About me

About me
🌿 I've been gardening ever since a child, when I spent time with my father in his vegetable garden. But my fascination with Echeverias started in the 1980's, when my father gave me a pot with five Echeverias, which turned out to be E. imbricata. At first I wasn't much interested in them and planted them in some obscure corner of the garden and completely forgot about them. How great was my surprise when, a couple of months later, I noticed that they had spread and made a beautiful display - I was hooked!

Sunday 16 February 2014

Gasteria

Gasteria armstrongii

Gasteria is a genus of succulent plants native to South Africa. Closely related genera include Aloe and Haworthia.

Members of the Gasteria genus, named for their stomach shaped flowers, generally prefer no supplementary water during winter, and regular, but not excessive watering for the rest of the year. The majority of species prefer light shade and should be protected from direct sunlight and frost. In the wild they tend to grow under other plants for shelter from the elements but mine are mostly in pots so I bring them inside every winter because of our heavy frost.


Gasteria armstrongii is vulnerable, occurring in a popular farming region. It is also only known from a few sites along the Gamtoos River in the Eastern Cape. Although it is well camouflaged and difficult to find, it is threatened by collectors and ploughing. Plants grow on a flat terrain in Renosterveld vegetation. The plant has been well established in cultivation (ex situ preservation) and is grown by succulent plant enthusiasts all over the world.


 Gasteria are prolific pup-makers and here I have transplanted a few into another bowl.

 A few of my Gasterias on a plant-stand on my patio in summer

 Some Gasterias over-wintering inside in my flower room

Gasterias don't seem to mind whether they get watered or not. They withstand drought easily and are just as happy if flooded with a lot of water. I must confess I have this tendency to kill my plants with lots of "love" in the form of too much watering, but the Gasterias have withstood this onslaught with happy faces!

.
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...