Curio ficoides | Blue chalksticks
€58,30
🌱 Morphology
A perennial, evergreen, and highly branched succulent shrub with an upright and later spreading growth habit, which in natural conditions can reach 50–70 cm in height, exceptionally reaching nearly 1 m and developing significant width.
The stems are fleshy, branched, and fragile, initially green and later more woody and grayish at the base. The young branches are covered by a characteristic whitish pruina that gives them a bluish-gray hue.
The leaves are alternate, sessile, fleshy, and elongated, with a flattened cross-section and a lanceolate to narrowly oblong shape, with progressively tapered ends. They are covered by a waxy bluish-gray layer that reduces water loss and gives the plant its characteristic chalksticks appearance. Unlike Curio talinoides, which looks similar, the leaves of C. ficoides are laterally flattened and not cylindrical.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
Family Asteraceae. It is native to South Africa, especially from the Eastern Cape and Klein Karoo regions, where it grows on steep mountain slopes, rocky outcrops, and exposed cliffs.
It inhabits warm and dry environments, generally on very well-drained terrain. In its natural area, it can form extensive shrubs with branches that eventually rest on the ground.
The currently accepted name is Curio ficoides (L.) P.V.Heath. Senecio ficoides, Kleinia ficoides, and Cacalia ficoides are taxonomic synonyms.
❄️ Temperature
USDA Zone 9a–11b. It tolerates minimum temperatures of down to −4 ºC briefly when the specimen is completely dry and protected from humidity. In cultivation, it is advisable to avoid prolonged frosts, especially if they coincide with wet substrate.
Low temperatures accompanied by humidity significantly increase the risk of damage to roots and stems.
☀️ Lighting
Indicative DLI PAR: 15–25 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹.
It requires high lighting to maintain compact growth and the characteristic bluish-gray coloration of the pruina. It tolerates direct sun once acclimated and can be grown in full sun in climates with moderate temperatures.
In environments with very hot summers, it may appreciate some protection during the central hours of the day, especially when grown in small containers.
💧 Growth cycle and irrigation
Opportunistic. It is a succulent that is mainly actively growing during temperate seasons, capable of withstanding prolonged dry periods. In conditions of extreme heat, it may temporarily slow its activity.
During the active period, it is recommended to water thoroughly and let the substrate dry out completely before watering again. Its root system requires rapid drainage and does not tolerate waterlogging well.
In autumn, as temperatures drop, watering should be gradually spaced out. During the winter, it is recommended to significantly reduce watering, especially when temperatures are low.
🌸 Flowering
The inflorescences appear at the ends of the branches and are formed by small flower heads grouped in terminal branches. They look like daisies.
The flower heads lack ray florets and feature small flowers with whitish to cream hues, which are discreet in appearance compared to the prominence of the leaves. Flowering can occur mainly during spring and summer, depending on cultivation conditions.
🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a specific fertilizer for succulents is recommended, with a balanced ratio of nutrients and special attention to the contribution of potassium and bioavailable calcium, such as Desert CHOICE Succulents, applied after watering. Fertilizing is not recommended during rest periods.
This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a high-tech square pot with substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.
* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the sent specimen 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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