the genus cotyledon belongs to the crassulaceae family and includes about 10 species that are primarily distributed in south africa.

plant care for cotyledon papillaris

cotyledon papillaris does good on a bright or light shaded place with partial sun (morning and/or evening).

it can be planted in regular cactus soil or a mix between humus, sand and gritty (2:1:1). drench the soil and remove water flowing out of the pot after a few minutes. wet legs can cause rotten roots. allow to dry before watering next.

a half diluted cactus fertilizer can be given monthly in spring/summer. when placed at room temperature every eight weeks in fall/winter. cotyledon papillaris can be placed on about 10-15 °c/50-59 °f at this time. then it needs less watering, a fertilizer must not be given.

propagation

cotyledon papillaris can be propagated by seeds, stem or leaf cuttings. before potting the cut end should dry out for 2-4 days on a bright but not sunny location.

propagating the sacred fig (ficus religiosa) with seeds isn’t difficult. you can use a good regular potting mix. give the seeds just on the soil. to increase humidity put a glas or a freezing bag over the pot. don’t forget to air daily. place the pot on a bright location without direct sun. temperature should be +20 °c/68 °c. keep the soil moist but not wet.

the sacred fig needs approx. 7 to 21 days to germinate (at 25 °c/77 °f). if the seedlings are approx. 5 cm/1.97 tall you can start slowly adapting them to your room climate with extending the airing time day by day. when they are 10 cm/3.94 inches tall they can be divided an re-potted.

the rubber fig (ficus elastica) is a houseplant which was very popular in the 1950′s. its leaves can get more than 30 cm/12 inchs long, but there are cultivars with smaller or variegated leaves available. it is native to india and indonesia. other common names: rubber plant or indian rubber bush.

care

the rubber fig can be placed from bright to light shaded but does best on a bright location with some morning and/or evening sun. for building up their colored leaves the variegated cultivars shouldn’t be placed to dark.

a good regular potting mix can be used. keep it moist but not wet and avoid overwatering. drying at the soils surface will be tolerated but it shouldn’t dry completely.

a half diluted water soluble fertilizer can be given monthly (spring/summer) and avery six to eight weeks (fall/winter). if placed a bit cooler in winter it needs less watering and must not be fed.

the rubber fig likes room temperature throughout the year with a winter minimum of 15 °/59 °f.

spraying it over with water increases humidity and keeps its leaves dust free.

propagation

the rubber fig can be propagated by seeds or cuttings.

this snake plant (sansevieria raffillii) has glaucous leaves with dark mottling. its native to kenya.

care

sansevieria raffillii does best on a sunny to bright location throughout the year. if placed outside in summer, make sure that water can flow out of the pot. bring back inside if the temperature is falling below 10 °c/50 °f constantly.

the snake plant needs a well drained soil, a regular cactus mix can be used. it need to be good watered, whats flowing out of the pot should be removed after a few minutes. wet legs can cause rotten roots. allow to dry before adding water next.

in spring/summer a half diluted cactus fertilizer can be given monthly. if placed at room temperature in fall/winter every six to eight weeks.

sansevieria raffillii likes can be cultivated at room temperature throughout the year with a winter minimum of 14 °c/57 °f. if wintering colder it needs less watering and no feeding.

sansevieria raffillii var. glauca

propagation

the snake plant can be propagated by leaf cuttings or division.

euphorbia “diamond frost” is a cultivar, based on e. hypericifolia. the easy to care houseplant is becoming popular more and more. here in germany it is sold as balcony plant.

care

euphorbia “diamond frost” is suitable for a sunny, bright, light shaded or shaded location. if placed sunny to light shaded it can be a non stop bloomer. on a shaded place it shows less flowers.

a regular potting soil or a mix between humus and a bit of sand (3:1) can be used. keep it moist but not wet, drying at the soils surface between the waterings will be tolerated.

in spring and summer a half diluted water soluble fertilizer can be given monthly. if placed at room temperature during fall/winter every six to eight weeks. on a colder winter location there is no need to feed.

euphorbia “diamond frost” can be cultivated at room temperature throughout the year but can be wintered at +/-10 °c/50 °f. then it needs less watering.

propagation

euphorbia “diamond frost” can be propagated by cuttings.

the weeping or benjamin’s fig (ficus benjamina) is one of the most popularest house and office plants. there are a lot of culitvars with white or yellow variegated leaves available. the small ones can be used as indoor bonsai. its tolerating some poor growing conditions, but if you like to have a beautiful and healthy plant give it some care.

the weeping fig is native to asia and australia and can get till 30 meters (100 ft) tall in its natural habitat.

