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.

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.

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 pachyphytum belongs to the crassulaceae family. the moon stones (pachyphytum oviferum) are native to mexiko. its orange to red flowers are shown in spring.

care

pachyphytum oviferum does best on a sunny location. but it also grows on a bright to light shaded place. during summer it can be placed on the balcony or in the garden. but make sure that rainwater can easily run out of the pot because sitting in water will cause rotten roots.

a standard cactus soil or a mix between humus, sand and gritty (2:1:1) can be used. if the plant is in active growth (spring to fall) it can be deep watered. whats running out of the pot’s hole must be removed after a few minutes. before adding water next allow to dry.

the moon stones can be fed monthly with a half diluted cactus fertilzer if they are in active growth. recently bought or repotted plants don’t need to be fertilized for the first six to eight weeks.

for showing its inflorescence in spring, a cold winter location may be helpful. pachyphytum oviferum 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.

propagation

moon stones can be propagated by seeds, leaf or stem cuttings.

the propeller plant (crassula falcata) is an easy to care for succulent, native to south africa. it’s flowering from orange to red.

care

crassula falcata likes a sunny place but also does good on a bright or light shaded location. during summer it can be placed in the garden but make sure that rainwater can easily run out of the pot’s hole. if the temperature is falling under 10 °c (50 °f) constantly give it back into the house.

it can be planted in a mix between humus and sand (2:1) or in standart cactus soil. it needs to be good watered, what runs out of the pot’s hole should be removed after a few minutes. allow to dry before adding water next. overwatering can cause rotten roots.

it can be fed with a half diluted cactus fertilizer monthly in spring/summer.

for flowering in spring the propeller plant should be placed at 10-15 °c (50-59 °f). it now has to be kept nearly dry, a fertilizer must not be given.

propagation

the propeller plant (crassula falcata) can be propagated by seeds, stem or leaf cuttings.

crassula cv. “morgan’s beauty”

crassula “morgan’s beauty is a hybrid between c. falcata and c. mesembryanthemopsis.

the sword fern (nephrolepis exaltata), aka boston fern or fishbone fern is a very popular houseplant. there are cultivars with variegated or ruffled leaves available. it’s suitable for a hanging basket.

care

the sword fern (neprholepis exaltata) does good from bright indirect light to partial shade. some morning and/or evening sun is ok.

it can be planted in a regular potting soil or a mix between humus, gritty and sand (2:1:1). keep it evenly moist but not wet. the sword fern is more drought tolerant than other ferns so it’s no problem if the soil’s surface is drying between the waterings. but it shouldn’t completely dry out.

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

the sword fern can be wintered at +/-10 °c (50 °f). now it needs less watering (but no completely dry out) and must not be fed.

propagation

nephrolepis exaltata can be propagated by division.