the genus faucaria belongs to the aizoaceae family and contains nine members, of wich the tiger jaws (faucaria tigrina) is the most popular. the yellow blooming succulents are native to south africa. the flowers are opened at afternoon and closed in the night.

care

the tiger jaws does best if located bright and sunny the year round. a light shaded place will be tolerated.

the soil should be well drained with some sand and grit. i’m using a mix of loam free garden soil, sand and pumice (2:1:1). regular cactus mixes can contain too much humus, then it should be mixed with sand and grit.

from spring to fall, faucaria tigrina can be deep watered. what’s running out of the pot’s hole should be removed after a few minutes. before adding water next allow to dry. at this time a half diluted cactus fertilizer can be given monthly. repotted plants don’t need to be fed for the first eight weeks.

faucaria tigrina can be cultivated at room temperature throughout the year and needs a winter minimum of 15 °c/59 °f. at this temperature range it has to be kept nearly dry, a fertilizer must not be given.

propagation

the tiger jaws can be propagated with seeds, cuttings or by division.

vriesea splendens’ common name flaming sword is based on its sword shaped inflorescence with closely overlapping bright red bracts. the popular houseplant is also known as zebra bromeliad or painted feather. its native to south america where its growing epiphytic (sitting on trees).

care

the flaming sword (vriesea splendens) can be placed from bright with some morning and/or evening sun to light shaded.

it can be grown in a mix of regular potting soil and orchid bark (1:1) or in pure orchid soil. there are also special mixes for bromeliads available.

keep it constantly moist but not wet, the drying of the soil’s surface will be tolerated, but it don’t let it dry completely. sitting in water can cause rotten roots. its reservoir should always be filled with some water.

in spring and summer a half diluted water soluble fertilizer can be given monthly and every six to eight weeks in fall and winter.

vriesea splendens welcomes a high humidity and likes to be sprayed over with water regularly. it should be grown at room temperature the year round with a winter minimum of 15 °c/59 °f.

propagation

after flowering the flaming sword produces a new pup. if this has reached approx. 2/3 of the mother plants height it can be cutted of.

the spotted peperomia (peperomia maculosa) has dark green shiny leathery leaves. the easy to care houseplant is native to the tropical central and south america.

care

peperomia maculosa is doing best if located bright without afternoon sun. some morning and/or evening sun will be tolerated. but it can also be grown on a light shaded position.

a good regular potting mix can be used. keep it evenly moist but not wet. sitting in water can cause root rot. the drying of the soil’s surface will be tolerated.

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

the spotted peperomia likes room temperature the year round, with a winter minimum of approx. 15 °c/59 °f. at this temperature range, watering can be reduced and there is no need to feed.

to keep its leaves free from dust it can be sprayed over with water from time to time.

propagation

the spotted peperomia (peperomia maculosa) can be propagated with cuttings.

the tapeworm plant (homalocladium platycladum) is native to the solomon islands. its common name is based on the flat leafless stems that resemble tapeworms. it’s also known as ribbon bush or centipede plant.

care

the tapeworm plant does best if located bright with some morning and/or evening sun. but it also can be grown on a light shaded place.

it can be planted in a standard potting mix. keep it evenly moist and because of rotten roots avoid overwatering. the drying of the soil’s surface will be tolerated, but it should not completely dry, this can cause leaf drop.

during spring and summer a water soluble fertilizer diluted at half can be given monthly and if placed at room temperatur in fall/winter every six to eight weeks. newly purchased or recently re-potted plants don’t need to be fed for the first six to eight weeks.

homalocladium platycladum can be cultivated at room temperature the year round with a winter minimum of 10 °c/59 °f. at this temperature range it needs less watering (but shouldn’t completely dry) and no fertilizing.

it likes a medium humidity and welcomes if sprayed over with water regularly.

propagation

the tapeworm plant (homalocladium platycladum) can be propagated with seeds or cuttings.

the genus anthurium belongs to the araceae family and contains more than 800 members. most of them are native to the rain forests of central to south america. anthurium andraeanum is commonly known as flamingo flower. there are cultivars with a white or pink spadix available.

care

the flamingo flower does best if located in bright light without direct sun. but it also can be placed from light shaded to shaded.

it can be grown in a good regular potting mix. this has to be kept evenly moist but not wet, sitting in water can cause rotten roots. a slightly drying of the soil’s surface between watering will be tolerated, but it shouldn’t dry completely.

anthurium andraeanum welcomes a high humidity. it can be increased by spraying it over with water every day or placing the pot on a large plant saucer, filled with water. to assure that the pot do not contact the water put it in a smaller plant saucer.

