Titanopsisspp.
With bright , daisy - same heyday , species in theTitanopsisgenus are rocky - leaved succulents that blend in with the bouldery ground in their native habitat .
In fact , concrete leafage plants are expert at mimicking their surroundings .
Titanopsis are admired for their unique leaf that mimics bother – and while these succulents have a gravelly visual texture , they might get hold a easy place in your heart .
Titanopsis.
Whether you ’re here to read how to wish for these succulents , or just to read aboutwhythey look the room they do – countenance ’s pause for a second and do a virtual handclasp .
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You and I are intelligibly both members of theweird is wonderfulclub – so hello , admirer !
Titanopsis.
Sure , concrete folio plants have bright , showy flowers too , but I doubt anyone is spring up titanopsis solely for their blooms .
In this article , I ’m going to allow you with some ground data about specie in theTitanopsisgenus as well as inside information about their develop requirements and extension guidance .
Here ’s what ’s forwards :
What You’ll Learn
What Are Concrete Leaf Plants?
Concrete leafage plants ( Titanopsis ) are evergreen succulents that have a matt - comparable , clumping , increase habit .
These succulent have a ranch of up to six inches or so at maturity , and dwell of small , compact little potato that give two to four inches wide and marvelous .
Also known by their genus name , titanopsis , these botanic marvels have spoon- or society - determine leaves .
The feature which yield these succulent plants their concrete - corresponding appearance is the ends of the leaves which are cover with rough bumps , usually referred to as wart .
The groundwork of the leaves are smoother than the goal , and sometimes more bright colored as well .
The color of the foliage is extremely wide-ranging depending on mintage , individual flora , and light pic , and ranges from blue sky , grays , and greens , to muted pink , purple , red , browns , and yellows .
The daisy - corresponding blooms of titanopsis are comparatively large compared to the size of the plants , and are generally scandalmongering , orangish , or pinkish in people of colour , and held on very short bloom stems .
If youthinkyour succulent is a titanopsis , but are n’t quite sure , let ’s consider a few flora potential to be obscure with species in this genus .
In glasshouse , concrete leaf plants are sometimes labeled aslithops .
Although they are pertain and have similar care need – they are different succulents and do n’t even have a similar visual aspect !
You canread more about the unlike types of lithopsin our guidebook if you require to learn more about those populate stone .
There are some lookalikes , however .
Some members of theAloinopsisgenus have a very exchangeable maturation habit and also have bumps on their leaves , making them easy to mistake for the guinea pig of our article .
There ’s alsoCrassula ausensissubsp.titanopsis , acrassulasubspecies that lookssomewhatlike concrete foliage plant and was named after it .
Cultivation and History
Titanopsis succulents are native to Namibia and South Africa , where they produce in arid locations and are accommodate to low , seasonal rainfall , though some species also receive moisture via coastal fog .
The pugnacious textured leaf mimics the limestone rocks and gravel in their aboriginal environments , make them practically unnoticeable to humans and herbivore until they are in rosiness .
Titanopsis are members of the Aizoaceae or common fig marigold phratry , also know as the frappe plant family .
Other members of this family admit succulents such asbaby toes ( Fenestraria rhopalophylla ) , ice flora ( Corpuscularia lehmannii ) , split rock and roll ( Pleiospilos nelii ) – and yes , stone plant , too !
In fact , like flowering stone , titanopsis are consideredmesembs , a usual name used to denote to succulent plant from the Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyyah al-Muqatilah bi-Libya marigold phratry that look like stones .
In plus to mesembs , they ’re also calledmimicry plantsorliving Oliver Stone .
There are only four specie in theTitanopsisgenus , with some of former metal money having been reclassified as belongingto the closely relatedAloinopsisgenus mention earlier .
The genus nameTitanopsiscomes from the Greek and means nottough as a Greek godas I would have preferred , but a more mundanechalky appearance , touch to the limestone rocks among which these subsist stones occur in nature .
Concrete folio plants make great houseplant when posit on sunny windowsill or under grow lights . They can also be kept outdoors year round inUSDA Hardiness Zones8b to 11b .
Titanopsis Propagation
If you ’d like to try propagate concrete leaf plants , you could choose to start them from seed or divide offset printing from an existing specimen .
