Pachyphytum
Family: Crassulaceae
Habitat: Mexico
Cultivation: Pachyphytums are simple to grow, like all crasulaceae, but they badly adapt to harsh winters. It is better to cultivate them in a vase so that they can be sheltered during the winter. Choose a very bright place and water sparingly.
Curiosity: In spite of the name, which literally means “big plant” (from the Greek “pachys” large and “phytos” plant), they are medium or small size and can reach 15 to 60 cm in height, according to the species .
PACHYPHYTUM KEY FEATURES
Similar to some type of echeveria, plants of the genus Pachyphytum are crassulaceae with stem and fleshy leaves. The leaves, in particular, are large, rounded, and sprout directly from the trunk. They can be of various colors: light green, gray-white, possibly with more or less accentuated reddish or yellow shades. The leaves themselves represent a peculiarity of this kind of succulent; they are fragile and come off easily from the mother plant, but they are excellent cuttings. The flowers are in the various shades of red. They grow together clustered and bloom in the months from June to August.
VARIETIES AND TYPES
Here are the varieties recognized today of this evergreen succulent.
- P. aduncum
- P. bracteosum
- P. brevifolium
- P. caesium
- P. cheyenne
- P. coeruleum
- P. compactum
- P. exotica
- P. fittkaui
- P. garciae
- P. glutinicaule
- P. hookeri
- P. kimnachii
- P. longifolium
- P. machucae
- P. oviferum
- P. sodale
- P. viride
TIPS FOR GROWING
Here are our tips for cultivating:
- EXPOSURE: Choose a very bright place, but not under direct sunlight: the plant survives anyway, but the leaves may become even more fragile.
- TEMPERATURE: The Pachyphytum must be at a temperature of 7-8 ° C and for this reason it is best to protect them in winter.
- WATERING: Water once every 5-6 days in warmer periods, taking care to avoid water stagnation. Suspend completely it in winter.
- SOIL: Use a light and sandy soil, which is very draining. An alternative is a mix between soil and gravel.
- CONCIMATION: The plant does not have a great need of fertilization. Choose a product for succulent once a month in spring and summer, however, use half of the recommended dose on the packaging.
- REPOT: Due to their size, they do not usually need to be re-potted.
- REPRODUCTION: Pachyphytum leaves are excellent cuttings and are generally used for reproduction. Place a leaf, removed from the mother plant, in a sandy bed in spring, take care to let the wound dry. Water moderately and keep at a temperature of about 21 ° C.
