what makes pachyphytum bracteosum such an attractive houseplant are its green grey leaves and the purpelish flowers shown in spring.

care

pachyphytum bracteosum does best if located bright and sunny the year round. a light shaded place will be tolerated. during summer it can be given outside. but please make sure that rainwater can run out of the pot because wet legs will cause root rott.

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

a cactus fertilizer at half strength can be given from spring to fall. fresh bought or recently repotted plants don’t need to be fed for the first six to eight weeks.

for showing its inflorescence in spring, a cold winter location may be helpful. pachyphytum bracteosum 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 pachyphytum bracteosum are breaking off very easily. so be careful when re-potting.

propagation

propagation can be done with seeds or leaf cuttings.

adromischus alstonii is native to south africa. the beautiful succulent is sometimes called bulbees.

plant care

adromischus alstonii does best if located bright and sunny the year round. if placed outside during summer and to avoid rotten roots, make sure that rain water can flow out of the pot’s hole.

the soil should be well drained, im using a mix of some gritty, sand and a bit humus. a regular cactus mix can also be used.

from spring to fall adromischus alstonii can be deep watered. what’s running out of the pot should be removed after a few minutes. before adding water next let the soil dry.

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

if you can give em enough light, adromischus alstonii can be cultivated at room temperature throughout the year. if not, it should be placed at approx. 5-10 (41-59 °f). watering has now to be reduced, a fertilizer must not be given.

propagation

adromischus alstonii can be propagated with seeds or (leaf) cuttings.

echeveria “pearl of nuremberg” (“perle von nürnberg”) is a hybrid (crossing), based on e. gibbiflora var. metallica and e. potosina. both of them are native to mexico.

care

for showing its rosy-bluish coloured leaves echeveria “pearl of nuremberg” needs a sunny location the year round. if placed in the garden or on the balcony during summer, make sure that rainwater easily can flow out of the pot, because sitting in water can cause rotten roots.

the soil should be well drained, a standart cactus mix can be used. if you want to mix your own you can use regular potting soil, coarse sand and grit (2:1:1).

from spring to fall echeveria “pearl of nuremberg” can be deep watered. what’s running out of the pot must be removed after a few minutes. before watering next the soil should be allowed to dry.

a cactus or regular water soluble fertilizer at half strength can be given monthly in spring and summer. fresh bought or recently repotted plant don’t need to be fed for the first six to eight weeks.

during winter the echeveria can be located at 5-15 °c/41-49 °f. it now has to be kept nearly dry. the colder it’s placed the less watering is needed. a fertilzer must not be given. a cold winter location can be helpful for producing its inflorescense in spring.

propagation

propagation can be done with seeds or offsets.

crassula muscosa (syn. lycopodioides) is native to south africa and namibia. the branching succulent is commonly known as rattail crassula or watch chain. it’s available with green or variegated leaves.

care

crassula muscosa does best if located bright with some morning and/or evening sun. a light shaded place will be tolerated. during summer it can be grown in the garden. but make sure that rainwater can easily flow out of the pot.

the soil must be well drained, a regular cactus mix can be used. i’m using a mixture of potting soil, coarse sand and pumice (2:1:1).

crassula muscosa can be deep watered. what’s flowing into the saucer must be removed after a few minutes. wet legs can cause rotten roots. 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 (if placed at room temperature).

crassula muscosa can be wintered warm or cool, between 10-15 °c (50-59 °f). at this temperature range it has to be kept nearly dry and must not be fed. a cool winter location can be helpful for blooming in spring.

propagation

crassula muscosa can be propageted with seeds or cuttings.

calathea zebrina is commonly known as zebra plant. this name is based on the zebra stripped leaves. its inconspicuous flowers are shown in springtime.

care

the zebra plant (calathea zebrina) can be placed from bright to light shaded but does best on a bright position without afternoon sun. some morning and/or evening sun will be tolerated. too much sun can cause leaf burn.

it can be grown in a regular potting mix. keep it evenly moist but not wet. sitting in water can cause rotten roots. the drying of the soil’s surface between the waterings is ok but it shouldn’d dry completely.

a half diluted water soluble fertilizer can be given monthly in spring/summer and every six to eight weeks in fall/winter. recently bought or repotted plants don’t need to be fed for the first six to eight weeks.

a high humidity is welcome. to add moisture to the air the zebra plant can be placed in a saucer, filled with water, small stones or pepples. but make sure that the pot is not sitting right into the water. spraying it over daily can also be helpful.

calathea zebrina likes room temperature round the year and needs a winter minimum of 15 °c/59 °f.