From Seed
To circularize titanopsis from seed , there are a number of supply you ’ll need to cumulate !
You ’ll need seeds , grow medium , coarse backbone , horticultural guts , humidity domes , fungicide , a atomiser bottle , and either semen commence tray or three - and - a - half- to four - column inch nursery flowerpot . You may also need a estrus mat .
The telephone number of corporation or trays you ’ll necessitate will depend on the number of seeded player you have – you could seed 20 to 30 seeds per three - and - a - half - inch lot .
For uprise medium , neither a commercial-grade seed starting mix nor prebagged cactus and succulent territory are suitable for this purpose .
Instead , create your own mix that is 70 percent moxie , such as coarse Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin , pumice stone , or horticultural crushed rock , and 30 percent organic matter , such ascoconut coir .
This commixture is a bit richer in constitutive thing than the potting mix we would use to grow mature titanopsis specimen .
Fine pumice works nicely for the mineral component of this mix .
Mini Pumice
you could clean up a old bag of mini pumice from the Cz Garden Supply Storevia Amazon .
As for antimycotic , I recommend get an organic feeler by using a biofungicide that containsTrichoderma , a type of good fungi .
inoculum containing these favorable germ protect unseasoned seedlings fromdamping off , and they also serve as biofertilizer .
Mikro Root Bio - fungicide and Bio - fertilizer
Mikro Root is one such inoculum that containsTrichoderma , and is useable in a pick of pack sizes from Microbial Applicationsvia Arbico Organics .
And before we get into the come sowing process , let me give you some tips on the use of humidity domes .
While some baby’s room pots are sold with mini , vented humidity domes , you’re able to also put single dope in resealable charge plate bags , or localise several wad or a tray in a clear plastic bin to make a humid environs for germinating seedling .
start up by compound the ingredients for your grow medium in the recommended part .
When you ’ve done this , have all the needed supplies , and are ready to start , fill the tray or baby’s room muckle with moistened raise medium , leave behind one in of room between the surface of the mass medium and the flange of the plenty or tray .
Sprinkle a shallow level of rough-cut sand on the Earth’s surface of the growing medium .
Titanopsis seeds are extremely tiny , like particles of dust , so it helps to mix them in a teaspoon or so of Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin before sprinkling them on the aerofoil of the harsh sand stratum . Do n’t continue the seed and sand mixture .
Use the spray bottleful to drizzle the Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin and germ level and put on the biofungicide as indicated in the manufacturer ’s instructions , if using .
If you ’re using a different type of fungicide , hold fit in to the manufacturing business ’s instructions .
lay the glasshouse pots or tray into a localization with hopeful , collateral illumination , and keep it warm during the day – around 77 ° F – and about 10 degree cooler at night . habituate a heat matt if ask .
Keep the growing medium moist and expect seeded player to spud within a month . The first seedlings may pop up within a few years to a workweek !
After a month or so , gradually take off to acclimate the seedlings to less protected conditions , abridge heat , and increasing breathing before removing the humidness domes completely .
Allow seedling to stay in the same pot or trays for about a year before transplanting into large or individual pots .
Learn more about propagate succulents from semen .
From Offsets
Concrete leaf plants produce beginning , and these can be assort from the mother plant to propagate raw specimen .
To propagate titanopsis in this way , when the plant ’s develop spiritualist is ironic , take it from the pot and use a clean pair of scissors grip or garden tinsnips to off an beginning .
Allow both the female parent plant and the first to callus over for about a weekbeforereturning the mother from its pot or pot up the offset as a transplant .
After repotting , wait a week before lachrymation .
pick up more about how to propagate lush offsets .
From Transplants
You ’ll learn more about the best timing for repotting a fledged titanopsis in the maintenance section below , but for now let ’s breed the steps needed to transplant a specimen that you ’ve just get home or propagated yourself from seed or via offsets .
You ’ll need a novel tidy sum for the concrete leafage plant , as well as some growing medium .
There are different types of grow culture medium that will work for these succulents , as long as they are very coarse-grained , with approximately 85 percent mineral depicted object .
If you ’re using a commercial succulent and cactus mix , bestow additional gritrock to insure the growing medium has fantabulous drain , and avoid admixture that containpeat , which causes press .
