Land for succulent plants. Succulents, planting and care

Succulents are an amazing type of plants that win hearts with their unusual beauty and unpretentious care. All they need is a lot of diffused light, a comfortable pot and a little of your care. A feature of this group of plants is the ability to accumulate water in their fancy leaves, and long time do without watering in drought conditions. This allows the succulents to adapt to any conditions while continuing to grow well. That is why they are actively used in design decoration apartments, public facilities and, of course, gardens. How to grow succulents so that they feel comfortable and grow diligently, we will talk in this article.

Succulent flowers - general description of plants

Succulents are large group plants, which are composed of special cells capable of a large number accumulate water. From Latin, the term "succulentus" is translated as "juicy", which fully corresponds to such plants.

The group of succulents includes many different cultures, which are often not even related to each other by family relationship or common origin... And their similar outward features caused by the same climatic conditions of growth - rocky terrain and dry weather.

According to the principle of accumulation of water reserves, succulents are divided into types - leaf and stem. The first type of succulents accumulates moisture in bulky leaves. The most famous representatives are aloe, haworthia, kalanchoe and rejuvenated.

The second species is able to absorb moisture with a ribbed and slightly thickened stem. Leaves of stem succulents are often small, not thickened or even transformed into sharp spines. The stems are densely covered with villi or small thorns, which protects plants from being eaten by animals in their natural habitat - in the deserts of America or dry African regions. The most famous among the stem succulents, most of the representatives of the Cactus family - Carnegia, Monzolia, Cereus, as well as Lithops (stone flowers).

Interesting! Many people are mistaken in thinking that cacti and succulents are the same plants. In fact, all cacti really belong to the general succulent group, like many other families. But not all succulents are cacti, therefore, these two concepts should not be equated.

Since succulents are representatives of a wide variety of families, it is very difficult to describe them. botanical features... Therefore, consider common features plants that combine them into one category:

A succulent plant is considered to be a plant with high drought-resistant abilities, paired with the ability to accumulate moisture in succulent leaves or stems.
All succulents come from dry, dusty and hot countries, so frequent rains or abundant watering have a detrimental effect on them.
Succulent plants are able to develop normally and even bloom when watered only a few times a year.
A thin waxy coating (cuticle), which appears bluish in the sun, serves as a shield against scorching sun and improper moisture consumption. Some species that do not have such a cover are densely pubescent on the stems.
The protective mechanism of succulents is the death of the aerial part in case of prolonged drought and its complete recovery after the appearance of moisture.
All succulents have very elastic leaves and a ribbed shaft, which allows the top layer of the plant not to burst during the accumulation of water in it.

Succulents - home care

For cultivation and for creating decorative compositions, it is better to use cultivated and adapted succulents for these purposes. Succulents such as agave, aloe, faucaria, tetragonia, titanopsis, euphorbia, echeveria and most cactus species create a minimum of hassle in care.

It is generally accepted that succulents do not need care and can grow on their own for months, this is not entirely true. Of course, they are very patient with neglect, but a little care still needs to be shown. Therefore, the basic skills of how to care for succulents should be mastered by all novice growers.

Necessary climatic conditions for succulents

Growing succulents becomes fascinating processif from the very beginning you choose a good sunny place... But the intensity and duration of sunlight should be selected taking into account the specific type of succulent.

An ideal place for a succulent is a sunny veranda, a window sill, but if the apartment is well lit by the daytime sun, then the flowerpot can be placed anywhere. Succulents do not tolerate shade well and quickly begin to stretch upward, undergoing various diseases.

Succulents do better in dry and hot houses, but high humidity harms plants and can cause rotting. Optimal mode for most succulents at home - 20-25⁰C in summer, and 5-15⁰C in winter during their sleep. Also, many plants need fluctuations in night and day temperatures within the range of 5-10 ° C.

Choosing a pot and soil for succulents

The soil for succulents needs mineral, mostly sandy and necessarily loose. Also, succulents can grow fully even in a rocky environment, for example, in gravel with minimum amount land.

It is more convenient to buy ready-made soil for succulents with an optimally selected composition. For example, succulents grow well in the soil "Biagro" or in the soil composition "Vermion" with an additional content of vermicompost. Acidity does not play a special role for succulents, but it is better to choose a neutral pH.

