€10,60

Tulista pumila (L.) G.D.Rowley

🌱 Morphology
There is something almost mineral about this plant: a compact, silent, and perfectly outlined rosette, from which thick, triangular leaves emerge like small green spears. On them, especially on the underside, large, rounded white tubercles appear that look like wax drops or tiny pearls embedded in the surface. With age, it can form small groups of rosettes, but it always retains that sculptural and contained appearance that makes it extraordinarily attractive to the collector.

It is an acaulescent, slow-growing species with rosettes that can reach about 15 cm in diameter and up to 25 cm in height. The leaves, erect or slightly arched inward, are olive green to brownish-green and can reach about 14 cm in length. The inflorescence rises up to about 40 cm and bears tubular flowers with a waxy texture, whitish or yellowish, with green veins and brownish tones at the tip.

🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
Endemic to the Western Cape province, South Africa, mainly from the Worcester-Robertson Karoo, with populations from Worcester, Robertson, Ashton, Bonnievale, and Montagu towards other areas of its range. It lives in the Succulent Karoo and Karroid Broken Veld, frequently among low scrub and vegetation that offers some protection, although it also appears in exposed positions and stony soils. It belongs to the Asphodelaceae family.

The climatic regime is decisive in understanding it: it is found in a region of predominantly winter rainfall, with approximately 150–350 mm per year depending on the locality. In the surroundings of Robertson, precipitation clearly increases from April, reaches its maximum during June-July, and decreases from September-October; January-February are the driest months. The plant takes advantage of this humid and cool period to grow, while the hot and dry summer induces a marked physiological rest.

❄️ Temperature — USDA 10a
It tolerates minimum temperatures of down to −1 ºC. In its natural area, it can experience light frosts of around −2 ºC, but in pot cultivation, it is preferable not to regularly approach that limit, especially if the substrate is damp. The summers in its habitat can reach temperatures of up to 44 ºC.

☀️ Lighting
It develops well with good brightness, from soft sun to full sun, although in cultivation it may appreciate protection from the most intense sun during the central hours of the day in the hottest months. During active growth, a DLI PAR of 12–20 mol/m²/day is recommended. Sufficient lighting keeps the rosette compact and favors the expression of the contrast between the green of the leaves and the large white tubercles.

💧 Growth cycle and irrigation
Summer dormancy. Its cycle is clearly conditioned by the rainy winter climate of its habitat. Growth begins with the autumn rains and continues during the winter and spring, when water is available and temperatures are moderate. During this period, it should be watered deeply once the substrate has dried out.

Starting from late spring and throughout the summer, precipitation decreases and temperatures rise considerably. The plant then reduces its activity, and watering should be spaced out significantly, providing water only when there is an obvious need and avoiding keeping the substrate moist for prolonged periods.

🌸 Flowering
It blooms mainly at the beginning of the austral summer, October-November, coinciding with the end of its active growth period. The floral stalk can reach about 40 cm and bears tubular, waxy, brownish-white or yellowish flowers with green veins. From seed, it is a slow species: it may take approximately 5 years to reach the maturity necessary to flower.

🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, Desert CHOICE® Aloes, Haworthias & Co. is recommended, with a high content of potassium and bioavailable calcium. It is applied with irrigation, reducing or suspending fertilization during the summer dormancy.

9x9 cm gourmet black pot

This is an inimitable xerophytic plant 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 specimen sent may vary slightly from the product image. The plant measurements 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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