Cotyledon

Cotyledon belongs to the Crassulaceae family. Its native range — South Africa. In nature this succulent grows in arid areas and therefore must store water in thick fleshy leaves. Two species are better suited to home cultivation, which are less commonly encountered for sale: the round Cotyledon and the wavy Cotyledon. The round Cotyledon reaches a height of almost 90 cm and forms a shrub. It has evergreen leaves with a reddish bloom. The wavy Cotyledon has leaves with a white bloom and a particularly attractive wavy margin. It is very important to avoid touching the leaves of the plant, because the bloom that protects the Cotyledon from excessive evaporation can be rubbed off. Quite rarely, mature specimens produce reddish-yellow, bell-shaped flowers that are borne in large numbers on a long inflorescence.

Location: prefers bright sunlight, as it is native to arid places. In the summer period it is strongly recommended to plant the plant outdoors in a sheltered spot. During dormancy it needs a cool room where the temperature does not drop below 12 °C. In addition, Cotyledon grows very well when cultivated hydroponically.

Care: does not tolerate excessive watering. In summer, intervals between waterings should be such that the top layer of soil has time to dry properly. In winter the number of waterings should be significantly reduced, but excessive drying of the soil must be avoided. The use of special cactus fertilizers (they are suitable for all succulents) is strongly recommended; fertilize only from spring to autumn no more than once a month.

Propagation: by leaf cuttings. The best time to take them is spring or summer. Before planting in a pot, the cuttings should be left in the open air until the cut surfaces have dried.