propagation

calathea zebrina can be propagated by division.

the genus tillandsia belongs to the bromeliad family and contains approx. 400 members of which the pink quill (tillandsia cyanea) is the most commonly cultivated species. it’s native to ecuador where it grows epiphytic (sitting on trees). the purple flowers emerge from the pink to red colored bracts and can be produced for 1 to 3 months.

care

tillandsia cyanea does best if located bright but protected from afternoon sun. some morning- and/or evening sun such as a light shaded place will be tolerated. brown patches on the leaves may indicate that it got too much sun.

the soil should be well drained, a mix between potting soil and orchid bark (1:1) can be used. there are special mixes for bromeliads available.

the pink quill can be deep watered, what’s flowing out of the pot should be removed after a few minutes. sitting in water can cause rotten roots. before watering next let the soil become moderately dry.

a all-purpose houseplant fertilizer at half strenght can be given monthly in spring/summer and every six to eight weeks in fall/winter. a half diluted orchid fertilizer is also suitable.

tillandsia cyanea can be cultivated at room temperature the year round and needs a winter minimum of 15 °c/59 °f.

spraying it over with water from time to time increases humidity and keeps its leaves free of dust.

the flower spike can be cutted off when it has dried. the old growth will not bloom again. after flowering tillandsia cyanea is showing new offsets at its base. those will maybe rebloom after some months.

propagation

tillandsia cyanea can be propagated with offsets.

the approx. 22 members of the genus gasteria are native to the southern africa. there are some varieties of gasteria disticha available.

care

gasteria disticha does best in bright and indirect light with some morning and/or evening sun. a light shaded position will be tolerated. if placed outside in summer make sure that rain water can easily flow out of the pot.

the soil should be well drained, a standard cactus mix can be used. drench it well, what’s flowing out of the pot’s hole must be removed after a few minutes. wet legs can cause rot. before adding water next allow to dry.

a cactus fertilizer at half strength can be given monthly during spring/summer monthly and if placed at room temperature in fall/winter every six to eight weeks. recently bought or repotted plants don’t need fertilizer for the first six to eight weeks.

gasteria disticha can be placed at 10-15 ° C (50-59 °f) in winter. then the soil has to be kept nearly dry, a fertilizer must not be given.

propagation

the propagationof gasteria disticha can be done with seeds, leaf cuttings or by division.

the leaves of the south african native gasteria maculata are dark green and white mottled. there are some cultivars with white to yellow stripes available.

care

gasteria maculata can be located from bright to light shaded but does best in bright and indirect light with some morning and/or evening sun. during the summer you can place it at a rain protected place in the garden or on the balcony.

it needs a well drained soil with some coarse sand and grit. a standard cactus potting mix can be used. it can be deep watered, what’s running out of the pot’s hole should be removed after a few minutes. wet legs can cause rot. before watering next allow to dry.

a cactus fertilizer can be given in 1/4 to a 1/2 concentration. during spring and summer monthly and if placed at room temperature during the winter every six to eight weeks. recently bought or re-potted plants don’t need fertilizer for the first eight weeks.

gasteria maculata can be placed at 10-15 ° C (50-59 °f) in winter. then the soil must kept nearly dry without fertilizing.

propagation

the propagation of gasteria maculata can be done with seeds, division or with leaf cuttings.

the red edge peperomia (peperomia clusiifolia) is native to jamaica. there are some cultivars with red bordered leaves available.

care

peperomia clusiifolia can be located from bright (if protected from afternoon sun) to light shaded positions. some morning and/or evening sun will be tolerated. for showing its colorful fooliage the variegated cultivars need to be placed in bright light. otherwise the leaves will become green.

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 between the waterings 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.

peperomia clusiifolia 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.

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

propagation

the red edge peperomia can be propagated with cuttings.

the native to brazil calathea crocata is commonly known as eternal flame. its puckered ribbed leaves have maroon undersides, the flowers are orange/yellow. during the night it closes up the leaves.

care

the eternal flame (calathea crocata) can be placed from bright to light shaded without afternoon sun (to avoid leaf burn). some morning and/or evening sun will be tolerated.

a good regular potting mix can be used. it has to be kept evenly moist but not wet. sitting in water can cause rot. the drying of the soil’s surface between the waterings is ok, but it shouldn’t dry completely.

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

spraying calathea crocata over with water regularly increases humidity and keeps its leaves dust free.

it likes room temperature round the year and needs a winter minimum of 15 °c/59 °f.

for blooming some weeks of total darkness for 12-14 hours every day can be helpful.

propagation

calathea crocata can be propagated by division.