Graptopetalum

Graptopetalum belongs to the Tolstyankov family. This plant has about 20 species, and they are all succulents. In the wild, graptopetalum grows in the United States of America, especially in its arid territories.

Graptopetalum: description

Graptopetalum: photo of a succulent

All species related to this plant differ from each other in height. Thus, there can be plants up to 5 cm, or even up to 1 meter. Externally, graptopetalums are also very different from each other. They can be as with one shoot, they can also branch, or they can be without a stem at all. All that unites them is the very beautiful leaves collected in a rosette and forming a circle shape. The socket can be located both above and near the ground. The leaves may also differ from each other. There are those that resemble cones, and there are also flatter ones. On a long peduncle, a large number of small flowers grow, which form a brush. Each flower is divided into five or seven lanceolate petals. Long stamens stand out brightly here, which are about 15 pieces in number. This plant blooms in late spring, and the flowering period lasts until mid-summer.

Graptopetalum: home care

Succulent graptopetalum does not require any special care, and can be grown in any conditions. Plants look very beautiful both in separate form and in composition with other indoor plants, especially with succulents. This flower is unpretentious and can feel comfortable in the company of other plants.

Light

Graptopetalum needs a sunlit place. At the same time, direct sunlight does not have a negative effect on the flower. Therefore, if you decide to grow succulent graptopetalum at home, then you should choose illuminated southern windows or southeast. Some types of graptopetalum can also be grown on the western side of the world. If you do not have such a brightly lit place in your apartment, then it is better to create artificial lighting using special lamps for illuminating plants. Thus, it should be controlled that the plant is consecrated within 10 hours.

Graptopetalum and required temperature

The optimum air temperature at which the succulent graptopetalum feels comfortable is 25 or 29 degrees. In the autumn, it is recommended to gradually lower the temperature, and in the winter, the flower enters the dormant stage. This means that during this period it is necessary to ensure a cool stay of the flower in a room where the air temperature will not exceed 12 degrees. The best option would be, for example, a loggia or a warm balcony.

Watering graptopetalum

Graptopetallum: photo of a succulent

When the active growth phase begins, the plant should be watered regularly. However, it is important to control watering, since this flower does not tolerate liquid stagnation in the pot. You need to focus on the soil and water only when the pot is at least half dry. Water for irrigation should be at room temperature, and it is better to defend the water before watering. When the plant is in the dormant stage, it is necessary to change the watering regime, reducing its frequency. Watering is optimal here once a month. You need to focus on the state of the leaves. The humidity level should not be too high. The humidity in the room will be enough.

The soil

Since graptopetalum is unpretentious, it can be grown in any soil.The main thing is that it is light, loose and that air circulates well in it, and water passes to the root system. The most popular soils that are commonly used are: - those that consist of coniferous soil, leafy soil, peat and sand.

• The next composition is sod land, leafy land, as well as coarse sand.
• The next option is sod land and sand.
• And you can also use a ready-made mixture, which is specially designed for growing succulents and cacti. It will be optimal to add broken brick to crumb or sand into it.

For planting, you must choose those containers that have low sides. However, they need to be spacious enough in width due to the similar size of the plant's root system. It is necessary to organize a thick layer of drainage so that excess moisture does not stagnate in the pot. The surface of the soil can be mulched using small pebbles or pebbles so that the leaves do not come into contact with the wet soil.

Feeding graptopetalum

Like any houseplant, the graptopetalum flower is very responsive to feeding, which is usually carried out about once a month. As a fertilizer, it is optimal to use ready-made complexes that are specially formulated for succulents for cacti. Only during the dormant period, from about autumn to spring, it is not recommended to apply any fertilizers, so as not to stimulate the growth and development of the plant. This culture does not need frequent transplantation. This should be done only when the root system grows and it is cramped in the pot.

Graptopetalum: reproduction of succulent

Graptopetalum: photo

The flower is propagated in different ways: by seeds, leaf cuttings, and by dividing the rosettes.

For reproduction, leaf cuttings are plucked and dried for about two days. After that, it is enough to plant the leaf in the soil. Special additional watering or a greenhouse is not required here, since the petiole can rot very quickly. After about a week, the seedling will already take root and adapt. After two months, it will be possible to see how a new bush is being formed.

Diseases and pests of graptopetalum

Graptopetalum has a high immunity to all kinds of pests. This is due to the fact that the leaves are covered with a waxy coating. Of the diseases, only rot can be noted. The disease occurs when the elementary growing rules are not followed. The most common causes are excessive soil moisture or stagnant water.

Graptopetalum: types

Graptopetalum: photo

• The most popular type, which is most often planted by flower growers, is graptopetalum is beautiful. This plant is the most beloved species. The size of this bush is very small. Also, the beautiful graptopetalum has a short stem, no more than 30 cm. Beauty is given by a large rosette of leaves, the diameter of which is about 10 cm.The leaves are collected in a rosette almost near the ground, and then there is a stem, and beautiful pink flowers grow on it. Like all graptopetalums, beautiful graptopetalum has very little growth force if grown indoors. The leaves here are collected in a spiral, and the leaves are directed straight up. When the leaves grow back a little, they already bend back and take a horizontal position. Outwardly, the leaves create a very dense composition - almost every leaf lies in a layer on the next leaf. The shape of the leaf plates is triangular with pointed tips. The shade of the leaves is gray, and along the edges of the leaf it has a silver or bronze edging. The peduncle of a beautiful graptopetalum will not exceed 10 cm in height. The number of leaves is not very large. Each flower has five petals, and the flowers are about 2.5 cm long. The shade of the flowers of this species is different, mainly red - pink tones. The characteristic large stamens are also pink with white anthers.
• The next popular type is graptopetalum paraguayan... The second name of this species is "Stone Rose". Young Paraguayan graptopetalum has an erect thick stem. In adult plants, the stem spreads. The sockets look very nice here, which are not as densely located as in the previous version. However, the leaves of Paraguayan graptopetalum also have a pointed tip and resemble flower petals. The length of the leaf plate here is about 8 cm. The width of the leaf is about 3 cm. The leaves are quite thick and juicy. The leaf plate of Paraguayan graptopetalum is covered with a bloom of wax, so this species has a very unusual light blue hue. Peduncles with a small number of flowers on them are lost here against the background of fleshy and dense leaves, only slightly rising above the rosettes.
• Graptopetalum five-chained... This view is very similar to the previous view. However, here the rosette of leaves is denser, and the shape of the leaf plates is already slightly different, closer to an oval with a pointed tip. Also, the five-chained graptopetalum has large, tall peduncles, different from the previous ones, with small flowers formed on them, which contain 6 narrow petals each. The shade of flowers is white with a red speck. An adult graptopetalum five-chained outwardly resembles a small tree.

Graptopetalum is an unusual plant, which is famous more for its beauty and "stony" appearance of the leaves, rather than the resulting flowers. Culture does not require special attention to itself, therefore it has the right to take pride of place on the windowsill.