VOLUME 14 :: January—October, 1952 Illustrations shown in ...

34 THE CACTUS AND SUCCULENT April, 1952
UNCOMMON SUCCULENTS
By G. G. GREEN
Whilst searching through the succulent house for suitable subjects for this article, I lingered as usual, to admire
the " Lovelies " of the collection. These include the beautiful Cotyledons, Echeverias, Kalanchoes and other
fascinatingly coloured species that are so attractive and which never fail to give one a thrill, no matter how dull
the weather.
One of the most beautiful and handsome plants of the " powder " group is Cotyledon orbiculata var. oophylla
It is wonderfully compact and neat in growth with small, rounded, fat leaves flattened at the tips and covered with
a thick coating of white meal. The edges are lined in dark red which brightens at the tips to a lighter colour,
giving a delightful contrast.
These leaves are produced on very short branches in close, compact growth, emphasising the sturdy appearance
of the plant. It is rather slow growing under ideal conditions, but the initial leaves do not wither or discolour
with age and remain as fresh as the new ones for years, which is an unusual trait amongst Cotyledons.
The growth should not be accelerated by any artificial means or under the impression that it is good cultivation
when plants grow quickly into unnatural sizes or proportions. The whole character of the species will be lost
if this tardy growth is not allowed to continue at its own pace. Under such treatment the development of the
powder on the stems and leaves will not be sufficient for the needs of the plant in rapid growth, and it will soon
suffer from this defect by either dropping its leaves or succumbing to rot or dampness during the winter.
I find that the best way to grow this, and others with a mealy appearance is on a shelf as near to the glass as
possible, and away out of reach of the syringe which would soon ruin the beautiful whiteness of the foliage.
Watering should be carefully carried out as splashing the stems will soon dirty them or wash off the powder,
and may cause rot at the neck during the winter months. A tray of sand in which these species can stand, and
which can be watered so that the plants receive moisture from the base, has proved to be the best method.
The nearness to the glass prevents leggy growth and the light encourages the appearance of the beautiful
colouring in the stems and leaves. The vivid orange-scarlet bell shaped flowers, fairly large and pendant
are produced in late summer, about the end of August with me, and the combination of colour at this period is
most pleasing. The usual soil compost, not very rich, will suffice for this species.
Grown under the same conditions is Pachyphytum oviferum, the "Sugared Almond "plant, with swollen,
round leaves closely arranged in a rosette on the short stems. These and the leaves are covered with a white
powder which is smoother and less dense than in the previous species, giving it a pearly appearance. It is amazing
how much white powder is produced on these mealy plants and how beautiful is the sight of an unspoiled specimen
of such highly " protected " succulents. Echever/a far/noso, with its many narrow tapering leaves, will generate
so much that it piles up at the bases of the leaves to shower upon the soil surface at the lightest touch.
The more sunshine these species get, the more beautiful they look with their dressing of white, and perfect
specimens can be obtained during the season if watering is carried out by wetting the sand in the tray only, say
twice a week. With age, the plant stems may grow elongated clustered with the dried remains of the leaves, and
though this adds to its appearance in my view, the beheading of the plants fairly low down the stems will encourage
groups of new rosettes to grow within a few weeks. The severed tops may be re-rooted in sandy peat, after
removing the old leaf skins, and potted up as specimens when needed. The pale yellow flowers do not contrast
very vividly as in most other mealy species, especially when compared with P. oviferum with its scarlet flowers
curving along the stems under the white, waxy bracts, but they are nevertheless very pleasing.
The Cotyledons orbiculata and undulata, most immaculate of this fine group, will throw up their fine umbels of
scarlet flowers very freely under the same treatment. The latter is, of course, a most desirable species with its
crinkled, wavy edges on the pure white leaves, and form bushy plants when grown on the shelf. During the warm
summer months, the pots may be plunged in ashes in the cold frame, being protected from rain by raising the lights
on bricks so that ample ventilation is always present. Fresh air is important if the plants are not to be drawn out
of all proportion to their natural growth. Many of the beautiful felted or hairy species should be grown in a similar
manner in order to bring out the delightful colouring and to strengthen the growth which would become soft and
coarse with too little sunshine. Plants such as the lovely Kalanchoe tomentosa and Echeverias leucotricha and
pulvinata, will develop the most attractive reddish brown markings on the stems and leaf edges when placed in
full sun with ample fresh air and sufficient water for their needs.