The exception is epiphytic succulents, which need special land for succulents just like orchids. It contains bark, coal and moss.

You can make the soil yourself. This will require sheet soil, sand and pebbles in a ratio of 2: 2: 1. Instead of pebbles, you can use broken brick, vermiculite or perlite.

For group planting of succulents, mineralized soil is more suitable. It should contain enough potassium, a measure of phosphorus and very little nitrogen. To improve looseness and drainage, crushed expanded clay can be added to the finished mixture.

Succulent pots can be very different. The size of the flowerpot does not matter, the main thing is that the succulents in it look beautiful. You can use classic ceramic or plastic containers.

At the peak of popularity is now the creation of unique compositions of succulents in the form of a mini-garden. To do this, use a variety of glass florariums in the form of balls, triangles or broken geometric shapes.

Also often used vertical fit succulents in special boxes with metal bars inside that hold the roots of the plants. These flowerpots resemble living paintings on the walls.

How to plant succulents

Planting succulents has its own characteristics, the observance of which will determine the further growth of flowers:

To begin with, no matter what kind of soil you have, homemade or purchased, it must be warmed up in the oven before planting succulents. This will disinfect the soil from harmful bacteria. You also need to disinfect all work tools and the pot.
On the bottom of the flowerpot, you need to lay a ball of any pebbles or broken brick... The drainage volume should be no more than ¼ of the flowerpot, and the size of the fraction is selected in accordance with the holes in the bottom.
Next, you should pour the prepared soil, while bending the flowerpot at an angle of 45⁰.
Then, using the transshipment method, plant succulents in a flowerpot, fill the voids with earth. Putting the flowerpot in an upright position, knock a little on the walls so that the succulent sags well with the soil.
You need to lay on top thin layer fine expanded clay around the open root collar. This will save her from the development of rot.
Watering after transplanting is not carried out and only after 3-5 days, when the plant adapts, it can be watered moderately.

How to water succulents

Improper watering is the most common cause of plant death. The roots should not be in a wet substrate. Watering is carried out moderately and infrequently, depending on the size of the pot and the time of year.

It is recommended to water the plant once a week in the spring, and half as often in the summer. IN winter period most species sleep, so watering succulents from October to April is reduced to once a month. And all representatives of the Cactus family are completely left without watering.

How to fertilize succulents

The amount of fertilizer applied should be minimal, because the main purpose of feeding is not to accelerate growth or flowering, but simply to replenish the partial loss of minerals that are washed out of the soil with water.

How to transplant succulents

Planting succulents should be in the spring months. Young succulents need to be transplanted annually, and starting from the age of three, every 4-5 years.

It is necessary to exclude watering succulents 7 days before the planned transplant. Blooming succulents are not transplanted, otherwise they will shed their buds.

Before starting work, the succulent is removed from the previous pot and left in the open air for two days so that the root is completely dry. If traces of rot are visible, the plant is pre-treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. The process itself takes place according to the usual scheme landing.

Reproduction of succulents at home

Succulents are propagated by cuttings, leaves and the seed method. Choice suitable way mainly determined by the type of succulent and its age.

Growing succulents from seeds

It is easy to get a new plant from seeds, but it is a rather lengthy and laborious process. For planting, you can use the seeds of a particular variety of succulents or buy mixes of different types.

A typical seed planting scheme looks like this:

The seeds are immersed in a Benlata suspension or in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 24 hours.
The soil is a mixture of steamed clay soil and coarse sand.
The soil is laid out in a flat container and sprinkled on top with a thin ball fine sandthen sow the seeds.
The container with seedlings is placed in a warm and sunny place, and covered with any transparent cover on top.
The duration of daylight hours for indoor succulents should be 12-14 hours, daytime temperature is needed from 25 to 35⁰С, nighttime - no higher than 20⁰С.
Growth signs appear at 3-7 days, depending on the type of succulent.
A pick is carried out after 30-40 days, when the sand ball is covered with algae and air access to the roots deteriorates.

Propagation of succulents by leaves

Domestic succulents are easily propagated by fallen leaves. And in some species, you can cut off the side shoots and then root them in the prepared soil. But leaves or cuttings do not need to be put in water - they will immediately rot and disappear.

