Crown of Thorns is a resilient succulent known for its thorny stems and long-lasting colorful blooms. Native to Madagascar, this plant thrives in bright light and warm conditions, making it a great choice for sunny indoor spaces. Its drought-tolerant nature means it prefers less frequent watering compared to many houseplants. With the right environment, it can bloom throughout much of the year. Read the full guide to learn how to help your Crown of Thorns grow strong and vibrant.
What does September hold for you? A brand new subscription box coming your way with our new arrival succulents! This month our Succulents Box is featuring Hummel’s Sunset, Ice plant, String of Pearls, and Lithop. This article will give you more details on each of these plants and instructions on how to provide the best care for them as they become the new additions to your succulent collection.
Hummel’s Sunset
Crassula ovata f. variegata ‘Hummel’s Sunset’ is a slow-growing evergreen succulent that grows shrubs of up to 3 feet tall. It has shiny, round and fleshy green leaves with cream-colored variegation. They are up to 2 inches long with red edges when received a lot of sunlight. Its nickname ‘Hummel’s Sunset’ comes from the colors of the sunset (yellow, red, orange) that this plant displays. The colors even get more vibrant in cold weather. This plant blooms clusters of white or pale pink starry flowers from late winter to early spring.
Sun exposure: Full sun, Partial sun
Water: Water thoroughly when soil is dry to the touch, then let drain completely. Avoid letting water sit for too long in the soil to prevent rot and fungal diseases. Reduce watering in the winter.
Soil: Porous and well-drained. Optimal pH is around 6.0 (slightly acidic).
Temperature: Average summer temperatures from 65ºF/18ºC to 70ºF/21ºC are ideal. In winter, it can survive temperatures as low as 50ºF/10ºC.
Fertilizer: Feed once with a controlled-release fertilizer at the beginning of the growing season.
Propagation: You can propagate Crassula ovata f. variegata ‘Hummel’s Sunset’ by division, offsets or leaf cuttings. The easiest way is to propagate from a single leaf: put the leaf in a succulent or cacti mix, then cover until it sprouts.
Hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zone 9a to 11b: from 20 °F (−6.7 °C) to 50 °F (10 °C).
Ice Plant
Ice Plant or Corpuscularia lehmannii is a succulent plant that can reach up to 8 inches tall and up to 12 inches wide. Its leaves, which grow in opposing pairs, are dark green and as thick as ice cubes. These leaves are three-angled and grow up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) long. Ice Plant produces yellow daisy-like flowers of up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) in diameter.
Light: Full Sun, Partial Sun
Water: Water thoroughly when soil is dry to the touch, then let drain completely. Avoid letting water sit for too long in the soil to prevent rot and fungal diseases. Reduce watering in the winter.
Soil: Well-Drained, Porous, Gritty.
Temperature: Average summer temperatures from 65ºF/18ºC to 70ºF/21ºC are ideal. In winter, it can survive temperatures as low as 50ºF/10ºC.
Propagation: You can propagate Ice Plant by division, cuttings or seeds. If propagating by division, dividing the plants in the spring is optimal. Cuttings can be taken anytime in the spring, summer or fall. When grown by seeds, scatter the seeds on top of the soil and do not cover them, allowing light to stimulate germination.
Hardiness
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
String of Pearls
String of Pearls or Senecio rowleyanus, native to Namibia, Africa, has pendant stems to 3' or more with unusual round "leaves" giving the impression of a "string of pearls". Both the stems and leaves are green. The plant is beautiful in a hanging basket, and can be inside the house in a bright airy room, or outside in a protected patio. Bright light with ample airflow is recommended therefore outdoor in the shade is preferable. Protect from frost.
Light: Light shade
Soil: Well-drained soil
Water: Water thoroughly when soil is dry to the touch, then let drain completely. Avoid letting water sit for too long in the soil to prevent rot and fungal diseases. Reduce watering to a minimum in the winter.
Flower: Small, white flowers that smell like cinnamon
Lithops
Lithops, native to Southern Africa, are also known by the name 'Living Stones' because of their resemblance to pebbles and rocks that scattered around their natural surroundings. Lithops are tiny slow-growing plants that grow close to the ground. Each plant has an underground stem with a long root that connects to two above-ground thick leaves that are merged together at the soil level. Lithops usually bloom white or yellow flowers from between the two leaves in the summer.
Light: Full sun
Soil: Porous and well-drained potting soil or cactus mix
Water: Do not overwater or else the leaves will burst, causing the plant to die. Do not water in the summer since the plant is dormant and also do not water in the winter. It's best to water during spring and when flowers bloom/new leaves appear.
Temperature: Lithops prefer warm weather but can survive cold winter with temperatures as low as 55˚F (13˚C).
Propagation: You can propagate Lithops from seeds
We hope this complete care guide will be helpful for you when you get your new Subscription Box this month. You can expect to receive from 1 to 4 of the plants featured, depending on the subscription plan you chose. Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you might have.
Collectors, enjoy your beautiful Succulents Boxes!
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