour. These plants hate it.
How to choose a land
It will not be difficult, but before planting a succulent there, you cannot apply fertilizer in its pure form. The soil is mixed with fertilizer. It is imperative to create proper growing conditions for succulents.
Compound
It is better to prepare the kidney mixture yourself, then the gardener will be confident in its correct composition. For this you will need:
- a piece of green land;
- a piece of grass land;
- a piece of sand;
- 0.5 part pebbles (to absorb excess moisture).
Charcoal, gravel, pebbles or crushed brick chips are sometimes added. They will absorb excess moisture. Some species require different proportions of soil and fertilizer, depending on their characteristics.
Top layer decoration
After adding the mixture, pebbles or brick chips are poured on top, which will absorb excess moisture. The top layer is loosened and mulched so that air has free access to the root system.
Using Coconut Substrate
As this substrate is completely natural, other plants can be grown there. Including succulents. This mix breaks down very slowly. It contains a lot of nutrients. Water is well retained in the soil, but at the same time the layer is always dry, which prevents the spread of diseases. The composition does not settle, which makes it an excellent planting material.
Hydrogel
This polymer will help to evenly release moisture from the plant, which means water will not stagnate and harm. This method is often used because it is very simple and it will become much easier to maintain your succulents. A denser hydrogel is chosen because it releases moisture slowly. Also, some species can be planted in a mixture of soil and hydrogel. Thus, at first, the plant will recover the necessary nutrients and take root. After that, the succulent is transplanted into a pot with a mixture of properly selected soil.
How to transplant correctly
Transplantation is carried out very carefully so as not to damage the plant. The stem of the succulent is wrapped in newspaper so that the flower is not damaged. Transplantation is carried out in early spring, when active sap flow begins inside the plant. It is important to do this before the appearance of buds. Succulent roots grow downward because these plants need water and grow in warm regions.
The shovel is placed in the ground 5-7 centimeters from the base of the plant so as not to damage the roots.The soil around the succulents is removed, but the soil closest to the roots is left untouched. The plant is transferred to a new place, where the kidney mixture is added drop by drop.
Planting the plant should also be done carefully, as damage to the root will lead to the death of the crop. Usually they keep the mass in which the succulents grew earlier. Young cacti and other similar plants should be repotted periodically as they grow. They use a special soil composition, a mixture of organic fertilizers and soil.
Follow-up care rules
After planting, like any other plant, succulents need care. They can be persistent, but still picky about getting started. Watering and feeding should be regular. The key to success is consistency.
Lighting
The plant needs abundant light, since its place of origin is the desert. Succulents are not placed on the northern part of the house, because there is poor consecration. If there is no other way out, further consecration will be required. Some species are protected from direct sunlight. For example, aloe can be burned. Therefore, during the day, such plants are removed from the windowsill.
Temperature regime
Maintain high temperatures year round. The most comfortable temperature is 25 degrees. Air humidity should be low. It is necessary to care for the plant in such a way as to create a natural habitat for it. A humid climate will harm the aloe or cactus.
watering mode
It takes into account the season, the humidity of the air. During the period of active growth, watering is carried out once every 1-2 weeks.In winter, at low temperatures, this period is extended (every 2-3 months). Do not dry out the roots. The soil is allowed to remain dry for 3 days after irrigation. Watering is an important part of succulent care.
top dresser
Plants also need nourishment. You can buy ready-made mixtures at the store. In winter, fertilizers are not applied, since the plant is at rest. Top dressing is carried out with the onset of spring, once a month. In fertilizers, a high nitrogen content is not allowed, as this will lead to rotting of the roots.
Possible growth problems
Like all plants, succulents are susceptible to disease. Rot can appear on them, which is very difficult to deal with. Some problems may be related to inadequate care. Succulents are also attacked by slugs, wood lice, scale insects and scale insects. The spider mite is also one of the main pests. The roots often dry out due to irregular watering and poor soil fertilization.
brown speckles
Another name is anthocrose. Common in succulents. It appears as dark brown or light brown spots that appear on leaves or twigs. Over time, the cactus tissue will become covered with a hard crust and dry out. If the disease has just been discovered, the affected parts are carefully cut out and the place of the cut is sprinkled with charcoal powder. It is no longer possible to return the old species to the plant, but at least it will survive.
burnt leaves
Burns occur when plants are exposed to direct sunlight. Different types of succulents react differently to this factor.Also, do not pour water on the plant itself, as this will cause instant evaporation and burns on the plant. In order to avoid damage, the culture is transferred to partial shade. If this light is not enough, artificial lighting is created.
Red or green bloom
These signs indicate that the succulent lacks nutrients or there is an excess of nitrogen fertilizers in the soil. Another reason for this phenomenon is the introduction of top dressing in its pure form. Plaque can appear due to pests and diseases, which are also caused by oversaturation of the soil with water. Fungal infections can easily develop in this environment.
Features of seed cultivation
Large containers are used to sow large quantities of seeds. These can be boxes or plastic jars. But it is worth remembering that succulents are periodically transplanted, so you need to keep the piece of land with the plant. Planted seeds are covered with a plastic container or greenhouses are made in advance. Cut bottles can also be used. For planting use a mixture of universal peat substrate with perlite and coarse sand in equal proportions. The mixture is chosen in the right ratio, otherwise the seeds may rot.
First, the material is soaked and placed in a cloth, germination is carried out. After the seed is placed in the ground, where it will germinate.
The planting temperature should be high. Therefore, the procedure is carried out at a temperature of 25-30 degrees. They choose the spring of the year. Since in the summer the sprouts will grow stronger and stronger, this is the best season for their rapid and active growth. The lighting is controlled, the southern part of the house is chosen for planting.If natural lighting is not enough, artificial lighting is used. The transplant is carried out when the first full-fledged leaves appear on the cactus or aloe. For a long time, plants are not left in a common container, as they quickly take root. Not all plants survive after transplanting. In good weather, succulents can be taken outside. This will have a positive effect on the condition of the seedling and allow it to grow stronger.
Common Mistakes
Do not forget to water the seedling. Irrigation should be regular, but not daily. Problems will not arise if you monitor the condition of the soil, dry air. Then diseases will not develop and nothing will threaten the health of succulents. Excess humidity will lead to fungal infections, gnats and other pests. These diseases are especially dangerous for the root system.
Pollination in different types of succulents occurs at different times and in different ways. When carrying out preventive work, avoid introducing mixtures into the flower. Sick cacti are not left in place, they are isolated and treated with alcohol. If the succulent is too damaged, it is destroyed so that the disease does not spread to other plants. The need for watering is not determined visually, but by the condition of the topsoil. It is better not to add more because the plant will die from excess water. These are the most common mistakes made by gardeners.
Tips & Tricks
The most important rule when planting a succulent is to choose the right place and provide the necessary conditions.The place of origin of the plant, the characteristics of its nutrition and the requirements for feeding are taken into account.
Caring for these plants is very simple, but if you do not follow the rules, you can harm. Care also depends on the species. Not all species tolerate direct sunlight, so some specimens are removed from the scorching sun during the day.
When planting, the pots are taken small if there are only a few seeds. If a large landing is expected, larger containers are used. When transplanting seedlings, succulents are transferred to a new place with a lump of soil so as not to disturb the root system, so that the succulent quickly gets used to the new pot.
Don't forget about fertilizing. Top dressing is important from spring to fall. In winter, fertilizers are not used, since the succulent is at rest. Maintenance work is also very important. Many diseases are very difficult to detect, so treatment can prevent disease. The transplant should also be planned well in advance. As for succulents, nothing can be done spontaneously.