Caring Guide
What’s the name of your plant?
Does it grows in winter or summer?
Is direct sunlight suitable for your plant?
These are the questions you should have answer to when you purchase succulent from succulent professional. After you understand your plants than you can provide best environment and caring for your plants..
1. Create the right environment.
When you understand the behaviour of the plants, you can start creating the best environment for the plants. Start from soil, wind circulation, temperature, humidity and strength of sunlight. Understand the basic gardening knowledge will help you successfully grow your succulents. For example, in growing season succulents can tolerate continuous wet soil and more fertilizer. Dormancy season it usually a good idea to delay watering period and lower the amount of water that would dry in one or two days.
2. Soil.
The best soil for succulents should meet the following criteria.
- Soil PH should be around 6.5
- Mineral rich provide plants with enough nutrient.
- Organic nutrient and humus.
- Fast drainage and good air circulation for root.
- Enough fertilizer with right percentage of NPK.
- Does not absorb heat and sunlight and cooling fast.
- Size of soil should depend on thickness of root( thin root smaller size, thick root bigger size.)
- Soil should maintain moist in growing season and dormancy season should dry out within one or two days.
- Avoid sharp edge rock use as succulent soil, root may rot due to wound cause by it.
3. Water.
In growing season plant can tolerate continuous wet soil, in dormancy season soil should dry within one or two days than water again after seven to ten days.
4. Sunlight.
Sun light has different strength during a year, light should be adjust for different succulents during different season of the year. When you are unsure of light requirement for the plant, 50% shaded sun light is always safe for plant not the get sun burn. All plants need at lease eight hours of sun light. 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% shade should adjust locally and depending on succulent. 50% shade should feel like sunny day in wither, 70% shade should feel like a rainy day.
5. Temperature.
Plant growing season roughly divided into three types. Summer type grow well when temperature above 25°C. Winter type grow well when temperature is below 20°C higher than 5°C. Spring and fall type grow well when temperature is around 20°C to 30°C.
6. Growing season.
Growing season can not be determent by month or season, there are best temperature for different plants, not as hot as possible or as cold as possible. Any plants should avoid temperature below 0°C.
7. Dormancy.
Winter season plants in warmer temperature would result slower metabolism, same as summer plant in lower temperature. Dormancy does not mean the plant is sleeping or not growing, is just slower metabolism, lower needs for water and nutrients.
8. Humidity.
Humidity in the air can accelerate some plant’s growing speed and make the surface of plants smooth and shine.
9. Things to avoid after repot.
Keep plants under 50%-70% shade and keep in plants best growing temperature, avoid direct sunlight or too high, low temperature.
10. Observation.
Remember to observe your plant’s growing condition and adjust your growing environment, soil, temperature and sunlight etc.
Soil
The best soil for succulents should meet the following criteria.
Sun light
Sun light has different strength during a year, light should be adjust for different succulents during different season of the year.
Water
In growing season plant can tolerate continuous wet soil, in dormancy season soil should dry within one or two days than water again after seven to ten days.
Wind
How wind may affect plant grows.
Humidity
Humidity in the air can accelerate some plant’s growing speed and make the surface of plants smooth and shine.
Propagation
Check out how to make clone or make your unique hybrids.