The fatty plants in April require some fundamental treatments to face the change of season: discover the 5 most important gestures to keep them healthy, beautiful and ready to flourish.
With the arrival of April, the days stretch and the light returns to heat the slower leaves to wake up. Also the succulent plantsafter the long winter rest, they slowly start getting back in motion. It is a somewhat critical period: the temperatures are up and down, the sun becomes more decisive and the risk of combining trouble, in an attempt to “do good”, is around the corner. We tend to think that they are indestructible plants, but right now is the moment when you need eye, or rather … sensitivity.
It is interesting to note how much timing affects: a hasty exposure, an extra year, a badly chosen vase, and everything is complicated. In reality, it takes little to really help a plant to recover after the winter. Just know how to observe. Just don’t be in a hurry.
Solar light for fatty plants in April: going for grades is better
The April sun is different from the winter one: warmer, more direct, almost impatient. After months spent in shady or even indoors, fatty plants literally risk burning if exposed suddenly to full light. It is not uncommon to see damaged fabrics, dark spots or obvious signs of stress. For this reason, it is recommended to proceed in small steps: first a few hours a day in a bright but filtered point, then gradually increase the exposure.
The thorny varieties, in general, adapt better, but the euphorbie? Those better leave them protected a little more. Patience is said to be the virtue of the strong: it also applies to succulents.
Water: do you really need now?
The thought is always that: “It’s hot, let’s give them to drink”. Yet it is precisely here that you often make a mistake. In spring, and especially in April, night humidity can create bad jokes. The wet soil remains cold, and the roots – still a little asleep – are unable to absorb correctly.
So better a more cautious approach. Intense only when the soil is dry in depth and do it with little water, without haste. Every two weeks, with a careful eye, it can be enough. If then the leaves become more turgid and colors come on, then yes, you are on the right path.
Repotting succulents: it’s not just a matter of space
How many times a plant is observed and you think: “It is tight, should the vase change”? But repotting does not only serve to give breath. It serves to renew the energies, to free the roots from the old residues and – why not – to let them breathe a little.
In April the climate is perfect for doing it: the roots are not yet in full business and the excessive heat has not arrived. The ideal procedure? Nothing complicated:
- Use well dry soilnever humid.
- Gently rinse the roots under running water, eliminating any trace of the old substrate.
- Let them dry completely in the air for a few days, 3-7 if possible.
- Only at that point put them back in pots, with a new and light mix.
- And then … no water immediately immediately! Wait at least a week.
It seems counterintuitive, but it is precisely the wait that stimulates the plant that produces new strong roots.
Put them out? Yes, but with trial
In April the desire for balcony is taken, even for plants. But going out suddenly may not be a great idea. During the day the temperatures are often mild, but at night? Still too fresh for certain varieties.
Better to start with a position repaired: a protected corner, perhaps under a canopy or close to a sunny wall. The air currents should be avoided, and even more the pouring rain. A downpour is enough to make an entire plant rot in a few days.
For flower suits, like the echinopsis o i trichocereusthe thermal overhang can be an ally: it seems that it favors flowering. But here too, always with an eye to humidity and one to the location.
Roots and soil: everything happens behind the scenes
There are those who only look at the part of the pot and forget that all the real show takes place below. The roots tell a lot about the state of the plant, even if they are not seen. In April, giving a look never hurts.
If you notice tangled, soft or strange smells, it is a sign of alarm. In that case, it is better to prune the damaged parts with clean scissors and proceed with the repotting. Every two or three years, then, it is worth changing the soil completely, using a draining mix, perhaps with a little sand or perlite. Simple, but fundamental.
After all, take care of fatty plants in April does not require striking gestures. Rather, attention is needed, listening and a certain sensitivity to details.
Because yes, even a silent plant can communicate. Just stop for a moment to look at her.
Photo © Stock.adobe
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