Adromischus MACULATUS

Adromischus MACULATUS - Calico Hearts, Spotted Adromischus, Adromischus maculatus, Adromischus rupicola.

The genus Adromischus comprises about 70 species of plants in the stonecrop family (Crassulaceae). Adromischus species grow in Southern and Southwestern Africa. The genus name translates from Greek as "stout-stemmed". Adromischus plants are low-growing subshrubs or perennial herbs with succulent, often variegated, spotted, sometimes pubescent leaves. The short, thick, procumbent stem is densely covered with rusty-red aerial roots that absorb moisture from the air. The flowers are gathered in a spike-like raceme on a relatively long peduncle. The corolla petals are partially fused, forming a narrow tube.

Most popular are species with red and dark green spots on the leaves, but in insufficient light these markings disappear. Like all crassulaceous plants, adromischus are undemanding and easy to care for; furthermore, they are rarely attacked by pests.

Spotted adromischus is a sparsely branching small succulent reaching a height of only 10 cm (3.9 in). On the surface of dark green leaflets there are red spots. The leaf blade is oval or rounded, reaching up to 5 cm (2.0 in) in length and 3 cm (1.2 in) in width. Flower coloration is brownish-red.

Seeds are sown in a shallow container on the surface into a sandy substrate, having preliminarily mixed them with its top layer. They are moistened with a spray mister, covered with glass or film, and germinated in the light at a temperature of 18-24 °C (64-75 °F). Seedlings require airing. It is necessary to avoid waterlogging and drying out of the sowings.

The cover is removed after seedling emergence. After the appearance of two or three leaves, seedlings are transplanted into individual small pots. More than 3 months are required for flowering after the initial stem appears.

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It prefers bright sunny lighting: south-, southeast-, and southwest-facing windows without shading. In summer, a sunny balcony is desirable. Temperatures should be moderate; in winter, maintenance at 8-12 °C (46-54 °F) is desirable.

In summer, adromischus is watered moderately, allowing the soil to dry out. Even during active growth, the plant does not tolerate excess moisture. In winter, watering is stopped, provided there is a cool wintering. If the plant is kept at room temperature, watering is infrequent and careful. The plant does not need misting.

Substrate: a soil mix enriched with a large amount of sand. One can use this soil recipe: garden loam, humus, and coarse sand in a 2:2:3 ratio. It is useful to add a bit of bone meal, eggshells, charcoal, and crushed brick to the resulting substrate. It will not be a mistake to use commercial mix intended for planting and repotting any cacti and succulents as a substrate for adromischus. To prevent rot, the plant requires a very loose, well-drained substrate and a shallow pot (dish). Soil: a mixture of leaf mold, sand, and peat soil in equal parts. Good drainage is mandatory. They do not require frequent repotting.

Fertilization of the soil for adromischus is carried out using mineral concentrate for cacti and succulents. It can be purchased at a specialized store. Feeding is necessary for the plant throughout the entire growing season, from March to September. Conversely, in the autumn-winter season it is unnecessary. The frequency of fertilizer application to the soil in spring and summer is once a month.