Psammophora LONGIFOLIA

Psammophora LONGIFOLIA - Long-leaved psammophora, Psammophora longifolia.

"Living Stones" seed series.

Psammophora is a genus of small shrubs or shrubby plants with an undeveloped stem in the ice plant family (Aizoaceae), consisting of 6 species. In the wild, they grow only in the Namib Desert south of the town of Lüderitz and in the northern part of Namaqualand. In cultivation, they are exceptionally unpretentious and hardy plants requiring moderate watering and winter dormancy.

Thick, obtusely three-sided leaves of the plant reach 2-4 cm (0.8-1.6 in) in length and 1 cm (0.4 in) in width. Young leaves have a sticky surface upon which dust and grains of desert sand settle in nature, forming a crust that protects the leaves from excessive radiation, water loss, and grazing by animals.

Flowers are white or light purple, 10-25 mm (0.4-1.0 in) in diameter, and the capsule is 6-8-locular.

Long-leaved psammophora is a very ornamental species with leaves that are three-sided and distinctly sticky when young, reaching up to 4 cm (1.6 in) in length and a completely undeveloped stem. The surface of the leaves is brownish-green, matte-glossy. New leaves have a dark purple coloration. White flowers on short stems appear several times throughout the entire growing season.

Seeds are sown on a loose substrate of washed river sand with the addition of peat without burying, moistened with a spray bottle, covered with film, and germinated in the light, but not in the sun, at a temperature of 20-25 °C (68-77 °F). Seedlings require ventilation. It is necessary to avoid waterlogging and drying out of the sowings.

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Psammophora is an easy-to-grow plant with modest requirements. Commercial substrate for succulents or cacti is suitable as potting soil. Sometimes it is insufficiently loose, in which case a little sand should be added. You can prepare the soil yourself by making a mixture: turf soil - 1 part, humus or peat - 1 part, coarse sand - 1 part. A drainage layer of small stones, brick chips, vermiculite, or foam plastic is obligatory at the bottom of the pot. The top layer of substrate is also lightly sprinkled with crushed stone.

It feels wonderful at a temperature of 23-30 °C (73-86 °F). The lowest permissible temperature is 8 °C (46 °F). The optimal temperature for wintering is 14-16 °C (57-61 °F). Summer watering is carried out only 2-3 times a month, while in winter watering is sharply reduced (once a week indoors and once a month in greenhouses). With excess moisture, plants do not bloom and often rot. Between waterings, the substrate must dry out completely.