Succulent, popularly called the tree of happiness, is a succulent that is easy to care for. It doesn’t need much to please the eye with its attractive habit and fleshy, shiny leaves. If you want to see as many of them as possible, you need to avoid a few mistakes when growing succulents. It also pays to use the right fertilizer. Which homemade fertilizer works best? Here is a recipe for a cheap and effective fertilizer.
Mistakes in growing succulents
Like other succulents, succulents store water in their fleshy leaves. Thanks to this, it does not need frequent watering so that it looks decorative for a long time and is a beautiful decoration of the window sill. The tree of happiness is known for its frost resistance, but not all conditions suit it. Unknowingly, you can make a mistake when growing, which will slow down the growth of the plant and cause it to start losing its attractive leaves.
What are the most common mistakes when growing succulents?
- Excessive watering – as we mentioned before, the tree of happiness has the ability to store water in its leaves. Therefore does not need frequent watering – an excess of water seriously damages it and leads to root rot. This is subsequently manifested by yellowing and wrinkling of the leaves and their loss.
- Lack of light – the succulent is a very resistant plant, but without access to light it will not grow healthily. Do not place it far from a window, as its leaves will lose color and fall off.
- Bad soil – the tree of happiness must grow in permeable soil. Heavy soil that holds water can cause serious growing problems. Opt for a light mix for cacti with the addition of sand and put drainage, for example expanded clay, on the bottom of the pot.
- Neglect of fertilizing – you must fertilize the succulent during the growing season sparingly (once a month). If it is forgotten, it will lose its charm – its leaves will be small and dull. It may also start to turn yellow.
Homemade nutrition for new leaves of the succulent
A common mistake when growing a tree of happiness is neglecting fertilization. You must remember that this plant needs a systematic supply of nutrients that support its healthy growth and stimulate the formation of new leaves. To fertilize succulents, you can use ready-made fertilizers for succulents and cacti from the gardening store. These fertilizers are usually in liquid form, so you need to dilute them appropriately according to the manufacturer’s instructions on the package.
If you want, you can also feed the tree of happiness with natural fertilizers. One of the best can be made from the following ingredients:
- peel from 1 banana,
- a handful of garlic cloves,
- 1 l water.
How do you use them to create nutrition for succulents? Cut the banana peel into small pieces and put them in the container together with the garlic peels. Pour 1 liter of water into the container, cover it and let it stand for 24 hours. After this time, you strain it through a sieve and then use it to water the tree of happiness. I water my own succulent with this type of fertilizer once a month. Strengthened in this way, it always produces new, healthy leaves that have a beautiful shine.
This is how I saved the tree of happiness. The leaves are no longer yellow and soft. Grandma’s trick helped