Argyroderma

Family. Aizoaceae.

Origin. North-west of South Africa.

Description. Argyroderma is a beautiful, dwarf perennial succulent that forms clumps of 8 to 10 plants and bears bright, purple-pink flowers during April - May. It has from 3 to 10 pairs of fleshy gray-green, silvery leaves up to 80 mm in diameter, rounded towards the apex. Flowers are solitary, appearing from a crack between pairs of leaves, 25 mm. in diameter, with many oblong, narrow, bright petals, they look very large against the background of such a small plant. The color of the flowers varies from red-violet, yellow, and occasionally argyroderma with white flowers are found. The flower replaces the fruit 9 - 12 mm. diameter, after some time it dries and opens, releasing the seeds, they are very small, carried by falling raindrops, which spread them in all directions. This is an amazing natural reproductive device.

Plant height. 3 - 5 cm.

Argyroderma - home care

Temperature conditions

The rest period is at a temperature of 12 - 15 ° C in almost dry soil, the rest of the time they prefer warmth - about 25 ° C. 

Reproduction

Seeds that should be sown during spring. Germination takes about three weeks. Sow the seeds in shallow trays in a sand mixture and cover with a thin layer of sand (2 mm). Place the trays in a shallow container of water for a while until a sufficient amount of water is absorbed into the soil. Keep in a sunny place. First year plants are watered sufficiently during the summer but kept dry during the winter. Argyroderma blooms for the first time at the age of 3 - 4 years. Cuttings can be made from a pair of leaves during the fall. They are cut as close to the base as possible and allowed to dry for a week, rooted in wet sand. Rooting occurs within a month.

Lighting

It is necessary to place the plant on a bright sunny windowsill. 

Pests and diseases 

Argyroderma are prone to root rot. Pests are quite rare; only improper care can lead to the appearance of such harmful insects as mealybugs, spider mites, thrips, and sciarids.

Caring for a succulent

Excess moisture will cause the leaves to split and the plant may rot. 

Soil

The soil should be well-drained, consisting of sand with the addition of gravel. Loam, garden soil, combined with sand and gravel are ideal for this plant.

Feeding

During the growing season, apply fertilizer at half concentration once a month. 

Purpose

Argyroderma is popular among lovers of cacti and succulents, although they are quite rare in collections. This is a very interesting plant, with a unique shape and bright flowers, it often resembles plump, egg-shaped pebbles with a silvery coating, in nature this is a natural camouflage from animals. 

Flowering time

Spring – summer, depending on the species.

Air humidity

It tolerates the dry air of heated rooms quite well and does not need spraying. 

Watering

A drought-tolerant plant that should be kept almost completely dry during the dormant period. When watering, water should not fall directly on the leaves - it is better to wet the soil around the root system. 

Transfer

Plants can remain in the same pot for several years. Replanting can be done every 2-3 years if it is necessary to change the soil. Small plants can be replanted after a year. 

Note

Leaves may wrinkle during dry periods, but this is completely normal. By carefully resuming watering, you will restore their appearance again. Argyroderma is considered a poisonous plant and you should take precautions when coming into contact with it.

Varieties:

Argyroderma pearsonii

    A miniature succulent with thick, fleshy, succulent pairs of leaves. The leaves often have a bluish, waxy coating. With age it forms a short stem. During the flowering period, large flowers compared to the size of the plant itself appear from the gap between the leaves. The flowers are yellow or pink, have a large number of long and thin petals and almost completely hide the plant.