Within the world of botany, that of succulents is especially interesting. These plants have been able to adapt in an incredible way to very harsh conditions, developing the capacity to store water. In addition, they are very striking for their original aspects. Without a doubt, they are the perfect example to demonstrate how nature is capable of adapting to what it has. A very remarkable genus that is part of the succulents is Tylecodon, which we will talk about in this post.
If you are interested in this plant and want to know more about it, I recommend that you continue reading. we will explain what it is and what care it requires. In addition, we will talk about the two most popular species belonging to this genus at an ornamental level. I hope this information is useful to you!
What is Tylecodon?
When we talk about Tylecodonwe refer to a genus of succulents belonging to the family Crassulaceae. These, in general, are mainly herbaceous plants, although some may be subshrubs and a few are even aquatic or arboreal. They are capable of storing water in their leaves, the main characteristic of the succulents. This is because their habitat is usually hot and dry areas, where water is very scarce. There are a total of 60 different species of Tylecodonof which these would be some examples:
- Tylecodon buchholzianus
- Tylecodon cacaloides
- Tylecodon hirtifolius
- Tylecodon paniculatus
- Tylecodon pygmaeus
- Tylecodon reticulatus
- Tylecodon climbing
- Tylecodon sulphureus
- Tylecodon wallichii
care
In general, these succulents are slow growing and require bright, direct sunlight. As we have already mentioned before, the natural habitat of the plants belonging to this genus is usually dry and hot, so it is not surprising that they require warm temperatures to survive. Even so, they are capable of withstanding the cold down to zero degrees Celsius, as long as it is for a fairly short period of time. Regarding irrigation, it is important to keep in mind that these are vegetables that grow in winter. Therefore, in summer you have to keep the plant relatively dry (remember that they store water in the leaves).
In short, these are the basic care required by plants of the genus Tylecodon:
- Luz: direct and bright
- Temperature: Warm and avoid prolonged exposure to low temperatures.
- Irrigation: Moderate in winter, very little in summer.
The most popular species
As we have already mentioned above, there are sixty species belonging to this genus. Of which, a few are very popular to decorate homes, having a high ornamental value. Next we will comment two of the most popular species.
Tylecodon buchholzianus
Perhaps the most famous species is Tylecodon buchholzianus. She is originally from Namibia and South Africa, specifically from Namaqualand. It is a shrubby succulent that can grow up to thirty centimeters tall. Its growth is slow and takes place during the winter. In summer, it usually goes dormant.
The stem of this plant can reach a diameter of thirty centimeters. Many twigs and stems of grayish tones are born from it. The leaves of this species usually appear in spring and are cylindrical in shape, reaching a length of up to ten centimeters. As for the flowers, these are usually pale pink. Usually, the flowering period of Tylecodon buchholzianus it starts at the end of winter and lasts until the end of spring.
We can grow this vegetable both indoors and outdoors. As for the basic care that this species needs are the following:
- Substratum: It must be sandy and have good drainage.
- Luz: Like all plants belonging to this genus, it needs bright, direct sunlight.
- Temperature: Preferably warm, but can tolerate cold and frost if the soil is dry at those times.
- Irrigation: It is important not to drown the plants, especially succulents. They do not need a lot of water. Irrigation will depend mainly on the climate and the state of the plant.
- Fertilizer: It is enough to add a little fertilizer for succulents a couple of times during the growth period. In general, this type of fertilizers tend to be low in nitrogen, which is very good for the Tylecodon buchholzianus.
It should be noted that it may require some pruning if we want it to maintain a specific appearance. We must not forget that it is a bushy plant that has a relatively chaotic growth, so controlling its shape is not too much.
Tylecodon paniculatus
Another very popular species to decorate homes is Tylecodon paniculatus. This is native to South Africa and has leaves that expire in summer. When they are born, they do so in the shape of a spiral. When cultivating this species, the most frequent problem that people usually have is controlling irrigation. It should be noted that you do not need a lot of water, and your needs will depend on various factors, so special attention has to be paid to the climatic conditions and the state of the plant. Let’s see some tips to water this vegetable correctly:
- Climate: When succulents go dormant, it is best to reduce watering. This usually happens when it is too hot or when it is cold. During those periods, watering a little every week or two is enough.
- Time: In general, the time of irrigation does not matter. However, in summer it is best to carry out this task in the afternoon.
- Plant status: When you need water, the signs are pretty obvious. Generally, the leaves tend to curl up or change color.
- Floor: As with all plants, the soil is a good indicator of the need for watering. It is enough to touch the earth to know if it is wet or not. If it starts to crack, it is a sign that it is extremely dry. In the event that we have the plant in a pot, its weight is also an effective way of knowing if it requires water or not. The drier the earth is, the less it will weigh.
What do you think of these plants? As you can see, they are very striking and easy to care for.
