Pachyphytum FITTKAUI

Pachyphytum FITTKAUI - Fittkau's pachyphytum, Pachyphytum fittkaui.

Pachyphytum is a genus of compact leaf succulent plants in the family Crassulaceae, comprising about 10 species that grow mainly in the mountainous regions of Central and Northern Mexico. These plants are adapted to bright sun and significant daily temperature fluctuations, storing moisture in fleshy leaves and tolerating prolonged periods of drought.

Representatives of the genus are perennial low-growing succulents with short fleshy stems 15-30 cm (6-12 in) long and a branched system of thin roots. The leaves are thickened, short-petioled, up to 4 cm (1.6 in) long, arranged spirally and forming dense rosettes. The surface is covered with a waxy coating with a silvery sheen, giving them a grayish-white, glaucous, or bluish-green tint, which is why the plant is often called "moonstone". The peduncles are long, bearing nodding racemes of bell-shaped flowers of pink-orange or reddish coloration, sometimes with greenish petal tips.

Flowering occurs in spring and summer. After flowering, dry multi-seeded fruits are formed.

Pachyphytum fittkaui is named after the Catholic priest and missionary Hans Fittkau, who discovered this species. The distinctive feature of this species is expressed in the lemon-green color of the leaves and an orange margin that appears along the contour of the leaf under insufficient watering.

Pachyphytum blooms in July-September, producing from the center of the rosette a peduncle up to 40 cm (16 in) long of red or white color with a spike-like inflorescence consisting of five-petaled white, pink, and red bells with a delicate pleasant fragrance. Sepals and petals are just as velvety and fleshy as the leaves of the plant. It bears fruit in small pods, in which seeds set and ripen in the natural environment, which does not happen under domestic cultivation.

The seeds are distinguished by low natural germination, not exceeding 50%. Before sowing, the seeds are soaked in warm water for 12-24 hours. Sowing is carried out in a loose substrate of leaf mold and sand or in a light sand-peat mixture with a depth of no more than 2-3 mm (0.08-0.12 in). The soil is moistened with a spray bottle and covered with glass or transparent film to maintain constant humidity. Germination is carried out in light, but without direct sunlight, at a temperature of 22-26 °C (72-79 °F). Daily airing and moisture monitoring are conducted, avoiding both drying out and waterlogging.

Seedlings appear in 15-25 days, the minimum period being about 15 days, and the maximum possible more than 40 days. After the appearance of the first leaves, the cover is removed, and the young plants are gradually acclimated to open air and bright light. Pricking out is not required - seedlings are transplanted into individual pots as they grow.

Special notes: Seeds are very (!) small.

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Pachyphytum is very easy to grow at home. It prefers bright diffused light; keeping it in partial shade will not kill the plant, but will lead to loss of compact growth, discoloration of leaves, and absence of flower stalks. The optimal placement is on windowsills of south, east, and west windows. On windowsills of north windows and in winter, it requires supplemental lighting. The temperature for maintenance in spring-summer is 20-25 °C (68-77 °F), in winter 11-16 °C (52-61 °F); temperatures of 10 °C (50 °F) and below are fatal to the plant. It tolerates dry air well and does not require additional humidification; droplets of moisture falling on the leaves can wash away the waxy coating and spoil the appearance. Watering in summer should be regular, but with mandatory drying of the soil by one third, as excess moisture leads to rotting of roots and stems. Winter watering is restricted to a minimum.

Small containers with well-drained substrates are used for cultivation. It is possible to use a mixture of equal parts garden soil, fine pebbles, and sand, or ready-made soils for succulents and cacti. It is repotted in spring once every two years. Feeding is carried out 3-4 times between April and October with mineral fertilizers for cacti with minimal nitrogen content and a predominance of potassium. Pachyphytum is resistant to diseases and is not prone to insect attacks.