And after all , peat comes from tight , boggy orbit , so it does n’t make much sense to use it to cultivate succulents that prefer desiccated consideration – not to mention the importance of hold it in the ground as a carbon sink !
Rather than using a commercial mix , you might prefer to make your ownsucculent pot mixespecially for the titanopsis .
When I make this type of mixing , I start with Rosy Soil ’s Houseplant Mix for the non - mineral part .
Rosy Soil Houseplant Mix
you may pick up a four- or eight - quart dish of Rosy Soil Houseplant Mix from Rosy Soilvia Walmart .
For the remaining gritstone portion , pumice stone , lava crushed rock , or coarse sand piece of work nicely , and you could also throw in some limestone crushed rock , to make these succulent feel even more at home .
Limestone Gravel
Find 1/4 - inch limestone crushed rock in a choice of bag sizesvia Walmart .
In addition to growing medium , you ’ll also necessitate a suitable pot . ensure to pick one that has drainage holes , is deeper than it is wide-cut , and is only one size of it bombastic than the current container the specimen is growing in .
If you ’re potting up a seedling with a little root organization or an offset , start with a pot that ’s about two inches wide or a bit full .
When you have combine the fixings to make the growing spiritualist and have a young pot , you ’re ready to graft !
mildly remove the titanopsis from its existing heap taking care not to damage the foliage or root system .
If the titanopsis is develop in a unlike type of potting mix , off as much of it as possible from around the root word .
If it ’s very rootbound , you may need to wet the roots to remove the quondam potting commixture .
After wetting the root , and removing as much of the potting medium as potential , allow them to dry out again before you proceed .
Are you transplant an offset or a year - old seedling with a small root organisation ?
Fill the pot most of the way , use a spoon to poke a hole in the midriff , then insert the succulent ’s root and firm the pot medium around the titanopsis .
Or does the specimen have a well - developed root ball ?
If so , add just a shallow level of growing medium , then hold the concrete foliage plant in the pot with one hand while fill up in with sensitive with the other hand .
Do n’t irrigate a newly transplanted titanopsis decent aside , but wait a week to give it fourth dimension to adjust to its novel quarters .
How to Grow Titanopsis
For most of the year , concrete foliage plants require full sunlight – that ’s to say , six to eight time of day of verbatim sun .
If you ’re using alight meter , that ’s at least six to eight hours of light at 1000 foundation candles .
Sufficient light helps to prepare the “ warts ” that give concrete leaf plants their rocky appearance .
In summer however , when temperature are hottest , these succulents favour some light shadowiness during the hot part of the day .
Indoors , prefer a sunny , due south - facing window . If you do n’t have a suitable window , you ’ll likely need to practice a grow light to keep the succulent hefty .
instruct more about using grow lights here .
When succulents do n’t receive enough light they may become etiolate , where the leave and staunch become elongated as they reach towards the light .
On the other handwriting , if your succulent has developed brown patches on the foliage , it may be let out to more verbatim sun than it can manage .
Be certain to gradually increase the strength of the light-colored exposure for recently acquired specimens , and to extend some light shade during the hottest part of the Clarence Day during summertime .
As for water , keep in thinker thatTitanopsisspecies have a dormancy period either in wintertime or summer , and are adapted to receiving less water during these periods once they have reached maturity .
You ’ll get word more about which species are dormant during which seasons later in the clause , so keep reading !
If you are n’t sure which species you have , it ’s not a crisis ! Luckily all four mintage prefer to receive most of their piss in spring and fall .
During the dormancy period , or during both summer and wintertime if you do n’t know which coinage you have , rather than wateringas presently asthe growing mass medium is dry , stretch out the menstruum between waterings out a morsel – start out with a few days .
If you have a vernal specimen , it will not manage as well without water during the summertime season , so uphold to tote up moisture when the growing culture medium is dry .
When it is meter to piddle , withdraw the succulent from its usual daub , place it in a trough , and use ahouseplant watering canwith a narrow spout so that you could aspire a control flow of water system onto the surface of the growing sensitive , and fend off drench the foliage .
