delosperma

The delosperma they are one of the most grateful non-cacti succulents (or better known as succulents or crass plants) in the world. They grow very fast, but they stay small. And the most interesting thing is that they produce flowers with a certain kinship to daisies, although with more vivid colors.

Maintenance is very simple, so much so that, as it resists drought and multiplies easily, if you have friends or acquaintances who also like this type of plants, you can take advantage and give them the pruning remains  . Find out how to take care of it.

Origin and characteristics of the Delosperma

Our protagonists are perennial succulent plants belonging to the Aizoaceae family and the Delosperma genus, which is composed of about 100 species native to southern and eastern Africa. They grow to a maximum height of 40 centimeters, and they have fleshy, greenish leaves.

They produce flowers every spring and even in summer, measuring about 3 to 5 centimeters in diameter. The fruit is a capsule that, once opened, reveals the seeds.

Main species

The most popular and well-known are:

Delosperma cooperi

Known as pink carpet, it is a plant that is about 15 centimeters tall native to South Africa. It produces pink flowers (hence its common name in Spanish) or more lilac.

Withstands severe frosts, although it thrives best in hot climates. In the cold, the leaves turn reddish.

Delosperma Echinatum.

It is a small plant, 10 to 12cm tall, native to South Africa where it lives at an altitude of between 150 and 860 meters. It has the peculiarity that it has the margins of its leaves protected with tiny thorns. Its flowers are not very showy, small and yellow.

Delosperma ecklonis

It is a plant that reaches a height of 25 centimeters, which occurs naturally at an altitude of between 50 and 850 meters in South Africa. It grows in a dense carpet - intolerant to footprints - and produces purple flowers.

What are their cares?

If you want to have a copy, we recommend you take care of it as follows:

Location

It is a sun-loving plant, so Ideally, it should be outside, in an area that is as exposed to the sun as possible.. Of course, if they previously had it protected, get used to it little by little since otherwise its leaves would burn very quickly, and you could even lose it.

It is best to start in mid-autumn or early spring, which is when the insolation is not so strong. A good calendar to follow would be for example this:

• First week: one hour of direct light a day.
• Second week: two hours of direct light a day.
• … And thus increase the exposure time by one hour.

I know. It will take 1-2 months before the plant can be left in one place all day, but trust me, it is much better not to be in a hurry. In the end, it will have been worth it because you will have a very healthy and strong Delosperma.

Earth

As long as it has good drainage, you will have no problems. If you are going to have it in the garden, you can make a hole of about 40 x 40cm and mix the soil with 30% perlite if it is very compact; or if on the contrary you want to grow in a pot, mix universal substrate with perlite (or similar) in equal parts.

Irrigation

The frequency of watering will be low. Delosperma are plants that resist drought very well, but not waterlogging. Water only when you see that the ground is dry, avoiding wetting the leaves and flowers as otherwise they could rot.

In the event that you are going to have your specimen in a pot, it is preferable not to put any plate under it as its roots would not withstand stagnant water.

Subscriber

It is not necessary to pay it really and less if you have it in the garden, but you can do it in spring and summer with a specific fertilizer for cacti and other succulents (on sale No products found.) following the instructions specified on the package.

Multiplication

It multiplies by seeds and cuttings in spring-summer. Let's see how to proceed in each case:

Seeds

To multiply it by seeds you simply have to wait for the capsules to open to collect them and sow them in a pot or seed tray with substrate for succulents (for sale No products found.).

It is necessary to try to put them as far apart as possible and not bury them more than a little so that they can all germinate and grow well.

They will germinate in 1-2 weeks.

Cuttings

If you want to get new specimens and as quickly as possible, you just have to cut a stem cutting, remove some low leaves, and finally plant it (not nail it) in a pot with a pumice (for sale No products found.) or soil for succulents.

It will emit its own roots in about two weeks.

Planting or transplanting time

In spring, when the risk of frost has passed.

Pruning

In late winter, or in autumn if the weather is mild. Trim the stems that you see that have grown too long, and remove those that are broken or dry.

Rusticity

It resists frosts of up to -18ºC.

Where to buy Delosperma?

It is a plant that you find easy in nurseries and garden stores. But if you have problems, you can buy it from here: