Huernia

Family. Asclepiadaceae.

Origin. South Africa.

Description. Low-growing perennial succulents, with erect or creeping stems multi-branched at the base, up to 15 cm high, 12 mm in diameter. with sharp spines 4.5 mm long. The stems are green, sometimes with a bluish waxy coating or even pink. Flowers are 2 - 3 cm in diameter, solitary or collected in small inflorescences of 2 - 3 at the base of the stems. The buds have a conspicuous, glossy, wine-red ring around the corolla tube. The petals are fused at the sharp tips and can be red, purple-brown, beige or even black, striped or speckled or plain. The flowers often emit an unpleasant carrion odor that attracts flies.

Height. Up to 30 cm.

Home care 

Flowering time

Summer and autumn. 

Reproduction

The easiest method of propagation is rooting cuttings. The cuttings are cut with a sharp sterile instrument and the cut area is allowed to dry for 1 - 2 days. By seeds or division of mature plants.

Containment temperature

Plants can tolerate temperatures of about 4 - 5 degrees Celsius during the dormant period if the soil is practically dry, and heat of about 38 degrees Celsius if not exposed to direct sunlight. The optimal temperature during the rest period should be at least 10 ° C.

Transplanting

Huernias rarely need repotting and prefer to be kept in slightly cramped conditions. Repot the succulents every two years in the spring to replace them with fresh soil, usually in the same size pot.

Lighting

In their natural environment they grow in the shade of other plants and are not exposed to direct sunlight. Place huernia in a well-lit location with light shade on hot summer days. If there is too much light, the stems may take on a reddish or purple hue. Lack of light leads to the formation of weak, thin stems and lack of flowering.

How to care

An undemanding plant that just needs good drainage. 

Watering 

Representatives of this species need very careful watering on warm days. Like most succulents, huernias are prone to rotting. In winter, the plant almost does not need watering. In spring and summer, water only when the top layer of soil dries out. Make sure that there is no stagnant water in the tray.

Diseases and pests 

Root rot due to stagnation of water.

Pests may include mealybugs. 

Soil

Substrate with a high content of coarse sand, perlite or pumice. It is advisable to place the plant in a shallow clay pot, as it also helps the soil dry out quickly. A mixture of 50 percent pumice or perlite, 25 percent peat or organic mulch, and 25 percent sand will work.

Feeding

In the spring, gradually increase the amount of watering and start feeding the succulent once a month with liquid fertilizer diluted by half. Stop feeding at the end of August to stop new growth. Use fertilizers high in phosphorus and low in nitrogen. 

Purpose

These small succulents have such a compact form that even a decent collection takes up very little space. Many species have quite charming flowers, although some species also have an unpleasant smell when flowering.

Air humidity

They do not need spraying; in winter the air should be dry.