Gasteria Acinacifilia

Gasteria Acinacifilia Care

Gasteria Acinacifilia

What is the plant

It is the tallest of the Gasteria species (even larger than its close relative to the east, Gasteria excelsa), with rosettes of light-green, sharp, stiff, spotted leaves, that are up to 1 meter long. The species name "acinacifolia" means "scimitar-leaves", and refers to how the smooth adult leaves curve, and end in a sharp point. The multi-branched inflorescence is often over a meter in height, with pink flowers and appears between September and December. The inflorescence is flat-topped (unlike that of Gasteria excelsa) and has racemes that spread horizontally. It can be confused with Gasteria excelsa to the east, but G.excelsa has thicker, wider, straighter, smoother, darker leaves, that have fewer spots and much sharper, heavily-serrated margins, as well as a more erectly branching inflorescence.

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Humidity

Dry

Lighting

Full Sun

Difficulty

Easy

Hibernation

Cold Period

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Like other succulents, these plants don't need much water. Allow the soil to almost completely dry out between waterings. If the plant gets rainfall outdoors, usually no supplemental watering will be necessary.
Fertilizer
Fertilize once every spring with a cactus fertilizer. Gasteria plants like a bit more organic matter in their soil than most succulents do, so mixing in a bit of compost at the time of planting can be a good idea.
Sunlight
These plants appreciate bright light but not harsh sun. Protect them from hot afternoon sunlight. White or yellow leaves can signify that the plant is getting too much sun.

Disease diagnosis

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Soil
For container plantings, use a cactus potting mix or another fast-draining potting soil mixed with a few handfuls of sand. For garden plantings, somewhat sandy soils are best to provide sufficient drainage
Temperature
Gasteria plants generally like warm summers and slightly cool winters (down to 50 degrees Fahrenheit). Frost can be deadly to the plants. During warm weather, gasteria leaves might turn a lighter, brighter color, which is perfectly natural.
Container
When potting your gasteria, choose a container that has ample drainage holes. Many gardeners prefer unglazed terra cotta pots, which allow soil moisture to evaporate through their walls.