Cuttings need to be dried for two days, and then planted according to all the rules for planting succulents. After three weeks, the plant will take full root. To speed up the process, you can use any stimulants for the formation of the root system.

Advice! How to grow succulents and how to propagate them at home is determined by the specific species and its origin. Each type has its own requirements and needs an individual approach.

Succulent leaves can be broken off or used freshly fallen. They should be placed on the ground near the plant. Then you need to sprinkle fresh soil around it and after two weeks the leaf will take root on its own.

A number of succulents, such as Kalanchoe or Hawrotia, reproduce even by leaf fragments. Part of the leaf is dried, stuck into the ground in a vertical direction to a depth of 1 cm.

Diseases and pests of succulents

Succulents at home are prone to disease, and when improper care are often affected by pests. Therefore, all the time you need to monitor the first signs of a problem, and immediately treat the plant, otherwise it will die.

Succulents are more likely to suffer from putrefactive bacteria. As a result of strong watering, the root begins to rot, and then the entire above-ground part perishes. The development of rot is also promoted by cold or, conversely, excessive heat over 35⁰С. You can lose a diseased plant in a couple of days.

If you notice signs of mold on the leaves, you need to immediately cut off the affected areas. If the stem is sick, it is cut to a healthy part. Unfortunately, the disease is noticed quite late, when it is no longer possible to save the succulent. Therefore, for the preservation of succulents, care should include the prevention of rot - competent watering, sufficient drainage, a bright place.

Of the pests that infect succulents, there are thrips, ticks and worms. With the help of insecticides, you can get rid of worms and thrips. To do this, you need to treat the plant and saturate the soil with an insecticide. To remove ticks, a systemic acaricide is needed.

Succulents, varieties

Succulents are represented by a huge variety of species and varieties that are difficult to distinguish and even more so to remember their complex names. Therefore, we will consider the most common varieties.

Homemade succulents - names:

Agave is a spherical leaf succulent. The plant is formed from densely spaced leaves with a white border. Differs in increased decorativeness.

Lithops are frequent guests of rockeries. They are also called "living stones" because outwardly they resemble small boulders. They bloom with bright yellow inflorescences resembling chamomile.

Eonium treelike is a large shrub in the shape of a flower, the rosette of which is formed by leaves of a light green or red-violet color.

Echeveria agave - delicate plant with small juicy leaves, collected in the shape of a green rose with a wax coating. It is a flowering succulent plant that shoots a tall arrow with fiery red buds in summer.

Crassula is a succulent known as " money Tree". A plant native to Africa, very unpretentious, rarely blooms and is more appreciated for its rounded glossy leaves. When correct formation grows up to 1.5 m in the form of a mini-tree.

Stapelia is the most beautiful succulent. The species has more than a hundred varieties, each of which has an unusually beautiful flowering. It is often used to create decorative compositions both at home and in the garden.

Succulents in the garden - features of care and cultivation

If you build a suitable spot in your garden, you can get an exotic flower bed with succulents. To do this, you will need to choose the sunniest site with an elevation without seasonal flooding.

Garden soil is not suitable for succulents, so you will have to pick up the top ball of soil (about 20 cm), pour a high layer of drainage and suitable soil for succulents.

Only cold-resistant varieties, such as Maihuenia poeppigii or macrorhiza, are planted in the prepared bed. And heat-loving succulents are best left in pots and taken home for the winter.

Basic care and reproduction of succulents in open ground the same as at home.

Succulents - photos of decorative compositions for home and garden

Video "Succulents: let's figure out what they are"

Plants capable of storing moisture in their stems and leaves are classified as succulents. This group, in turn, is divided into two varieties: stem and leaf succulents. At home they grow: cacti, kalanchoe, agave, fat woman, stone rose (echeveria) and aloe. Such plants are adapted to live in areas with arid climates. They require a special soil composition that can be prepared with your own hands if the store does not have ready-made substrates.

Succulents: features of morphology

To properly prepare the ground for, you need to know them characteristics and morphology. Succulents, even in their own way appearanceare markedly different from other indoor plants.

Stem succulents - have thick, ribbed stems. Their small leaves either disappeared completely in the process of evolutionary changes, or turned into thorns and thorns. This subgroup includes most varieties of cacti and. Moisture collects in the tissues of the bark and core of the stems.
Leafy succulents - thickened leaves serve as a place for moisture accumulation. Representatives of this subgroup include: different types aloe, fat women, havoria, echeveria.

