How to cultivate velvet needles

Farming methods

Soil selection

Planting needles can generally be done with a mixture of peat, vermiculite and perlite, or a mixture of peat and coarse sand.

Light temperature

Velvet needles prefer a warm, dry and sunny growing environment. They are usually green, and will slowly change color as the sunshine time increases and the temperature difference increases. Can be exposed to full sun.

The velvet needle needs to receive sufficient sunlight to make the plant shape more compact and beautiful. If there is too little sunlight, the leaves will become loose and long and thin.

In addition, it is afraid of low temperatures and frost and snow, and can tolerate partial shade. Its native habitat is in southern Africa and South Africa. There is a short dormancy during the high temperatures of summer. The suitable temperature for the growth of velvet needles is 15-25 degrees, and not lower than 5 degrees in winter.

Water and fertilizer management

Cashmere does not require much water, and too much water can easily breed disease and cause waterlogging. During the growing season, water thoroughly when the soil is dry, and keep the soil in the pot dry in winter.

It will hibernate in the summer when the temperature is high, so be sure to reduce watering. It can continue to grow in the winter.

Fertilization is generally applied once every two months during the spring and autumn growing season.

Reproduction method

Velvet needles are very easy to grow in groups, and the main method of reproduction is cuttings, but leaf cuttings are also possible. It can be carried out throughout the year, with faster rooting and higher survival rate in spring and autumn.

Velvet needles can also be propagated by beheading, division and sowing.

Precautions

Dormant period maintenance

The temperature is generally high across the country in summer, and the velvet needles are in a dormant period at this time. It is not advisable to water them too much or apply fertilizers to prevent the velvet needles from being waterlogged and rotten.

Winter maintenance

Velvet needles are slightly cold-resistant, so you need to pay attention to frost protection in winter. When the temperature is below 5℃, you can take appropriate warming measures, such as adding protective covers, etc.

The velvet needles will drop their leaves when they are frozen, which is very painful to see!