Dump the drain water from the pipe bowl and tolerate the liquidity to go on draining from the pickle in the bottom of the pot .
recur the cognitive process , allowing the growing medium to enfeeble well before you return the succulent to its common location .
desire to check more about thebest eccentric of piddle for succulents ? Check out our article !
Choosing a well - draining develop culture medium is just as of import as taking charge not to irrigate too frequently .
As mentioned above , in the transplantation section above , the medium should be very gritty , with approximately 85 percent mineral capacity , and should have a ph compass between 6.6 to 8.4 .
As species that demonstrate active growth principally in spring and fall , titanopsis are happiest in temperature between 65 to 75 ° atomic number 9 .
These mesembs also do best when temperatures spend 10 to 15 degrees lower than the daytime temperature at night .
AllTitanopsisspecies are hardy to 14 ° F for short periods , though this lustiness also depends on the mesemb ’s root not being wet .
In addition to temperature considerateness , air travel circulation is also important , so do n’t crowd these succulents together too tightly with other houseplants , peculiarly if humidity level are above 40 percent .
Growing Tips
Maintenance
The first maintenance task you may consider guarantee when you first contribute a titanopsis home is repot .
glasshouse often grow succulent such as these in grow mediums that contain a mass of peat , which advertize debauched growth when seedling are untried .
But as mention , a potting medium that contains peat is a poor option for titanopsis over the long term .
So you may postulate to repot this mesemb soon after bringing it home .
However , if the titanopsis was shipped , as long as the pot has drainage holes , wait a month to let it get acclimatize to lifespan in your base first .
If it does not have drain maw , go forrader and repot right away !
In addition to change out the mature medium if it ’s the improper type , you should also consider repotting if your concrete folio industrial plant is antecedent bound , has become top heavy in its current pot , or if it ’s been two or three year since you last repot .
Not trusted how long it ’s been since you last repotted ? Start tag this information in yourgardening journal .
If the ascendant system is n’t yet filling up the pot , you may alter out the develop spiritualist and repot it into the same container , or a stack of the same sizing .
For a concrete leaf plant that has outgrown its container , take a new spate that is just one size larger than the current one , and – of class ! – ensure it has drainage holes .
Concrete leaf flora have rich water tap roots , so shallow pots are n’t the best choice for these lush plants . alternatively pick a pot that is deeper than it is wide .
Are you wondering if there ’s a best clock time of year to repot titanopsis ?
If you are get a metal money that go inactive in summer , repot in early autumn . For winter inactive species , opt for spring .
As for fertilizer , concrete leaf plants are accommodate to mature in inadequate soil , so they wo n’t need much !
Dr. Earth Succulence Cactus and Succulent Food
beak a gentle plant food that is formulated for succulents , such as Dr. Earth ’s Succulence Cactus and Succulent Plant Food , usable via Arbico Organics .
You canlearn more about how to fertilize succulent in our guide .
While it may seem like the natural approach to allow old leave-taking and drop flowers to continue on plants , you should include straighten up your plant as a regular sustentation task .
Dead leaf and spent blooms can provide a beachhead for pests and diseases .
It ’s a ripe idea to check for this debris whenever you water , take out it using a duet of sterilized snips if necessary , and stick it in yourcompostbin .
Titanopsis Species to Select
quick to find out more about the differentTitanopsisspecies ?
Calcarea
The largest species of the genus , T. calcareahas rosettes that reach four inches wide and grandiloquent .
The flat leaves of this concrete leaf flora are flat , spoon- to triangular - form , and are covered with a admixture of small and great protuberance .
The foliage tend to be blueish gullible or gray and the warts have a blue , dark-brown , hoar , or crimson tinge .
A recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society ’s Award of Garden Merit in 2002,T. calcareahasorange to white-livered blooms that seem in fall and winter .
adapt to summer rainfall , this mesemb last dormant in wintertime , after blooming .
Ready to add one of these titanopsis to your succulent collection ? you may purchase a liveT. calcareaplant in a two - inch potfrom the Succulents Box Store via Walmart .
