Viewing post #1843175 by Bigtattoo

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Oct 25, 2018 11:19 AM CST
Name: BigT
Central Illinois (Zone 5)
Birds Cactus and Succulents Sedums Sempervivums
They certainly do look very healthy, nice work on that score.

Tips on keeping them healthy, growing and blooming well.
First and this will sound like sacrilege since you've got them looking so nice, cut off the outer leaves so there are only 3 rows of leaves including the center rosette. Why? Your AV's maintain a balance between root growth and top growth. If you leave the top growth unchecked your AV's will become root bound. Keeping them to the 3 rows of leaves, the roots will grow more slowly while still maintaining a very healthy looking plant.

Wick watering. As you know getting the leaves wet can cause unsightly spotting on your leaves. Wick watering eliminates the need to water directly in the pot, maintains a constant moisture level in the soil and also makes it easier to give a constant supply of dilute fertilizer to promote more blooms. For my AV's I use nylon from panty hose to make my wicks. Cut a strip 2" wide and twice as long as your pot in tall. 4" tall pot, 8" long wick. Twist the nylon to make it more "rope" like. Using a chopstick insert the wick into the pot pushing it up towards the surface of the soil. It appears your pots are terra cotta, and I assume they have a single drain hole in the bottom. As you insert the wick with the chopstick, angle it so the wick goes towards the outside edge of the pot. You don't want to go directly up towards the central crown. One wick will keep your soil evenly moist through capillary action.

Now on to the reservoir. Any kind of plastic container with a tight fitting lid will serve for your reservoir. Tupperware, cool whip, disposable food storage, all work just fine. You can decorate the outside to suit your aesthetic, paint, stickers, or you may find a suitable container that is already decorated to suit your tastes. I suggest trying to find one container that both pots will fit on and remain stable. Two smaller ones would work as well. Cut holes in the lids large enough to easily feed your wicks through so they wicks will sit down inside the container/s. Fill the container about 3/4 full of your water/nutrient solution.

Nutrient solution, any good water soluble fertilizer can be used to make up your nutrient solution. Fertilizers will 3 numbers indicating Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. I recommend one with higher Phosphorus and lower Nitrogen and potassium. Miracle Gro has one called Quick Start with a 4-12-4 ratio. This is good, or anything similar. Mix this with your water to 1/4 strength. You don't need or want full strength as your AV's will be getting a constant source of nutrients. Add your solution to your reservoir, snap on the lid, feed your wicks through the holes as you set your pots on top. You can still rotate your pots to keep them balanced.

With this method your AV's will continue to grow well, bloom regularly, although there may be short periods with no blooms for perhaps a week or so.

You can use the leaves you cut off to make more AV's by rooting them up. If you're interested in how to do this, just ask.

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