Succulents have an underdeveloped root system - this is the most vulnerable part of the plant. At home, succulents do not experience the problem of getting moisture, as is the case in arid areas of natural habitat. Domesticated succulents do not grow long root suckers for water. The roots of home cacti and aloe are very small and fragile, they need a special soil to make them feel comfortable sitting in pots and pots.

Soil for succulents: composition and proportions of components

Succulents grow slowly. Some give an increase of only 1 centimeter per year, or even less. Their roots small size, and require a special soil composition suitable for the soil in arid regions. The desert land where succulents grow is sand, stones, the absence of nitrogen in the soil and the minimum content of fertile land. The same conditions must be adhered to when making the soil for indoor succulents. The most necessary nuances should be added to these requirements:

succulents grow well in loose, quickly drying soil;
the soil must be well aerated and drained;
the surface of the soil in pots must remain dry.

Council. Succulents are content with occasional watering, after which sprinkle the earth in pots with small pebbles, pebbles, granite chips, that is, any material that dries quickly, but does not retard moisture evaporation from the soil.

The composition of the soil for succulents must necessarily include:

Attention! It is not recommended to make soil for succulents based on peat and other similar components. Peat retains moisture for a long time, which slows down plant development. Do not buy ready-made mixtures containing this component.

Additional information on soil composition for succulents

Cacti and aloe, take them for example, almost do not react to soil acidity, but it is better to take soil with a neutral pH value.

Among the components that make up the soil for succulents, there should be no organic matter. Such substances contain a lot of nitrogen, and succulents do not accept its oversaturation. An excess of nitrogen-containing components leads to extremely rapid growth and moisture accumulation for these plants. They become soft and friable, their stems crack and burst, the leaves lose their decorative appearance.

Leaf humus used to prepare the substrate should be free of debris: small twigs, twigs. To do this, it is necessary to sift it through a sieve with large holes or a grid with fine meshes.

All constituent components must be disinfected in order to avoid the introduction of pathogenic microbes:

fry sand and earth for succulents in the oven in a frying pan or baking sheet for 1-2 hours;
rinse the drainage material from dirt and place in a solution of potassium permanganate for several hours, then dry it in the oven.

A properly prepared soil for succulents will create all the necessary prerequisites for the normal survival of the plant, its growth and development. Prevention measures will protect succulents from disease.

Many succulents are grown not only in decorative purposesbut also how medicinal plants... Their medicinal properties have long been known among the people: aloe is used to heal wounds, from inflammation, cacti are protection from electromagnetic rays emanating from TV monitors or computers.

Special soil for succulents: video

Succulents: features of morphology

To properly prepare the soil for succulents, you need to know their characteristics and morphology. Succulents, even in appearance, are markedly different from other indoor plants.

Stem succulents - have thick, ribbed stems. Their small leaves either disappeared completely in the process of evolutionary changes, or turned into thorns and thorns. This subgroup includes most varieties of cacti and milkweed. Moisture collects in the tissues of the bark and core of the stems.
Leafy succulents - thickened leaves serve as a place for moisture accumulation. Representatives of this subgroup include: different types of aloe, fat woman, havoria, echeveria.

Soil for succulents: composition and proportions of components

Succulents grow slowly. Some give an increase of only 1 centimeter per year, or even less. Their roots are small and require a special soil composition appropriate for the soil in arid regions. The desert land where succulents grow is sand, stones, the absence of nitrogen in the soil and the minimum content of fertile land. The same conditions must be adhered to when making the soil for indoor succulents. The most necessary nuances should be added to these requirements:

succulents grow well in loose, quickly drying soil;
the soil must be well aerated and drained;
the surface of the soil in pots must remain dry.

Council. Succulents are content with occasional watering, after which sprinkle the soil in pots with small pebbles, pebbles, granite chips, that is, any material that dries quickly, but does not delay the evaporation of moisture from the soil.

The composition of the soil for succulents must necessarily include:

Additional information on soil composition for succulents

Cacti and aloe, take them for example, almost do not react to soil acidity, but it is better to take soil with a neutral pH value.