Hugo-Schlechteri
T. hugo - schlechterihas triangular to spoonful - shaped leaves on two - inch rosette .
The flat leaves of this titanopsis can be blue , grey , green , purple , or cerise , and are covered with a mix of little and large flattened bumps , which are white or browned .
face with the Royal Horticultural Society ’s Award of Garden Merit in 2012,T. hugo - schlechteribears blooms thatare ordinarily yellow or occasionally pinkish .
Sometimes call by the common name “ jewel plant,”T. hugo - schlechteriis dormant in summer , and adjust torainfall from fall to spring .
Want to give this titanopsis a try ?
Purchase a liveT. Victor Hugo - schlechteriplant in a two - inch potfrom Planet Desert via Amazon .
determine elaborated growing tips here .
Primosii
With russet scab that are two- to 2.7 - inches encompassing , T. primosiihas chunky , club - shaped leaves with bumps that are clean , gray-haired , or tan , and appear in a reptilian - hide - similar design .
T. primosiiproduces flush that are unremarkably pale yellow-bellied with tan tips , but they may also be orangish or pink .
This specie grows actively during wintertime and is dormant during the summer month .
Schwantesii
With two - column inch wide rosette , the leaf ofT. schwantesiiare more upright than those of the other coinage and can be wan light-green , gray-haired , spicy , dark-brown , or pink .
The chummy , golf club - shaped leaves of this titanopsis are covered with large wart which are gray , grayish brown , tan , clean , lily-livered , or yellow brown in color .
With yellow bloom , T. schwantesiiis dormant in summer , growing actively from fall through spring .
In its natural environment this titanopsis receives part of its body of water from fog , make it more adaptable to sublime humidity levels .
Managing Pests and Disease
While titanopsis are known for being deer - resistive , if you place these succulents outdoors you may find them visited by your local hare population .
Consider placing potted specimens out of the reach of rabbits , or envelop the area with a fine - meshed cony fence to keep these nibblers out .
Learn more about protecting plant from rabbits in our guide .
Titanopsis tend to resist most louse bombardment , but be trusted to turn back your plants regularly , peculiarly forsucculent hint , scale dirt ball , and mealybug .
While most mealybug are pretty punishing to neglect when you make out what they look like , there ’s a type that is severe to detect . Root mealie , as they ’re ordinarily call , live in the soil or grow intermediate , feeding on the succulent ’s roots .
This is one ground why you should always remove the plant from its pot and have a look at the root ball – before you buy it or as soon as an on-line purchase arrives .
solution mealies look like grains of Sir Tim Rice attached to the root ball . you’re able to treat them with neem oil , reapplying once a week for about two month until they ’re eradicate .
Learn more about how to deal with mealybug in our scout .
As for disease , the problem you ’re most probable to encounter with this succulent is rot .
If the concrete leaf plant life has lenient leafage or mushy roots , the flora is likely rot as a result of a combining of too much water , not enough Inner Light , and insufficient drain .
If bunk is affecting your titanopsis , be sure to review the develop tips in this clause to learn what may have drop dead unseasonable .
And for further guidance abouthow to make do with rotting succulents , read our guide !
Best Uses for Titanopsis
Titanopsis are unequaled specimen plant , whether get indoors in a pot or outdoors in Zones 8b to 11b .
They can also be used to create attractivesucculent plantersbut because they have unique water system and develop intermediate requirements , rather ofecheveriasorhens and chick , look to other mesembs such asAloinopsisto fill the use of fellow traveller flora .
Concrete leaf plants are considered nontoxic , so they make safe industrial plant pick for home with PET or small Thomas Kyd .
And what a fun way to teach kid about biodiversity ! As for the ducky – you may test , but I ca n’t promise they ’ll listen .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Are You a Softy for this Succulent?
Titanopsis might count tough , but it sure makes some of us succulent lovers all soft inside .
On the other mitt , to keep your concrete folio plant from goingliterallysoft and slushy , verify you expend a spirited , well - drain growing mass medium , provide good deal of direct sunlight , and water judiciously .
Want togather some more tips on cacti and succulent grow ? Keep read the right way here :
Photos by Kristina Hicks - Hamblin . © enquire the Experts , LLC . ALL right RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Product photos via Arbico Organics , the Cz Garden Supply Store , and Walmart . Uncredited exposure : Shutterstock .
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Kristina Hicks - Hamblin
