Why do the succulents I grow at home have no color?

Whether succulents can be colored is mainly related to these factors

(1) Proper soil preparation

In addition to being breathable and non-water-resistant, the soil for succulents also needs to contain some mineral particles such as perlite, vermiculite, and akadama.

Because the trace elements in the mineral particles help the succulents to color, and the mineral particles have a porous structure and light weight, they help increase root permeability, stabilize soil pH and absorb nutrients.

(2) Adequate sunlight

Succulents need sufficient light during their growth period. Succulents need sufficient sunlight to fully carry out photosynthesis, helping them to evaporate water, deposit pigments and produce nutrients, giving them a good coloring effect.

(3) Large temperature difference

Succulents need a temperature difference of about 10-15℃ between morning and evening to develop color.

   Because succulents fully carry out photosynthesis during the day, the low temperature at night helps reduce transpiration, which helps reduce nutrient consumption and convert accumulated nutrients into sugars.

The more nutrients deposited, the fuller the leaves of succulent plants, the thicker the white powder on the surface of the leaves, and the better the condition. This is the same principle as why fruits in plateau areas with large temperature differences between morning and evening are particularly sweet, and why persimmons turn red and sweet after frost in late autumn.

(4) Relatively dry

The leaves of succulent plants are thick and fleshy, and their nutritional organs are rich in water. In addition to water, they also contain pigment cells such as carotene, anthocyanins, chlorophyll, and lutein. Only when the pigment concentration is significantly higher than the water concentration will a better coloring effect be presented.

Therefore, if you want succulents to color quickly, you should control the appropriate humidity. A relatively dry environment is conducive to reducing the water concentration in the cells and increasing the pigment concentration, so that the succulents can show obvious color reaction.

(5) Whether it is in the growth stage

Although succulents do not have an obvious blooming and withering process, they also have their own special growth cycle.

Most succulents grow mainly in spring, autumn and early winter, and have the characteristic of short dormancy during periods of extreme heat and severe cold.

During this stage, the growth of succulents is slow or basically stagnant. At the same time , due to sunshade in summer and lack of sunlight in winter, it is difficult to present a good coloring effect. This is a normal phenomenon.

In addition, apart from providing a suitable growth environment, there is no need to deliberately pursue the state in these two special stages.