it can be fed with a water soluble fertilizer at half strength. monthly in spring and summer and every six to eight weeks in fall and winter.

the flamingo flower likes it warm throughout the year with a winter minimum of 15 °c/59 °f.

propagation

the flamingo flower can be propagated with cuttings or by division.

the genus aloe belongs to the asphodelaceae family and contains approx. 400 members. aloe juvenna is native to kenya.

care

aloe juvenna can be placed from sunny to light shaded. in hot summer sun its leaves can turn to red/brown. if placed outside during summer make sure that rainwater can easily flow out of the pot, because wet legs can cause rotten roots.

a regular cactus mix or a mix between standard potting soil and sand (3:2) can be used.

drench it well, water running out of the pot’s hole should be removed after a few minutes. before adding water next allow to dry.

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

aloe juvenna can be grown at room temperature the year round with a winter minimum of 10-15 °c/50-59 °f. at this temperature range it has to be kept nearly dry und must not be fed. for flowering it needs a cold period.

propagation

aloe juvenna can be propagated by division, cuttings or with seeds.

crassula “morgan’s beauty” is a crossing between c. perfoliata var. minor and c. mesembryanthemopsis, both native to the southern africa.

care

crassula “morgan’s beauty” does best in bright light with some morning- and/or evening sun. a half shaded place will be tolerated. afternoon sun and high heat in summer can cause leaf drop.

it likes a very porous soil, a standard cactus mix or a mix between regular potting soil, coarse sand and grit (2:1:1) can be used.

drench the soil well, water running out of the pot’s hole must be removed after a few minutes. wet legs can cause rotten roots. before adding water next allow to dry.

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

crassula “morgan’s beauty” can be grown at room temperature throughout the year with a winter minimum of 15 °c/59 °f. at this temperature range it needs less watering and no feeding.

propagation

crassula “morgan’s beauty” can easily be propagated with cuttings.

crassula “baby necklace” is a crossing between c. rupestris and c. perforata.

care

crassula “baby necklace” does best on a bright location with some morning and/or evening sun. afternoon sun and high heat in summer can cause leaf drop. light shade will be tolerated.

the soil should be very porous, a standard cactus mix or a mix between regular potting soil, coarse sand and grit (2:1:1) can be used.

it can be deep watered, what’s running out of the pot’s hole should be removed after a few minutes. sitting in water can cause rotten roots. allow to dry before watering next.

a half diluted cactus fertilizer can be given monthly in spring and summer and every eight weeks in fall and winter.

crassula “baby necklace” can be placed at room temperature the year round with a winter minimum of 15 °c/59 °f. at this temperature range it needs less watering and no feeding.

propagation

crassula “baby necklace” can be propagated with cuttings.

some members of the genus peperomia are commonly known as radiator plant. peperomia “bibi” is a cultivar, likely to be related with peperomia glabella. it’s suitable for a hanging basekt.

care

peperomia “bibi” can be placed from bright (with a bit morning and/or evening sun) to light shaded. but it’s doing best on a bright location.

a good regular potting mix can be used. keep it evenly moist but not wet. sitting in water can cause rotten roots. the drying of the soil’s surface will be tolerated.

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

this radiator plant likes room temperature throughout the year, with a winter minimum of approx. 15 °c/59 °f. at this temperature range, watering can be reduced and there is no need to feed.

propagation

the radiator plant can be propagated with cuttings.

plants belonging to the genus gasterhaworthia (or gasterworthia, gasworthia) are crossings between gasteria and haworthia. gasterhaworthia “fandango” is based on g. bicolor var. liliputana and haworthia granulata. sounds complicated but they are easy to grow.

care

gasterhaworthia “fandango” is doing best if located bright with partial sun (morning and/or evening). a light shaded place will be tolerated. during summer it can given outside, but then make sure that rainwater can flow out of the pot. give it back if temperature is falling below 10 °c/50 °f constantly because it’s not frost tolerant.

it can be grown in a regular cactus mix, or a mix of regular potting soil, coarse sand and pumice (2:1:1). in spring and summer it can be deep waterd, what’s running out of the pot should be removed after a few minutes. wet legs can cause root rott. before adding water next allow to dry.

a half diluted cactus fertilizer can be given monthly in spring/summer and every six to eight weeks in fall/winter.

gasterhaworthia “fandango” can be grown at room temperature the year round or wintered at 10-15 °c/50-59 °f. now it needs to be less watered and must not be fed.

progation

propagation can be done with leaf cuttings or offsets.