Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Gibbaeum dispar

I traded some extras and got this cute succulent about a month ago. People have remarked that it looks like either tiny hearts or tiny butts, either way I guess both are cute? The genus name Gibbaeum comes from the Latin "gibbosus" or in English, "hunchback." Eh, I think my friends are more creative.



It does have a nice texture. It's hard not to touch it when I am watering my plants. Very soft and fuzzy. I haven't had this one very long, so I'll be watching it. Everything is easier to care for once they're growth habits are memorized. I hate guessing on when to water certain more picky succulents. I still am unsure when it comes to watering more difficult mesembs, haven't quite got it down yet. This one is supposed to be active and flowering through spring, it hasn't done more than work on the new sets of leaves for me, so I guess that's normal.


It isn't dying though, so I guess I'm keeping it happy. If any succulent fans have any suggestions or specific to this species cultivation advice, please let me know in the comments.

6 comments:

  1. Hi, sweet, I love gibbaeums, growing many from seed at the moment. They are winter growers, well actually autumn/spring, very little water over summer/winter with 2 week water in spring/autumn. They naturally get most rain in winter although some area do get a little in summer, but we are not talking outrageous amounts. Overwatering will crack the leaves. Watch for leaf wrinkling but take into account time of year. If they get new leaves the old leaves will wrinkle and dry out. Well drained soil. Good sunlight for flowering, but watch out for summer afternoon sun - can get hot in the pot! One final point - I think this is not G. heathii, they should be smooth, Maybe G. dispar? Not sure, just a thought! LOL! LT

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    1. Thanks for the correction, I think you might be right about it being G. dispar. Just did a little research and it does not look like heathii. I'm going to go ahead and change the name, the description matches perfectly with dispar and I doubt it's anything rarer (and this isn't the 1st time I've gotten a mislabeled plant from this person.) So just water in spring or autumn makes things easy, thanks!

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    2. Pleasure. With succulents I always make sure the ventilation is good round the base, just above roots! That is where the rot starts in many cases. Not commonly said, but one of my little believes. LT

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    3. You are probably right. I started using some small rocks more recently to keep some of them more elevated from the soil line in the one's that are more prone to rot. Stuff like lithops especially I worry about. Once I bring everyone inside again, it won't be an issue, it can get uncomfortably dry in my apartment in the winter. I'll keep these with the one's I shelter from the rain until I take them inside for the season.

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  2. Great looking plants, I've never heard of them before. Thanks for sharing this find. I'll look for them here in Oz. :)

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    1. They are cute, and grow and flower similar to lithops, you might like Gibbaeum. They're not the most common succulents, I don't think I've ever seen them in a store, but maybe where you live is different.

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