Cheiridopsis CIGARETTIFERA

Cheiridopsis CIGARETTIFERA - Cheiridopsis cigarettifera, Namaqualand Cheiridopsis, Cheiridopsis NAMAQUENSIS.

"LIVING STONES" SEED SERIES.

Cheiridopsis is a genus of succulent plants in the Ice Plant family (Aizoaceae), comprising about 40 species distributed in the arid regions of Namibia and the Cape Provinces of South Africa. In nature, members of the genus occur on sandy and stony plains, dry slopes, in quartz and gravel habitats, often in winter rainfall zones, where growth is more active in the cool season and summer passes in a state of dormancy.

Plants usually develop as low clump-forming or cushion-like succulents with short shoots and fleshy paired leaves. Leaves can be triquetrous, boat-shaped, finger-like, keeled, or pointed, often glaucous-green, gray, bluish, or covered with a waxy coating that reduces evaporation in dry climates.

Flowers in Cheiridopsis are diurnal, daisy-like, usually yellow, orange, white, pink, or purple, opening under good lighting. Fruits are dry hydrochastic capsules that open when moistened. Seeds are very small, so during sowing they are distributed on the surface and moistened only by fine spraying.

Cheiridopsis cigarettifera is a clump-forming, stemless fleshy plant 15-30 cm (5.9-11.8 in) in diameter and 10 cm (3.9 in) in height. Leaves are narrow, pointed, keeled, whitish-gray in color, up to 5 cm (2.0 in) long. Flowering is most intense in summer, while in winter the plants become greener. The species is named because of the leaves that develop after flowering: they are thinner, closely spaced, joined for one-third of their length, and remain erect during dormancy, when young leaves are hidden in dry long sheaths of old leaves, resembling a cluster of cigarettes. Flowers are bright yellow, up to 4 cm (1.6 in) in diameter, appearing in spring.

Cheiridopsis seeds are very small, light brown or brownish, rounded or slightly oval. Seed germination under careful greenhouse conditions is usually about 60-80%.

It is best to sow in autumn or early winter, and with stable lighting and moderate temperatures - year-round, avoiding severe summer heat. A sterile fine-grained mineral substrate based on fine washed sand, perlite, mineral grit, and a small amount of sifted peat or coconut coir is used. Seeds are distributed on the surface and not buried. Sowing is moistened from a spray bottle with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or biofungicide with the addition of a growth stimulant: SUPERthrive, HB-101, Aminozol, Epin, or Zircon. The container is covered with a transparent lid or placed in a propagator.

Germination is conducted under bright diffuse lighting and a temperature of about 18-24 °C (64-75 °F), without direct overheating under the sun. The surface is kept slightly moist but not wet; moistening is carried out only by fine spraying. Sowings are ventilated daily, condensation is removed, as moisture stagnation is especially dangerous for Aizoaceae seedlings and quickly causes fungal damage.

First shoots may appear in 7-14 days; the usual germination period is about 2-3 weeks; the maximum possible period under cool conditions or partial surface drying can extend to 4-6 weeks. After emergence, the cover is gradually opened, and seedlings are kept in bright diffuse light and very careful moistening. Pricking out is carried out only after noticeable strengthening of plants and formation of the first true fleshy leaves, with minimal damage to roots.

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For growing, the brightest possible location with bright diffuse light and several hours of soft direct sun is chosen. South, southeast, and southwest windows with good ventilation are best suited, and in overcast seasons supplementary lighting is used. The plant is accustomed to harsh midday sun after a dark period gradually to avoid burns on the leaves.

Active growth usually occurs in autumn, winter, and spring, when a temperature of about 12-22 °C (54-72 °F) is maintained. In hot summer, the plant is kept drier and as cool as possible, protected from overheating. Overwintering is conducted in bright and cool conditions without heavy waterlogging. At high temperature, low light, and wet substrate, leaves quickly stretch out and become vulnerable to rot.

Watering is carried out carefully, taking seasonality into account. During the growing period, the soil is moistened in small portions after most of the substrate dries out. During the hot dormancy period, watering is sharply reduced; only infrequent light moistening is permitted if leaves wrinkle excessively. Stagnation of water in the saucer is not allowed, and spraying the leaves is not required.

A very loose mineral substrate with high content of coarse sand, fine stone grit, pumice, zeolite, perlite, or other inert aerators is used. The organic fraction is added minimally. Drainage is laid on the bottom of the pot, and the container is chosen shallow, wide, and strictly with holes for water runoff.

Fertilizer is applied rarely, only during active growth, no more than once every 6-8 weeks with a weak solution of cactus and succulent fertilizer low in nitrogen. Excess nutrients cause loose watery growth and disrupt compactness. Repotting is carried out at the beginning of the growth period; after repotting, the plant is kept without watering for several days. Pruning is usually not required; only dried remains of old leaves are removed.