The cocor duck is a bright, cheerful succulent with thick green foliage and fiery pink flowers. Cocor ducks are very easy to care for and can be placed indoors or outdoors, as long as the conditions are relatively warm and exposed to sunlight. Like other succulents, cocor ducks require very little water and are not good at watering too much. Besides being easy to maintain and resistant to many diseases that can damage other, more fragile plants, cocor duck care is also very easy and suitable to be placed in the house or given as a gift.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Growing Cocor Ducks
Step 1. Cuttings from existing plants
The best way to grow cocor duck is to cut the stems from mature plants, then plant the cuttings so that they grow into new cocor duck plants. Use a sharp knife or shears to cut the mature cocor duck stems. Remove all the leaves on the bottom 5 cm of the stem and leave only about 2 leaves.
Step 2. Leave the stem cuttings for three days to dry
After you have cut and removed most of the leaves, place the cocor duck stems on a paper towel and leave for a few days to dry. The drying process of stem cuttings is called callusing or crusting.
Step 3. Dip the tip of the stem in the root hormone
Once the stem is dry, dip the tip of the stem you cut in the root hormone. Root hormone will stimulate the stem to grow roots faster and healthier.
Step 4. Plant the cocor duck stems in the ground
Fill a small pot with a drainage hole in the bottom with well-draining soil. Clay pots are a great choice for succulents because they have pores. Then, make a hole in the ground with a pencil or pen. Take the dried cocor duck stem and insert it into the hole made.
- You should choose well-drained soil for cocor duck stem cuttings so that the soil doesn't trap too much water. You can find well-drained soil at flower and garden supply stores, and you can even get soil specially formulated for succulents.
- You can make your own mixture of 60% peat and 40% pearlite.
- Dip the stems into root hormone only once. The use of too much root hormone can have a negative effect on plant development.
Step 5. Water the soil and cover the pot with a plastic bag
After the cocor duck stem is plugged into the ground, water the soil with a little water until it is slightly wet. Then, take a large plastic bag, make a few small nicks on the top, and cover the entire pot with the bag.
The plastic bag covering the pot will create a moist environment for the cocor ducks to grow and thrive
Step 6. Place the pot in a bright place with indirect sunlight and water it occasionally
After you place the bag over the pot, place the pot on a table or window sill in indirect sunlight. Check the soil about once a week and water a little when the soil is dry, then put the plastic bag back on the pot when you're done watering.
Place the cocor duck in a bright place with indirect sunlight until the roots grow
Step 7. Open the plastic bag after about 2-3 weeks
After 2-3 weeks, the roots will have grown. At this point, you can remove the plastic bag from the top of the pot. Keep the pot in a bright place and water it about once a week when the soil is dry.
Part 2 of 3: Caring for Cocor Duck Plants
Step 1. Cover the duck cocor with sunlight
Cocor ducks need a lot of sun, whether grown from stem cuttings or purchased after growing up. If you grow cocor duck indoors, place it in a window that gets a lot of direct sunlight.
Direct sunlight that is too hot will damage the plant
Step 2. The room where the cocor duck is located should always be moderate to warm
Like most succulents, the cocor duck thrives in moderate to warm temperatures. Cocor Ducks will grow well in standard indoor temperatures, but if you're growing Cocor Ducks outside, in pots, put them in if the temperature drops below 10°C.
Step 3. Water the duck cocor every half week
Cocor ducks need a very specific amount of water in order to get the right nutrients but not excess water. When the soil is dry, water the plant until it is soaked and the water drains from the bottom hole of the pot and pools in the drainage tray. Lift the tray from the bottom and drain the water, then place the tray back under the pot. Allow the soil to dry completely for about a week and a half, then water again in the same way.
Step 4. Fertilize cocor duck once a month
Although cocor duck is a plant that is relatively self-sufficient in nutrition, the occasional application of fertilizer will bring benefits. Use a balanced organic fertilizer such as 20-20-20. To apply fertilizer, follow the instructions on the label and do not apply fertilizer in doses that exceed the recommendations on the label.
If you buy cocor duck from a flower shop, usually the plant has been fertilized and you won't need to fertilize again for about two months
Part 3 of 3: Protecting and Pruning Cocor Ducks
Step 1. Do not place the duck cocor under the pouring rain
If you put the duck cocor outdoors, place it in a shady place so it doesn't get rained on. Rain will oversaturate the water content of the plant and this can kill it.
Step 2. Prune the dead flower stems
After the cocor duck flowers, keep an eye on dead stems or leaves. If any part is dead, carefully trim it with sharp cutting scissors just below the part that is starting to die.
Reduce the amount of water that is watered for two weeks after you cut off any dead plant parts
Step 3. Use a completely natural insecticide alternative to combat pests
Although cocor ducks are generally resistant to disease and most insects, if placed outdoors cocor ducks can be damaged by certain pests such as aphids and spider mites. Get rid of pests by applying organic insecticide spray according to the recommended dose on the package.
- You can also make a natural insecticide by mixing a few drops of dish soap, a few drops of canola or sunflower oil, and a quart of water.
- To apply, spray the solution directly onto the area where the pest is attached to the plant.
Step 4. Make the cocor duck flower again
Cocor ducks can bloom again the next season if cared for properly. Plants will need at least six weeks in the dark to stimulate their flowers to grow, meaning that cocor ducks need to spend about 12 hours in the dark each day.
- Plants should be placed in the dark at sunset.
- For plants that are placed indoors, keep them in a dark room or in a closet all night. This method will stimulate the growth of flower buds.
Tips
- If you are trying to stimulate flower growth, place the plant in the dark for about 12 hours. Do it every day until the flowers grow.
- If you notice that the cocor duck looks thin and sick, it may be that the plant lacks light. Remove the duck cocor and place it in the sun or move it to a place that gets a lot of sun.
