Care and propagation - Page 3

Crassula muscosa (syn. lycopodioides) – Rattail Crassula

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 – zebra plant

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.

Gasteria disticha

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 Â° 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.

Gasteria maculata

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 Â° 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.

fittonia verschaffeltii – mosaic plant, nerve plant

fittonias are commonly known as mosaic plant or nerve plant. there is a wide range of cultivars with a colorful fooliage available. fittonia verschaffeltii is native to peru.

care

fittonia verschaffeltii grows best if located bright and protected from direct sun. but it’s also suitable for light shaded to shaded positions.

it can be planted in a regular potting mix. keep it evenly moist but not wet, sitting in water can cause rot. the drying of the soil’s surface will be tolerated, but it shouldn’t dry completely.

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

the mosaic plant can be grown at room temperature the year round and needs a winter minimum of 15 °c/59 °f.

a high humidity is welcome. to promote denser foliage and shape plants the ends of growing stems can be pinched off.

propagation

fittonia verschaffeltii can easily be propagated with cuttings.

aglaonema crispum – chinese evergreen

the genus aglaonema belongs to the araceae family and contains about 40 species. some of them are popular houseplants or used as office plants because they tolerate some poor conditions. but if you like to have a healthy and beauitful plant, give it some care. they are native to the tropical asia.

the chinese evergreen (aglaonema crispum) is available in a lot of varieties with silver or light green variegated leaves.

care

aglaonema crispum is tolerating low light but does best if located bright without direct sun. the variegated cultivars will need low to moderate light otherwise they can produce solid green leaves.

the chinese evergreen can be grown in a good regular potting mix. keep it constantly moist but not wet, sitting in water can cause rot. a moderate drying between the waterings is ok, but the soil shouldn’t dry completely.

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

aglaonema crispum likes it warm (20-25 °c/68-77 °f) and needs a winter minimum of 14 °c/57 °c.

a high humidty is welcome but not needed. spraying it over with water keeps its leaves free from dust.

propagation

aglaonema crispum can be propagated with cuttings or by division.

peperomia clusiifolia – red edge peperomia

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.

Calathea crocata – Eternal Flame

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.

peperomia magnoliifolia – spoonleaf peperomia

peperomia magnoliifolia is commonly known as spoonleaf peperomia. there are cultivars with yellow/red edges (cv. “tricolor”) or creme variegated leaves (cv. “green & gold”) available.

care

peperomia magnoliifolia 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. for producing its colorful fooliage the variegated cultivars need to be placed in bright light. otherwise they are showing green leaves.

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.

the spoon leaf 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.

a high humidity is welcome. spraying it over with water from time to time keeps its leaves free from dust.

peperomia magnoliifolia “variegata”

propagation

peperomia magnoliifolia can be propagated with cuttings.

calathea warscewiczii – calathea

calathea warscewiczii is native to central america (panama, el salvador) and can get up to more than 1 m/3 feet tall. its leaves are velvety and dark green with bright green veins and a purple to maroon colored underside.

care

calathea warscewiczii is suitable for bright to light shaded places with some morning and/or evening sun. afternoon sun can burn its leaves.

it can be grown in a good regualr potting mix which has to be kept evenly moist but not wet. sitting in water can cause irreversible root damage. the drying of the soil’s surface will be tolerated, but it shouldn’t dry completely.

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

a high humidity is welcome, spraying calathea warscewiczii over with water keeps its leaves free from dust.

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

propagation

calathea warscewiczii can be propagated by division.