care

ficus benjamina does best in bright light with some morning and/or evening sun. but it also grows on a light shaded place. for building up their colored leaves the variegated cultivars shouldn’t be placed to dark. during summer it can be placed in the garden, but bring it in if the temperature is falling below 15 °c (59 °c) constantly.

a good regular potting mix can be used. keep it constantly moist but not wet and avoid overwatering or drying out. drying at the soil’s surface will be tolerated.

a half diluted water soluble fertilizer can be given monthly or every six to eight weeks during fall/winter. if placed colder at this time, there is no need to feed.

ficus benjamina likes to be placed warm throughout the year with a winter minumum of 15 °c (59 °f). to keep its leaves free from dust spray it over with water or give a shower. if becoming too tall it can easily be cutted back.

fresh bought or relocated plants sometimes drop some leaves but are producing new, if they have adapted to their new surroundings.

1-2: ficus benjamina, 3: f. benjamina “variegata”

propagation

the benjamin’s fig can be propagated by seeds or cuttings.

that the easter cactus is now called holliday cactus is a bit of a marketing thing. because of this name it can be sold for more than only four to six weeks a year. the name easter cactus belong to its blooming time in spring. there are a lot of cultivars available, mostly based on hatiora graeseri, in nearly every colour you want.

the members of the genus hatiora (syn. rhipsalidopsis) are native to brasil, where they grow epiphytic (on trees).

care

all easter cactus care infos you can find on my hatiroa site –>

easter cactus vs. christmas cactus

easter cacti can easily be differed from christmas cacti (schlumbergera) by their leaves and flowers. there are hybrids between both species available (image 4).

propagation

the easter cactus can be propagated by seeds or cuttings.

what is sold under the common names christmas cactus, thanksgiving cactus or holiday cactus are mostly hybrids (crossings) based on schlumbergera truncata. there are many cultivars available, flowering from white to yellow, orange, red, pink or bicolor. in their natural habitat (brazil) the members of the genus schlumbergera are growing on trees (epiphytic) or rocks (lithophytic).

all the information about care and propagation of those lovely cacti you can find on my schlumbergera site –>

1-5: schlumbergera hybrids, 6: schlumbergera x exotica “knuth” is a crossing between s. opuntioides and s. truncata. its flowering in pink.

christmas cactus vs. easter cactus

christmas cacti can easily be differed from easter cacti (hatiora) by their leaves and flowers. there are hybrids between both species available (image 4).

propagation

the christmas cactus can be propagated with seeds or cuttings.

pachyphytum compactum is a succulent plant with distinctively patterned fat leaves. a common name for this mexican native i havn’t found.

care

pachyphytum compactum likes a bright and sunny place throughout the year. light shade will be tolerated. during summer it can be placed outside. please make sure that rainwater can run out of the pot because wet legs can cause root rott.

a standard cactus soil or a mix between humus, sand and gritty (2:1:1) can be used. it can be deep watered from spring to fall, what runs out of the pot’s hole should be removed after a few minutes. allow to dry before watering next.

from spring to fall it can be fed monthly with a half diluted cactus fertilizer. recently repotted or bought plants don’t a fertilizer for the first six to eight weeks.

for showing its inflorescence in spring, a cold winter location may be helpful. pachyphytum compactum can be placed at 5-10 °c (41-50 °f). at this temperature range it has to be kept nearly dry, a fertilizer must not be given. if placed at room temperature during winter, give it as much light as you can.

the leaves of this beautiful succulent houseplant are breaking off very easily so be careful when re-potting.

propagation

propagation can be done by seeds or leaf cuttings.

the genus sedum belongs to the crassulaceae family and contains more than 400 members. some of them are popular garden plants and really frost tolerant. the pork and beans or sometimes called jelly bean (sedum rubrotinctum) is a mexican native. there are cultivars with more yellow or red leaves available.

care

the pork and beans does best from full to partial sunlight. especially the red cultivars can loose their coloring if placed too dark. during summer you can give it in the garden or on the balcony. but make sure that the pot isn’t sitting in water after it has rained.

sedum rubrotinctum needs a well drained soil, a standart cactus mix or a mix between humus, sand and gritty (2:1:1) can be used.

during spring/summer it needs to be good waterd, what runs out of the pot’s hole should be removed after a few minutes. wet legs can cause rotten roots. allow to dry before watering next.

a half diluted standard or cactus fertilizer can be given monthly in spring and summer.

for blooming in spring, sedum rubrotinctum should be wintered at 10-15 °c (50-59°f). it has to be kept nearly dry and must not be fed. if placed warmer give it as much light as you can.

sedum rubrotinctum “rosea”

progation

the pork and beans can be propagated by seeds or leaf cuttings.