Portulacaria fear , also known as " purslane " , is a shrub of the genus Purslane in the family Purslane , in its native South Africa , its plants can grow to 2 to 3 meters tall ( up to 4 meters ) , branching out particularly many , can grow into the form of small bushes , now it has become a popular potted succulent all over the world.
Above are the golden branches and jade leaves that grow into bushes in south Africa
1. Three kinds of "Jinhua" golden branches and jade leaves
1. Medicinal jinjin jade leaf
Above is the medicinal brocade golden branch jade leaf (only the young leaves are brocade, the old leaves are not brocade)
Here also to remind everyone, in the market can often buy some medicinal brocade golden branches and jade leaves, that is, the use of drugs (similar to herbicides) sprayed on the young leaves, so that the young leaves appear to be brocadeized, it will look particularly gorgeous, but the chlorophyll of these young leaves are destroyed (young leaves can not photosynthesis), there is no way to grow, and eventually these young leaves will all fall, very difficult to raise, it is not very friendly to novices, want to make this medicine brocade golden branches and jade leaves healthy, you can only expect it to grow new shoots.
2. Gagaku Dance and Gagaku Hua
Of course, there are also some natural variations of the golden branches and jade leaf brocade, including the common "Yale Dance" and "Gagaku Hua".
Above is the Dance of Gagaku
The Dance of Gagaku is a variety of golden branches and jade leaves with brocade edges on the edges of the leaves, whether it is a young leaf or an old leaf, the leaves are all with brocade edges, and the newly grown leaves will have more brocade edges.
Above is Gagaku NoHua
Yale Zhihua is that there will be a vertical brocade spot in the center of the leaf, which is also a natural variation of the golden branch jade leaf brocade, and the stem of Yale Zhihua is red, which looks more delicate, but the maintenance difficulty will be higher.
Here we remind everyone to pay more attention when choosing potted golden branches and jade leaves.
2. Golden branches and jade leaves bloom
Above are the golden leaves of the South African region (in bloom)
In its native South Africa, it has the opportunity to flower every spring and summer, its flowers are extremely small, all pink or rose-red, the amount of flowers is extremely large, generally gathered at the top of the plant, and the flowering is still quite spectacular.
Above is the floral detail of the golden branches and jade leaves
3. Disease and pest protection
Golden leaf is a very drought-tolerant succulent plant, like plenty of light, but in the summer when the temperature is too high to proper shade, in other seasons to give the whole sun maintenance (to avoid frequent rain), in addition to ensuring that the environment is cool and dry, to avoid excessive humidity (air humidity is not too large), do not raise in the dark and not ventilated, or potting soil continues to be humid environment.
Raising potted golden branches and jade leaves is rarely infected with diseases, basically it is too much watering, the environment is too humid, resulting in rhizome rot or black rot of leaves, etc., pay attention to improving the environment, potting soil should not continue to be wet, and the leaves should not remain water.
Occasionally, it can be sprayed or smeared with 75% concentration of medicinal alcohol, or directly sprayed with a cure or thiazide insecticide.
4, the appropriate temperature
Planting golden branches and jade leaves should pay attention to keeping the environment warm, avoid excessive low temperature, the minimum temperature is best maintained above 5 degrees, the temperature is below 12 degrees to control watering, and even stop watering. The optimal growth temperature is between 18 and 28 degrees.
5. Pay attention to potting soil and fertilization
It is best to choose some fertile loose and well-drained sandy soil or humus soil for the cultivation of golden branches and jade leaves, and it is generally recommended to use common succulent soils, such as peat soil with granular stones, mixed in a 1:1 ratio. Granular stone can be used to the common wheat stone, terracotta soil, zeolite or volcanic stone, etc., choose 2 to 3 of them to mix, and properly mix some slow-release fertilizer in the soil to ensure that there is continuous fertility to promote growth.
Later maintenance of potted golden branches and jade leaves also do not need frequent fertilization, it has less demand for fertilizer, generally only need to sprinkle a little slow release fertilizer on the soil in the spring and autumn, can meet its growth needs.
6. Propagation of cuttings
Above are golden branches and jade leaves with hydroponic cuttings (requires proper lighting)
In the later stage, if you want to propagate golden branches and jade leaves, it is also very simple, generally it is to use the method of branch cuttings to propagate, and the best cutting temperature is 18 to 22 degrees in spring and autumn.
Cut off the golden branches and jade leaf branches, each section is about 7 to 12 cm long, you can take off the leaves at the bottom of the branches, put them in a ventilated shade, dry the wound (put 3 to 5 days) and then directly cut in the sandy soil (peat soil + perlite 2:1), the soil with a little moisture can be, and then raised in a soft scattered light position for 2 to 3 hours a day, to ensure a certain air humidity and good ventilation, about 3 to 4 weeks later, these cuttings of golden branches and jade leaves can take root and sprout.
7. Trim and shape the form
Above is a particularly excellent golden branch jade leaf bonsai
Whenever the branches and leaves of the golden branches and jade leaves grow excessively, the branches grow particularly much, and the excess branches can be cut off, so that they can also shape it.
Golden branches and jade leaves are very suitable for growing bonsai, because it is easy to grow branches, and can grow into a shrub-like form, and the base of the branches will continue to lignify.
Golden branches and jade leaves are especially suitable for cultivating "cliff-style" or "jungle-style" bonsai, that is, to retain some branches at the bottom of the plant, so that it grows in a vertical pot in the direction of a certain side, and when necessary, it is necessary to use aluminum wire to bundle the branches, first bundle a few circles on the main trunk, fix and then wrap around the branches, and then properly bend, you can get a more ideal shape.