Rhombophyllum

Family. Aizoaceae.

Origin. South Africa.

Description. Rhombophillums are low-growing succulent evergreen subshrubs. The leaves are light green, often with a blue waxy coating, spatulate or pointed, triangular in cross-section, fleshy. With age, the plant forms a low stem. During the flowering period, fairly large yellow, single flowers are formed, up to 5 cm in diameter, resembling a dandelion. The buds open in the evening.

Height. Does not exceed 30 cm, grows slowly.

Home care

Temperature conditions

Like most succulents, it loves warm conditions with a temperature of 20 - 25 ° C. In the winter months, a dormant period begins, which the plants should spend in a cool place at a temperature of 10 - 12 ° C.

Lighting

Shade during hot summer daylight hours; morning and evening exposure to direct sunlight is possible.

Care

Remove faded buds to prolong flowering. In summer, take the bushes outside, away from direct sunlight and rain.

Substrate

Well-drained, loose, with plenty of sand or perlite to improve drainage. Soils that are fairly poor in nutrients are suitable. 

Feeding

Rhombophyllum is very easy to care for and is only afraid of waterlogging. Feed the succulent once a month with liquid fertilizers with low nitrogen content. In the fall, stop feeding and resume only in the spring, with the beginning of new growth.

Purpose

Very compact, unpretentious plants that can be used as ground cover.

Flowering time

Blooms in summer. The flowering period takes 1 - 2 weeks.

Air humidity

Good air movement is necessary. During the dormant period, keep it in cool, ventilated areas. It tolerates the dryness of heated residential premises well and does not need spraying.

Soil moisture

Water your rhombophyllum moderately in spring and summer, allowing the top layer of soil to dry out between waterings. In winter, the soil should be almost completely dry, and the frequency of watering should be reduced.

Transfer

Replant once every 2-3 years, in early spring. 

Reproduction

Seeds that are sown in spring in a mixture of wet peat and sand. Germination takes from two weeks to 1 month. Seedlings should be placed in a warm place with a temperature of 18 to 24 degrees Celsius without exposure to direct sunlight. Also propagated by cuttings in spring and summer. The length of the cuttings should be from 5 to 20 centimeters, the leaves should be removed from the lower part of the cutting, and the place where the cutting was cut should be dried for 24 hours. Cuttings take root in damp sand; the rooting process occurs quite quickly and does not require much labor.

Pests and diseases

Excess nutrients cause abundant growth of stems, while they become loose and soft and plants can be susceptible to various fungal diseases Powdery mildew if there is insufficient air movement or kept in a humid atmosphere. Excess moisture causes rot.

Hydroponics

Grows well in hydroponics.