Mother of pearl (Graptopetalum paraguayense)

La Paraguayan Graptopetalum it is one of the succulent or non-cactaceous succulent species that are best adapted to living in pots, and one of those that multiplies more easily. The pink or green-pink color of its leaves make it a really beautiful plant, which stands out without problems among the typical green color that the rest usually have.

If we talk about its maintenance, we will be without a doubt before a species suitable for beginners, as it resists drought very well, and light frosts do not harm it. You can even enjoy it in a bright room or interior patio  .

Origin and characteristics of Paraguayan Graptopetalum

It is a succulent popularly known as graptopétalo, mother of pearl plant or ghost plant, native to Mexico. It develops more or less conical and very thin stems -1cm in diameter-, from which fleshy, triangular leaves of green-pink or pink color sprout. Produces star-shaped white flowers in spring.

It has a total height that does not exceed 15-20 centimeters; however, its stems tend to branch, so that an adult specimen might need a pot of at least 20 centimeters in diameter.

How do you take care of yourself?

If you want to have a copy, we recommend that you provide it with the following care:

Location

• Exterior: grows both in full sun and in semi-shade. If you choose to expose it to the star king, get used to it little by little and gradually, since otherwise it would burn and its leaves would fall.
• Interior: the room must be bright, that is, it must be seen well during the day without having to turn on the light bulb.

Earth

• Pots: you can use any of these:
  • Universal substrate (for sale No products found.) mixed with equal parts perlite
  • Akadama with 30% Universal Substrate
  • Akadama 100% (for sale No products found.)
  • Cheek with 30% universal substrate
  • Pumice 100%
  • Cactus soil (for sale No products found.)
  • Fine gravel (about 3mm) mixed with 20-30% universal substrate
• Garden: it must be of the sandy type, so that the drainage is excellent. Being a small plant, you can plant it first in a large pot, about 30cm, and then bury it in a hole in the garden.

Irrigation

During the summer you will appreciate 1-2 irrigations a week, but the rest of the year it will be enough to water it once every 15 days or so. In winter, especially if there is frost in your area, water very, very little, only when the soil is completely dry and the temperature stays above 5ºC.

In addition, it is necessary that, if you have it in a pot, you do not put a plate under it, unless you are going to remember to remove the water that is left over twenty minutes after watering. You should also avoid wetting the leaves and flowers, otherwise they will rot.

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Throughout the growing season, that is, from spring to late summer, it is highly recommended to fertilize the Graptopetalum paraguayense with a fertilizer for succulents (for sale No products found.) following the directions on the package.

Multiplication

It multiplies by seeds and cuttings in spring. Let's know how to do it:

Seeds

The seeds are sown in pots that are wider than they are tall, with holes for drainage, filled with substrate. Then, it is watered and the seeds are placed on the surface, ensuring that they are not piled up. In this sense, the ideal is always better to put a few in many containers, than many in a few.

Finally, they are covered with a thin layer of substrate, or with previously washed river sand, and the seedbeds are placed outside, or in a bright interior near a heat source.

They will germinate in an average of 10-15 days.

Cuttings

It is the most reliable method to obtain new copies of Paraguayan Graptopetalum. And the simplest. Just You have to cut a stem with leaves, let the wound dry for about 7 days in semi-shade protected from possible rains that may fall, and after that time plant it in a pot cactus soil or with a mixture of peat and perlite in equal parts.

Placing it in an area protected from direct sun, and keeping the substrate always slightly damp, it will emit its own roots in about 15 to 20 days.

Plagues and diseases

It is vulnerable to attack by mealybugs, especially the cottony ones. During the summer they are especially active, so that is when you can find them the most. Treat them with an anti-cochineal insecticide (on sale No products found.), or with diatomaceous earth (for sale No products found.).

Another option is to remove them with a brush or cotton soaked in pharmacy alcohol  . And by the way, be very careful with snails and slugs: they love to eat leaves and stems of succulent plants! Here's how to repel or eliminate them:

Planting or transplanting time

En spring, when the frosts have passed.

Rusticity

Resists weak frosts up to -2ºC.

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