Senecio AIZOIDES

Senecio AIZOIDES - Aizoon Groundsel, Senecio aizoides.

Senecio is one of the most unusual genera of remarkable plants in the large Aster family (Asteraceae/Compositae), the varieties of which include more than 3,000 diverse specimens. They are perennial, rarely annual herbaceous plants, subshrubs, shrubs, or small trees, widely distributed across different climatic zones in all regions of the globe. Many species of this plant look completely dissimilar to one another, but nevertheless belong to the same family and are "blood relatives".

Their shoots are glabrous or pubescent. The leaves are also very diverse in shape - from elliptical to obovate, entire-margined and dissected, lobed, pinnately lobed, alternate. Inflorescences are flower heads (capitula), ranging from small to large, solitary or arranged in clusters in corymbs or panicles. Many representatives of this enormous genus are known in cultivation, grown in open and protected ground as ornamental plants, cultivated for cut flowers, as potted plants, and used in floral arrangements.

Aizoon groundsel (Senecio aizoides) - the stem is very short, shrubby; the leaves are clustered at the apex, compressed, quite entire. The pedicels are elongated, nearly scaleless beneath the flower head.

Seeds are sown on the surface of a cactus mix diluted halfway with sand. They are moistened from a spray bottle, covered with film, and germinated in light, but not direct sun, at a temperature of 20-23 °C (68-73 °F). Seedlings need ventilation. It is necessary to avoid waterlogging and drying out of the sowings. Seedlings are pricked out at the cotyledon stage, individually into 5 cm (2.0 in) pots.

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The groundsel prefers a well-lit location with some direct sunlight. Placement on an east- or west-facing window is well suited. In the spring-summer period, it prefers a temperature of 22-26 °C (72-79 °F); from autumn, the temperature can be gradually lowered, and in winter the plant can be kept at 12-15 °C (54-59 °F); the temperature must not drop below 7 °C (45 °F). It tolerates the dry air of apartments well and does not require additional humidification.

During the growing season, groundsel is watered moderately with soft settled water, a day or two after the top layer of substrate dries out. From autumn, watering is reduced; in winter, water extremely rarely or dispense with watering altogether. Overwatering is very dangerous. Feed from March to August with fertilizers for succulents twice a month. The potting soil should be nutritious, loose, with neutral pH. A mix of leaf mold and sand in a 2:1 ratio is suitable. Ready-made substrates for cacti or succulents are suitable. Young plants are repotted annually in spring, mature ones every 2-3 years. Groundsels are propagated by cuttings, layering, and seeds.