Lenopetalum Chocolate and Strawberries is an eye-catching plant that belongs to the Crassulaceae family. It is a hybrid cross between Lenophyllum and Graptopetalum, native to South America and Mexico. This stunning plant has chocolate-coloured leaves that are variegated with a lovely strawberry pink to red on the leaf tips and margins, creating a unique and fascinating coloration.
Lenopetalum Chocolate and Strawberries has a branched habit and forms many rosettes of leaves. The rosette is oval, crowded, and slightly pointed, with fleshy leaves that are dark purple-red tinged with black, mainly at the apex of the leaves. The plant produces a cymose inflorescence that is composed of numerous and crowded star-shaped flowers with five bright yellow petals, creating a beautiful contrast with the reddish-black of the leaves below. As a hybrid, the flowers are sterile and do not produce fertile seeds, making this plant even more rare and unique.
This slow-growing plant is easy to cultivate, needing a full light sun exposure but avoiding direct sunlight in the hottest periods. It doesn't like temperatures below 8°C and should be placed indoors in the coldest periods. The soil should be mixed with pumice, clay, and loam to allow drainage and prevent root rot, a common issue with this plant. Using a perforated pot to drain excess water is recommended. During the vegetative period, the plant should be watered regularly in Spring and Summer, every 7 days, checking that the soil is completely dry before watering again. In winter, watering should stop to allow the plant to enter dormancy. Fertilizing the plant once a month during the growing season with specific fertilizers for succulents will result in faster and lush growth, but fertilizing should stop throughout the winter.
Lenopetalum Chocolate and Strawberries can reach a maximum height of around 10cm to 15cm and is quite hardy and compact, making it perfect for small pots. If the pot becomes too small for the plant, repotting can be done early in the growing season with fresh new potting soil, increasing the pot size by 2cm. Red spiders and mealy bugs are common pests that can be avoided with proper care and attention.
Propagation of Lenopetalum Chocolate and Strawberries can only be done by cutting, making the cut during spring, letting the cutting dry for a few days, and then placing it in a mixture of sand, soil, and pumice. To increase the success of propagation, two or more cuttings can be made at the same time, with temperatures around 20°C recommended for the process.
In summary, Lenopetalum Chocolate and Strawberries is a unique and rare hybrid with stunning variegation, making it a real gem for collectors. Its fascinating coloration resembles the unmistakable coloring of chocolate and strawberry, hence its name. It is perfect for decorating any location in an original way, giving it extremely original tones. Its beauty and ease of cultivation make it a plant that can be enjoyed by both experienced and novice gardeners alike.
Lenopetalum Chocolate and Strawberries Plants for sale shown in 70mm pot. You will receive same or similar plants as those shown in images. First image for display only. Colours will vary depending on time of year and growing conditions.
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Please Note:
All plants are sent bare rooted with no pots and soil, or minimum soil only.
Due to the drying process necessary for sending plants through the mail, plants may look slightly different than images shown on our website
Some plants, may look wrinkled when they arrive, may be somewhat limp, or soft to the touch. This is normal as they have been dried out for for a number of days before shipping to avoid rotting in the mail.
Succulents are very hardy plants and they will recover quickly, providing you unpack them as soon as you receive them follow some simple care instructions you will find with your order.
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