Pleiospilos nelii | Split Rock. Kwaggavy
€26,50
🌱 Split rock. Dwarf perennial succulent, practically stemless, which usually forms one or two pairs of very fleshy, opposite leaves joined at the base. The leaves are almost spherical, flattened on top, grayish-green in color and covered in small dark dots, which allows the plant to camouflage itself with the quartz stones of its habitat. A deep central fissure separates the leaves and allows the new pair to emerge. In warmer months, it can take on reddish hues.
🌍 Distribution, habitat and family
Endemic to South Africa, mainly in the Eastern Cape, in the Karoo region around Willowmore, extending towards nearby areas of the Western Cape. It lives on plains and slopes covered with small quartz stones, among open Karoo vegetation, at an altitude of about 870–1250 m. It belongs to the Aizoaceae family, subfamily Ruschioideae. Pleiospilos pedunculatus and P. tricolor are synonyms.
❄️ Temperature
USDA Zone 9b–11. Tolerates minimum temperatures of up to −4 ºC when dry. Although it can withstand light frosts if it remains completely dry, the combination of cold and humidity considerably increases the risk of rot.
☀️ Lighting
It requires very high lighting to maintain its compact shape, the natural coloration of its foliage, and to encourage flowering. During active growth, it is recommended to exceed 20 mol/m²/day of DLI PAR, preferably with direct sun or very intense light.
💧 Growth cycle and watering
Summer dormancy. The new pair of leaves begins to develop during the winter and progressively consumes the water stored in the old leaves. During the active period, it is recommended to water abundantly and let the substrate dry out completely before the next watering. In summer, water supply must be greatly reduced. It is especially important not to keep the old leaves turgid during the summer, as excess water can prevent their reabsorption and promote rot.
🌸 Flowering
It produces solitary, fragrant flowers, about 6 cm in diameter, with coloring varying between pinkish-yellow, salmon, orange and pink tones. They open during the afternoon and can remain open until dusk. Flowering occurs mainly during the austral winter, approximately May–August, so in Spain it corresponds to November–February.
🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a fertilizer with high content of assimilable calcium and potassium is recommended, such as Desert CHOICE® Aizoaceae, applied during watering and avoiding excessive nitrogen inputs.
This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a technological square pot and with substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi.
7 × 7 cm gourmet black pot.
* 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 plants at Desert CITY has unique characteristics.
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