Gasteria glomerata | Kouga Gasteria
€7,95
🌱 Morphology
A tiny, slow-growing, acaulescent succulent that compensates for its small size by easily forming dense clusters of multiple rosettes. Each head is barely 15–40 mm tall and 20–50 mm in diameter, although colonies can reach about 20 cm in diameter. The leaves remain arranged in two opposite rows (distichous) and are extraordinarily fleshy: they typically measure 15–25 mm, potentially reaching about 50 mm in length. They are loriform to broadly ovate, erect or spreading outward, and occasionally recurved.
The epidermis is greyish-green or glaucous, without spots, and is covered with tiny tubercles that provide a slightly rough texture. The leaves are biconvex, almost cylindrical, and can flatten out during the dry season. The apex is rounded or truncate and ends in a small mucro. Its compact appearance and clustered leaves explain both the specific name glomerata and its extraordinary appeal as a collector's plant.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
It is an extremely localized endemic of the Eastern Cape, South Africa, known from the cliffs of the lower Kouga River, in the vicinity of the Kouga Dam, near Patensie. It grows at an altitude of 500 to 700 m, on narrow quartzite sandstone ledges of the Table Mountain Group, on practically vertical rock faces that are south-facing and heavily shaded. The habitat belongs to succulent scrub, with Fynbos in the higher parts. It receives about 300–400 mm of annual rainfall, both in summer and winter, although there is a tendency toward winter dryness.
Family Asphodelaceae, tribe Alooideae, section Gasteria, series Gasteria.
❄️ Temperature — USDA 9b
It tolerates minimum temperatures of down to approximately −4 ºC in cultivation. Even so, its natural habitat is virtually frost-free, so this figure should be understood as a point of horticultural tolerance and not as a recommended temperature for prolonged exposure.
☀️ Lighting
Shade–partial shade. In the wild, it lives literally on south-facing rock walls protected from direct radiation. Abundant but filtered light is recommended, avoiding intense sun during the central hours, especially in summer. A suitable indicative target is 10–20 mol/m²/day of DLI PAR.
💧 Growth cycle and watering
Opportunistic. Rainfall in its habitat occurs in both summer and winter, and the plants can continue to take advantage of water infiltrating the rock walls even during dry periods. It is recommended to water thoroughly when the substrate is completely dry, adapting the frequency to the temperature, light, and activity of the plant.
🌸 Flowering
The inflorescence is an extended raceme of about 12–20 cm, with approximately 8–20 hanging flowers. The flowers are very striking for such a small plant: they measure 20–27 mm, present the characteristic bulging shape of Gasterias, and are reddish-pink, with light areas and greenish streaks toward the upper part. Flowering occurs in spring. They are pollinated mainly by nectarivorous birds, especially sunbirds.
🌿 Nutrition
During the period of active growth, Desert CHOICE® Aloes, Haworthias & Co. is recommended, with a high content of potassium and bioassimilable calcium. It is applied with watering, reducing or suspending fertilization during periods of lower activity.
9x9 cm gourmet black pot
This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a high-tech square pot with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi
* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the specimen sent may vary slightly from the product image. The measurements of the plant are specified in the photo description, but this may also vary slightly because, it is a living being! Each of the Desert CITY plants has unique characteristics.
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