the genus echeveria belongs to the crassulaceae family and some of its members are known as “hen and chicks”. echeveria derenbergii is native to mexico. it’s a drought and frost (approx. -4 °c/39 °f) tolerant succulent.

care

the baby echeveria or painted lady likes a sunny to bright location. if placed in the garden or on the balcony, make sure that rainwater can flow out of the pot, because sitting in water can cause rotten roots.

it likes a well drained soil, 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). echeveria derenbergii can be deep waterd, what runs out of the pot should be removed after a few minutes. before adding water next allow to dry.

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

the baby echeveria can be wintered at 5-15 °c/41-49 °f. the colder it’s placed the less watering is needed. a fertilzer must not be given. if placed warmer give as much light as you can.

propagation

echeveria derenbergii can be propagated with seeds or offsets.

lepismium monacanthum (syn. rhipsalis monacantha) is native to bolivia and argentina where it grows mostly epiphytic (sitting on trees). its stems are flat or three-angled and can get more than 40 cm/15 inches long. there are two subspecies (ssp. monacanthum and ssp. espinosa), both flowering in orange. young plants are growing erect, older ones hanging.

care

lepismium monacanthum does best on a sunny to bright location. during summer it can be placed outside, but make sure that rainwater can easily flow out of the pot. to avoid burned leaves it should slowly be adapted to the direct sun.

it needs a well drained soil, there are special mixes for epiphytic cacti available. if you want to mix your own, you can use humus, orchid bark and grit (2:1:1).

keep it moist but not wet, water running out of the pot should be removed after a few minutes. before watering next allow to dry. sitting in water can cause rotten roots.

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

lepismium monacanthum needs a winter minum of 15 °c/59 °f. if placed at this temperature give less water and don’t feed.

for flowering a night time heating reduction in spring can be positive.

1-3: ssp. monacanthum, 4: ssp. espinosa, 5: seedlings

propagation

lepismium monacanthum can be propagated with seeds or cuttings.

the pitch apple (clusia major) is also known as balm apple, fat park tree or, because people are writing messages into its glossy leaves, autograph tree. it is native to the tropical middle america and can get approx. 20 m/65 ft tall in its natural habitat. there is a cultivar with green-yellow variegated leaves available.

care

the pitch apple is suitable for sunny to light shaded locations. to avoid burned leaves, new bought plants should get some time to adapt full sun. especially if placed outside during summer. for showing its colorful fooliage the variegated cultivar shouldn’t be placed too dark.

a regular potting mix can be used. it should be kept moist but not wet and can dry before adding water next. wet legs can cause rotten roots.

during the spring and summer clusia major can be fed every two to four weeks and if placed at room temperature every four to six weeks in fall and winter. with a half diluted water soluble fertilizer.

it can be cultivated at room temperature throughout the year and needs a winter minimum of 15 °c/59 °c. if wintered at this temperature it needs less watering and must not be fed.

a medium humidity is welcome. spraying it over with water or giving a shower keeps its leaves free from dust.

propagation

clusia major can be propagated with cuttings.

the burro’s tail (sedum burrito) is an easy to care houseplant, native to mexico. it’s suitable for a hanging basekt.

care

the burro’s tail likes a bright and sunny place. during summer it can be placed outside, but give it back when the temperature is falling below 10 °c/50 °f constantly. make sure that rainwater can easily flow out of the pot.

the soil should be well drained, a regular cactus mix or a mix between humus, sand and gritty (2:1:1) can be used.

during spring/summer sedum burrito needs to be good waterd, what runs out of the pot’s hole should be removed after a few minutes. overwatering can cause rotten roots. before adding water next allow to dry.

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

for blooming in spring, sedum burrito should be placed at 10-15 °c/50-59°f during winter. now it has to be kept nearly dry, without fertilizing. if placed warmer give it as much light as you can.

propagation

the burro’s tail can be propagated by seeds, stem or leaf 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.

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.

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.

this plant became popular more and more over the past few years and now there are a lot of cultivars available. sansevieria cylincdrica is known as cylindrical snake plant, african spear or sometimes spear sansevieria.

care

sansevieria cylindrica grows best in full sunlight. a light shaded place will be tolerated. during the summer it can be placed in the garden, but make sure that rainwater can run out of the pot because sitting in water can cause root rot.

it needs a well drained soil, a regular cactus mix or a mix between humus, gritty and some sand can be used.

the cylindrical snake plant needs to be good watered, what runs out of the pot’s hole should be removed after a few minutes. let it dry out before watering next.

a half concentrated cactus fertilizer can be given monthly and if placed at room temperature during fall/winter every six to eight weeks.

sansevieria cylindrica can be cultivated at room temperature the whole year through with a winter minimum of +/-15 °C (59 °f). if placed colder during winter it needs less watering, a fertilizer must not be given.

f. l. t. r.: sansevieria cylindrica, “patula”, “skyline”

propagation

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