Do you like succulents? Me too. There are so many! But undoubtedly one of the easiest to maintain is the Aeonium arboreumof which there are other varieties and cultivars, such as ‘Atropurpureum’, which has brown leaves, or ‘Nigrum’, which has almost black leaves.
In addition, they multiply very well by cuttings. They root very well, grow fairly quickly, and as if that weren’t enough, they aren’t too demanding. Now, if you want to show off your plant, then I’ll explain what caring for the Aeonium arboreum.
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what does he need Aeonium arboreum?
Image – Wikimedia/H. Zelle
Our protagonist is a succulent plant, or if you want a non-cacti succulent plant to differentiate it from cacti (remember that cacti are also succulents), native to Morocco, but it can be grown anywhere where summer temperatures are high and those in the winter is not extreme. In other words, what this plant needs most is heat. It will withstand the cold with no problem, and even a few very light frosts, but only if it is kept in a sheltered place..
Likewise, we will have to plant it in sandy soil, which is able to absorb and filter water quickly. And it is that apart from the extreme cold, what he dreads the most is having his roots waterlogged. That’s why it’s so good in places like the Mediterranean region, for example, since in many parts of that region – like the city where I live – it only rains a few days a year.
But what else do you need? Of course, when he grows up, he will need someone to give him the care that I am going to tell you about now.
How do you take care of Aeonium arboreum?
It is a simple to maintain crass, ideal for beginners. So let’s talk about your care in detail:
Where should it be placed: outdoors or indoors?
Based on my own experience not only do I advise having it outside, but I will also tell you that it must be had in an area where there is sun all day long.
When kept indoors, it often happens that it withers, that is, its stem begins to grow very much in the direction of the strongest light source. But in doing so, it weakens, loses strength and can break.
For this reason, It will only be kept indoors if it freezes over the winter. And yet, it will be placed in a room where there are windows that let in lots and lots of light.
In a pot or in the ground?
Image – Wikimedia/James Steakley
If the ground lends itself to it, you can plant it wherever you want. Just keep in mind that the pot should have holes in its base, and if winters are very cold in your area, you will need to bring it indoors, so it will be more convenient to keep it in a container.
And by the way as a substrate it is possible to use, for example, a specific for cacti and succulents (on sale here), or mix black peat with perlite in equal parts. Even if you want to have it in the garden but the soil you have is very compact, make a hole of about 40 x 40 centimeters, cover the sides -except the base- with a shade net, then put about 20 centimeters of clay (on sale here), and finally cactus substrate.
When should it be watered?
As it is very resistant to drought, will only be watered when the soil is dry. This means that in summer it will be watered once or twice a week, but in winter the waterings will be spaced out because the soil remains moist much longer.
In any case, if in doubt, always check the humidity by inserting a stick, as we show in this video:
When should it be paid?
Like I said, he really likes the heat, and that’s for a reason: because with it he can grow bigger. And clear, if we are going to pay it, we will have to do it during the growth period, because that’s when you can get the most out of it. This season begins when the lowest temperature is around 15 ºC and ends in autumn or winter as soon as the cold returns, that is, when the thermometer begins to show 10 ºC or less.
Now, what fertilizer to use? Can be fertilized with succulent fertilizer, but it must be taken into account that the instructions for use must be followed; that is, we cannot take the dose we want, but only the one indicated by the container.
How does it reproduce?
Although this can be done by seed in the spring, which will be sown in pots with substrate for succulents, it is much easier to do it by stem cuttings, also in spring or at the latest in summer. To do this, just cut one and plant it in a pot with the substrate I just mentioned, and water it. Put it in a sunny place, and go watering from time to time.
You will see that, more or less, in about 14 days it will start to take root.
What pests do you usually have?
The truth is that it is quite resistant. However, you may have mealybugs, which are well removed with diatomaceous earth. But even if it can greatly weaken you, these are the snails and slugs those that cause the most damage, especially if you are still very young.
What is its resistance to cold?
Withstands light frosts down to -2ºC. But be careful: I am talking about very occasional frosts (meaning they happen maybe once or twice throughout the winter) and of short duration. If your area tends to freeze frequently, it’s best to keep it indoors.
And you, do you have any?