Argyroderma testiculare

Argyroderma testiculare Care

Argyroderma testiculare

What is the plant

African native "living stones" first capture attention with their hilarious name. Later they fascinate with their blooming beauty and uniqueness.

Argyroderma testiculare is a small, perennial succulent that originated from the northwest of South Africa. It belongs to a large Aizoaceae family, well-known as stone plants and carpet weeds.

It is a single pair of leaves, although it can branch and form short columns. The leaves are half-ovoid, length 25—35 mm, width 15—25 mm, the gap at the apex 4—10 mm. The color of the leaves is dark green; eventually, they get yellow and later black with age.

The flowers can be pink, white, or yellow, but a deep purple hue with a yellow center is the most common. The petals are long and slim. Blooming in habitat starts mostly in August (in nature, it begins during winter rains in the southern hemisphere).

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Part Sun

Hardiness zone

9 - 9

Difficulty

Easy

How to Care for the Plant

Water
As a succulent, Argyroderma testiculare is drought-tolerant and needs moderate watering. Overwatering is especially dangerous during winter. Water the plant when the soil is dry to the touch.
Pruning
Pruning is not required.
Fertilizer
Fertilize this plant once a month with a cactus diluted fertilizer. Once the flowering starts, you should stop and begin again when the growth appears.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
Due to African origin, Argyroderma testiculare thrives best under the full sun with partial shade. South windows will be a great solution. Do not place it in complete shade: the plant will definitely not be happy about it.
Soil
Argyroderma testiculare prefers loamy soil, so a cactus potting mix works just fine.
Propagation
This plant can be propagated by seeds. They germinate in 7—14 days. Also, it can be propagated by division when clumps have formed.

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Temperature
Due to the place of origin Argyroderma testiculare prefers 65ºF—75ºF (18—24ºC) and no lower than 50ºF (10ºC).
Container
This plant requires a low and wide container with drainage holes in the bottom, preferably clay pots. There also should be a good drainage layer.
Fun fact
The plant's name originated from Latin "testicularis", "testiculare" because it is shaped like testicles.