Avonia

Family. Portulacaceae.

Origin. Quite widespread in the Cape Province, South Africa.

Description. Avonia is a dwarf perennial succulent with a large turnip-like root topped with numerous short, silvery-white, branched, finger-like stems. Often during drought, the plant hides its stems in the ground, trying to retain the remaining moisture. The shoots are covered with 4 - 5 rows of straight or spirally arranged scales, which protect the plant from direct light and moisture loss, each shoot is about 5 - 8 cm long, up to 10 mm in diameter. The flowers are fragrant, small, pale pink or white, single, from 1 to 3 cm in diameter, self-pollinating, open in the late afternoon, in spring and early summer, remain open for about an hour. The fruit is formed within 1-2 months after flowering - a capsule up to 7 mm in diameter. The seeds are very small, light brown. Succulents develop very slowly and require careful care.

Height. Diameter from 2 to 8 cm, adults sometimes reach 15 cm.

Care at home

Temperature conditions

The avonia flower does not tolerate frost, but can tolerate temperatures of 5 ° C for a short time. The optimal temperature range during the growing season is 18 - 24 ° C.

Lighting

The bushes require full sun and are unlikely to suffer from very high daytime temperatures and sunburn due to the protection of white scales. In good light, the scales adhere tightly to the shoots, but when grown in conditions of insufficient light, they remain protruding.

Care

For best results, use a shallow pan or the smallest pot that will accommodate the plant. Move outdoors in summer to make the most of direct sunlight, and especially exposure to high summer temperatures. 

 

Substrate

The soil should not be alkaline, light, moisture-permeable and breathable to ensure rapid drainage. Since the roots of the plant are quite small, use cactus substrate with the addition of perlite or pumice. Sandy soil and clay pots help the substrate dry out between waterings. 

Feeding

Use a cactus or succulent fertilizer that is high in potassium or a slow-release fertilizer.

Purpose

The dried and crushed roots and stems of these succulents were previously used as yeast for bread, as well as for the production of mead. 

Air humidity

Loves ventilated rooms.

Soil moisture

From the beginning of spring, water moderately; in the cold season, keep it almost dry.

Flowering time

May June 

Transplant

Once every 2 - 3 years, as they grow.

Reproduction, avonia from seeds

It reproduces by seeds quite easily and often forms self-seeding. Germination takes very little time - fresh seeds can germinate within a few hours after planting! Tiny seedlings grow very slowly, and it is very important not to overwater them. Crops are covered with a plastic cap to maintain humidity, but young plants should be aired several times a day for 20 - 30 minutes. As soon as real shoots appear, the cover is immediately removed to avoid rot.

In spring, plants can be propagated by division.

Pests and diseases

Rot when watered too much, the plant almost immediately turns into mush. 

Among the harmful insects, the flower is sometimes attacked by spider mites and mealybugs. 

Avonia alstonii

    A dwarf perennial succulent plant that forms a caudex. The scaly stems are bluish-green, gray-brown, topped with white or slightly pink flowers with long and numerous stamens. 

Avonia papyracea ssp namaensis

One of the largest subspecies of Avonia, with thick, juicy, round in cross-section, intricately curved stems, often branched at the base. The stems are covered with very thin, translucent, paper-like scales, which is where the name of the variety comes from. The flowers are very delicate, white. 

Avonia albissima

A miniature succulent that in its natural environment is almost completely hidden in the ground during periods of drought. The plant has round, intricately curved, branched stems at the base, covered with scales. The flowers are small, solitary or collected in few-flowered inflorescences, white, fragrant.