Deuterocohnia

Family. Bromeliaceae.

Origin. South America.

Description. Deuterocohnia is an evergreen perennial groundcover succulent plant that forms very small rosettes (up to 5 cm in diameter) of leaves. Each rosette resembles a miniature aloe. The leaves are triangular in shape, jagged along the edges, pointed, up to 2 cm in length, green, sometimes with a bluish waxy coating. The peduncle is tall and appears in the center of the rosette. The flowers are small and inconspicuous, solitary, greenish, white or yellow-orange.

Height. Usually about 15 - 20 cm, some species up to 60 cm.

Home care

Temperature conditions

This is probably one of the most cold-tolerant species of the bromeliad family. Tolerates a wide range of temperatures, however, in the warm season it will feel good at room temperature, and in the winter - in a cool place at 10 - 12 ° C. 

Lighting

A brightly lit place with direct sunlight in the morning or evening is ideal for this plant. Shading is only necessary on hot summer days.

Care

An unpretentious species, like most succulents.

Substrate

Well-drained, nutritious, with the addition of perlite or coarse river sand, pieces of pine bark to improve drainage. 

Feeding

It is enough to feed once a month with fertilizers for cacti or succulents in the warm season, when the plant is developing. In winter, fertilizing is excluded.

Air humidity

Deuterocochnia does not require spraying and easily tolerates a dry home atmosphere. In winter, the air should be dry.

Soil moisture

Water sparingly in spring and summer, allowing the top layer of soil to dry out between waterings. In winter, just don’t let the earthen coma dry out. The plant is very resistant to drought.

Transplant

Transplant in spring, as needed. The bush develops quite slowly, so it can be transplanted every 2 - 3 years. You can take a shallow pot - since deuterocochnia has a small root system.

Reproduction

Most often propagated by daughter rosettes. Leaf cuttings are rooted in spring, and the cut site is pre-dried for several days. By dividing adult plants.