Leaf humus used to prepare the substrate should be free of debris: small twigs, twigs. To do this, it is necessary to sift it through a sieve with large holes or a grid with fine meshes.

All constituent components must be disinfected in order to avoid the introduction of pathogenic microbes:

fry sand and earth for succulents in the oven in a frying pan or baking sheet for 1-2 hours;
rinse the drainage material from dirt and place in a solution of potassium permanganate for several hours, then dry it in the oven.

Many succulents are grown not only for decorative purposes, but also as medicinal plants. Their medicinal properties have long been known among the people: aloe is used to heal wounds, from inflammation, cacti are protection from electromagnetic rays emanating from TV monitors or computers.

Special soil for succulents: video

For many years the word “succulent” for most florists remained mysterious, although names such as aloe, cactus, agave were not surprising. Succulents (from lat. Succulentus - "juicy") are a special group of xerophytic plants, most of which grow in arid areas, where the ability to store water is a vital necessity.

Choosing a container for succulents

Large pots are not suitable because the soil in them will dry out for too long between waterings, which is harmful to flowers, especially in winter. But even in small pots, it is important not to overflow the flower.

Which capacity is best?

It is not important for fast-growing species, but clay capacity is desirable for slow-growing and large succulents.
Representatives characterized by strong growth, which may be undesirable for room culture, can also be planted in clay pots - this will create a certain moisture deficit due to the porous walls of the pot and will somewhat slow down the development of the plant.

Choosing a soil for succulents

The substrate for succulents should be as close as possible to the soil in which they grow in nature. Ordinary land from the garden will not work, because it is very dense and keeps moisture for a long time, because of this, the succulent will simply rot over time.
A soil mixture for succulents can consist of the following components: sphagnum moss, bark, humus, charcoal, thorny earth, leaf humus, sand.
For succulent plants, a mineral poor in organic matter is preferred. Plain leafy ground from under birches and lindens is best suited.

It is interesting that replacing sand with crushed sphagnum moss often gives good results - plants develop much more intensively.

Succulents need a loose, well-aerated soil, without much nutrients, but minerals must be present. Acidity usually does not affect plants.
It is better to take humus without excess garbage and it is advisable to sift before use.

Features of working with a ready-made purchased substrate

When buying ready-made soil, you should pay attention to its composition. Such mixtures are most often based on peat (lowland or high moor) and sand.
The most famous mixtures are: "Seliger-Agro" or "Biagro". This substrate includes a mixture of high and low peat. The Bereginya substrate also includes compost.
Vermion ready-mix contains biohumus
To improve aeration, sand or crushed bricks are added to the purchased mixtures.

Important! If water is not retained in the substrate, you can add one part of nutritious peat, garden soil, or recycled leaf compost.

Self-preparation of the soil

You can very easily make a universal soil for succulents on your own. The substrate should consist of three layers: leafy soil, turf soil and sand.

Let's consider in more detail:

The bottom layer is drainage. Stone or brick chips or small river (sea) pebbles. Density - 1 cm.
Middle section - mix: 1 part of plain earth, 2 parts of sand and 1 part of humus. If desired, also add some small pebbles. We pour this layer, stepping back from the edge of the container by 1-2 cm.
The top layer is surface drainage. It is best to use ingredients that can be removed before watering and then returned back. Usually used: brick chips, expanded clay or perlite. Density 1-1.5 cm.

Substrate for succulents

An important role in soil selection is played by root system flower. For succulents with a thin superficial root system, small pebbles or red brick chips are used in the substrate. The crumb absorbs excess moisture very well.
In this case, the substrate will consist of the following layers:

1 piece of leafy land;
1 part of sod land;
1 part sand;
1 \\ 2 part of pebbles ( brick chips), perlite or perlite.

Certain types of succulents are distinguished by a powerful root system, which accumulates moisture. For these flowers, a little sod land is added to the soil. In this case, the substrate will consist of the following layers:

1 piece of leafy land;
1.5 part of sod land;
1 part sand.

Crushed stone is added to the flowers that grow in rocky terrain.
Crushed charcoal about 1/10 of the total soil volume will not be superfluous for the soil.

In general, succulents are not whimsical plants, which can retain moisture for a long time and are not demanding in maintenance.

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