Gonialoe sladeniana | Sladen's Aloe
€10,60
🌱 Morphology
Small, acaulescent succulent, forming rosettes of about 10–15 cm and small clusters through offsets. The leaves are short, fleshy, dark green to grayish-green, deeply keeled, and slightly folded longitudinally; they grow upright or ascending and very close together, reaching about 9 cm in length. The margin and keel have a narrow whitish edge with tiny white teeth. The light spots on the leaves are more linear and narrower than in G. variegata, resembling fine streaks.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
It is endemic to west-central Namibia, restricted to the mountains of the western escarpment, in the surroundings of the Khomas Hochland region. It grows mainly on decomposed granite, in arid and rocky environments. It belongs to Asphodelaceae. It is currently included in Gonialoe, a genus separated from Aloe after phylogenetic studies; Aloe sladeniana is its synonym.
❄️ Temperature
USDA 9a–11b. Its habitat has very cold winters, so it tolerates low temperatures if kept dry. For potted cultivation, I recommend keeping it above 0–3 °C, absolutely avoiding the combination of intense cold and wet substrate.
☀️ Lighting
Very intense light, preferably soft sun or full sun with progressive adaptation. During active growth, aim for 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ DLI PAR. Insufficient lighting reduces rosette compactness and the intensity of leaf markings.
💧 Growth cycle
Opportunistic, although adapted to a very scarce and variable rainfall regime. It is advisable to take advantage of favorable temperature periods for watering. Water abundantly and let the substrate dry completely before the next watering.
🌸 Flowering
Very slender inflorescences, usually simple and only exceptionally branched, about 20–30 cm. The flowers are dull pink with greenish tips. In Namibia, it flowers mainly in January-February; in Madrid, approximately July-August, although it may be earlier or later depending on cultivation conditions.
🌿 Nutrition
During growth, use Desert CHOICE® Aloes, Haworthia & Co., with calcium and potassium supplementation. Apply moderately and reduce or suspend during periods of cold or prolonged drought.
This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a technological square pot with substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.
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