{"product_id":"gasteria-doreeniar-f-variegata","title":"Gasteria tukhelensis | Tugela Gasteria","description":"\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGasteria tukhelensis Van Jaarsv. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e🌱 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMorphology\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn acaulescent Gasteria with relatively slow growth that proliferates from the base, forming clusters of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e3–8 heads\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e that can reach up to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e70 cm in diameter\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. The roots are fleshy, up to 5 mm in diameter. The leaves form open rosettes and reach \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e12–25 cm in length and 3–5 cm in width at the base\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. They are triangular-lanceolate, markedly sickle-shaped, arched upwards, and occasionally recurved backwards. The surface is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003esmooth, shiny, and dark green\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, with small, very faint white spots organized in poorly defined transverse bands. During the dry season, the upper face becomes more channelled, while the lower face has a clear keel. The margins are practically smooth or have tiny teeth. Juvenile leaves are different: they are arranged in two rows and have small tubercles.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e🌍 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDistribution, habitat, and family\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt is an \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eendemic species of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, restricted to the lower valley of the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTugela (Thukela) River\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, in the vicinity of Kranskop. It is known from a type locality situated on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003esouth-facing cliffs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e near the confluence of the Buffalo and Tugela rivers, at an altitude of about \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e440 m\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. It grows in crevices and humus-rich ledges on vertical shale walls, within \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThukela Valley Bushveld succulent scrub\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e vegetation. The valley has a dry subtropical climate, in a rain shadow, with about \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e500–700 mm of annual precipitation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, concentrated mainly in summer. Summers are very hot, frequently above 30 ºC, while winters are mild and frosts are non-existent or very light.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFamily \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAsphodelaceae\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, tribe \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlooideae\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, section \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLongiflorae\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eseries Longifoliae\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, genus \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGasteria\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. The series Longifoliae includes, among others, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eG. acinacifolia\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eG. batesiana\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eG. croucheri\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eG. tukhelensis\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e❄️ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTemperature — USDA 9a\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt tolerates minimum temperatures of down to approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e−7 ºC\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e in cultivation. This figure comes from horticultural data, while its natural habitat is characterized by mild winters and an absence of frost or very light frost; therefore, it should not be interpreted as safe exposure to prolonged −7 ºC.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e☀️ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLighting\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt prefers \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eshade–partial shade\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, especially filtered light or protection from rocks and shrubs. In its habitat, it grows on the shaded walls of cliffs, although the species tolerates relatively high light levels if acclimatized. An approximate target of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e10–20 mol\/m²\/day of DLI PAR\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is recommended.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e💧 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGrowth cycle and watering\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOpportunistic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e It is an interesting exception within the Gasterias: the climate of its locality receives most of the rainfall during the summer, and the species flowers precisely in the southern summer. It is recommended to maintain some water availability during the warm period, letting the substrate dry out partially between waterings and reducing supply when temperatures are low.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e🌸 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFlowering\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt flowers mainly in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethe southern summer, approximately from December to March\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. It produces an extended inflorescence up to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e56 cm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, often with two lateral branches, which can carry up to 11 flowers open simultaneously. The flowers are tubular, approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e40–43 mm long and 6 mm wide\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, pink, with the upper half white and marked with green striations. The pedicels are pendulous and reach \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e12–17 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. They are rich in nectar and pollinated mainly by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003esunbirds\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. After fertilization, the capsules become erect and release black seeds of about 5–7 mm.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e🌿 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNutrition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDuring the active growth period, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDesert CHOICE® Aloes, Haworthias \u0026amp; Co.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is recommended, with a high content of potassium and bioavailable calcium. Apply with watering, reducing fertilization during periods of lower activity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e9x9 cm gourmet black pot\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a technical square pot with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"DesertSTORE.es","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49254061867343,"sku":"","price":47.7,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0559\/9818\/5628\/files\/IMG-7740.heic?v=1791395510","url":"https:\/\/desertstore.es\/en\/products\/gasteria-doreeniar-f-variegata","provider":"DesertSTORE.es","version":"1.0","type":"link"}