Aloe descoingsii | Descoings' Aloe
€25,00
🌱 Morphology
One of the smallest known Aloes, generally stemless and barely 4–5 cm in diameter per rosette. Its triangular, fleshy, and recurved leaves are grayish-green and covered by numerous small whitish tubercles or warts that give it a characteristic mottled appearance. The margins have tiny white teeth. It produces abundant offshoots and, over time, forms dense clumps of dozens or even hundreds of small rosettes.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
A species of the Asphodelaceae family, endemic to southwestern Madagascar, specifically the Toliara region, in the Fiherenana River valley. It grows in a very restricted locality, on extremely shallow soils accumulated on top of limestone cliffs, around 350 m altitude. It is listed as Endangered (EN).
❄️ Temperature
USDA 10a–11b. It comes from a warm environment where frosts are practically unknown. For pot cultivation in Madrid, we recommend keeping it above 5–8 °C, especially during prolonged periods. It can temporarily withstand temperatures close to 0 °C if completely dry and protected, but we do not recommend exposing it to frost.
☀️ Lighting
During growth, 15–25 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ of DLI PAR. It needs a lot of light to maintain compact rosettes and good coloration, but in its habitat, it also grows partially protected by relief and rocks. In Madrid, it should be given very intense light and soft or filtered sun, avoiding sudden exposure to extreme summer sun.
💧 Growth cycle
Opportunistic, with activity mainly during warm and humid periods and slowing down during the dry season. In cultivation: water abundantly and allow the substrate to dry completely before the next watering. During winter and periods of extreme heat, reduce watering. Its main enemy is prolonged excess humidity around the roots.
🌸 Flowering
For its tiny size, it produces surprisingly large flowers. The inflorescences are simple and thin, about 12–18 cm, with a compact cluster of tubular, hanging flowers. They are scarlet red or orange-red, lightening towards the mouth and with yellowish tones at the tip. In cultivation, it can flower mainly during spring and summer, although the timing depends heavily on temperature, light, and watering regimen.
🌿 Nutrition
Fertilize during active growth periods with Desert CHOICE® Aloes, Haworthia & Co., especially suitable for Aloe and other succulents, with particular emphasis on calcium and potassium. Reduce or suspend fertilization during periods of slowdown.
This is an inimitable xerophyte cultivated in Madrid in a technological square pot and with substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.
📏 The sizes of our basic collection xerophytes are as follows:
S -> 9cm x 9cm
M-> 14cm x 14 cm
L->16cm x 16 cm
* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the specimen sent may vary slightly from the product image. The photo description specifies the plant's measurements, but this may also vary slightly, because it is a living being! Each Desert CITY plant has unique characteristics.
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