Distinctive features of the plant, rules for caring for glottiphyllum, reproduction of a succulent, difficulties in cultivation, interesting facts, species. Glottiphyllum (Glottiphyllum) refers to plants belonging to the Aizoaceae family, or as it is also called Aizovye, ranked in the order of Carnation (Caryophyllales). Even a seasoned botanist is surprised by the number of different forms that representatives of this family take. Also eye-catching is the bright petals of flowers, which stand out favorably against the background of the leaves. It is for this that the specimens of the flora of this related association are popularly called "living stones". And if we take the translation of the name of the genus glottiphyllum, then it means - "Lingual leaf", apparently, this reflects the contours of the leaf plates and this is indicated by the Latin components of the botanical name of the succulent - "glotta", translated as "language", and "phyllon" means "leaf". The family includes up to 11 genera, although until 2013 there were up to 60 varieties.
Basically, all plants that belong to the Aizoon are distributed mostly in the south and southwest of the African continent, they are most represented in the Cape Province (South Africa) and they especially love the lands of the Karoo plateau. There are also semi-desert areas, penetrated by the channels of drying rivulets. The amount of precipitation falling annually in these areas is low, equal to 100–300 mm. However, the soils there are fertile, although in a physiological sense they are dry. Temperature indicators in these territories during the night fall to zero degrees.
So, glottiphyllum is a perennial that is highly succulent (a plant that grows in very dry lands and is capable of accumulating moisture in its stems and leaves, which helps to survive dry periods). Its stem is dichotomously (forked) branched. The height of some varieties reaches only 10-15 cm and, growing, they form colorful clumps (whole ground cover "carpet" colonies). When a plant is very young, then it has only one pair of leaves, and over time they form up to several dozen daughter rosettes. The growth rate of a "living stone" is very low.
Leaf plates are usually placed in two rows or cross-like. Their shape is rounded, cylindrical. The apex is flattened and slightly bent, which is similar to a long tongue. The color of the leaves varies from bright green to dark emerald, almost black. Many species are mottled on the surface. If the plant is under direct streams of sunlight for a long time, then the leaf plates begin to acquire a reddish tone.
Flowers grow singly, pedicel is short (4–6 cm) or absent. Large buds, blooming in diameter, reach 7-8 cm. Often their petals are shiny, with a yellow, golden-yellow or orange color scheme, very rarely white flowers appear. The shape of the petals is elongated, elongated, somewhat similar to dandelion flowers. In the center of the bud, stamens grow, collected in a bunch. They can have both thin pedicels and sessile growth. The flowers have a delicate scent. The flowering process twice a year, this time falls on the month of July and repeats at the beginning of the autumn period. After flowering is completed, the fruit ripens in the form of a box with numerous valves, where small seeds are placed. The color of the seeds is brown.
Agrotechnics when growing glottiphyllum, care
- Lighting and location selection. A succulent plant loves good lighting, and it is recommended to grow it on the windows of a southern location, or on any other with constant supplementary lighting. It is necessary to accustom the plant to direct sunlight gradually.
- Temperature of the "tongue-shaped leaf" content. This succulent is grown in the spring-summer period mainly at room temperatures of 20-25 degrees, but if we take into account that glottiphyllum grows in the natural environment in areas with high heat indices, then it can survive with a short-term increase in the thermometer. During the autumn-winter period, it is recommended to lower the temperature to 12-16 degrees and even lower. At elevated temperatures and minimal lighting, the stems stretch out.
- Watering glottyphyllum. With the onset of the growing season (it lasts throughout the spring and summer), it will be necessary to water the soil well, but since the plant is a succulent, the soil flooding has a negative effect. It is necessary to water the soil when it is half dry in the pot. In the winter months, however, such humidification should be rare, but regular.
- Air humidity. Since this is a native of those territories where rainfall is rare, dry air does not harm the succulent at home either.
- Fertilizers it is recommended to apply using fertilizing for succulents or cacti, and the dosage indicated by the manufacturer does not change.
- General plant care. From mid-summer to September, glottiphyllum has a period of relative dormancy. At this time, his growth practically stops, while it is required to reduce watering.
- Tongue leaf transplant. It is rarely necessary to transplant glottiphyllum; this procedure is performed as the succulent grows and the pot fills with rosettes. Usually, the frequency of changing the soil and growing capacity in adult specimens occurs every 3 years. A drainage layer is laid at the bottom of the pot, and holes are made in the container for moisture drainage.
The substrate can be used commercially available for succulents or cacti. The volume of soil poured into the container should not exceed 1/3 of the entire pot. You can compose the soil yourself by mixing sod substrate, leafy soil, sand and fine expanded clay (in proportions 1: 1: 0, 5: 0, 5).
Diy Glottiphyllum breeding tips
To get a new plant of "living stones", you can sow seed or cuttings "tongue leaf".
Reproduction using daughter rosettes or leaf cuttings is the easiest. During its growth, glottiphyllum grows many small daughter formations next to the mother bush, which are easily separated from the root processes. This can be done while transplanting the entire plant or by cutting off the daughter rosettes if necessary with a sharp, sterilized knife. Then the daughter rosettes are dried for some time so that the liquid ceases to ooze from them, and then they are planted in separate containers with sandy-peat soil or perlite. After this, the plant is watered very carefully and little by little.
Seeds are sown in containers with a drainage layer and light soil, which is mixed with sand for looseness. The depth of the seed should not exceed 2 mm (it is easier to put the seeds on the ground and lightly powder with the same soil). The container for germination is placed under glass in a well-lit place, but without direct ultraviolet radiation. The germination temperature should be 25-30 degrees. Regular airing and spraying of the substrate from a fine spray bottle will be required. A week later, the first sprouts of glottiphyllum will appear, as soon as their height becomes 3-5 cm, then transplant the seedlings in separate pots. Seedlings begin to accustom to bright lighting gradually. After planting, another 14-17 months must pass before the succulent begins to bloom.
Diseases and pests of glottiphyllum
If the rules for caring for a succulent are often violated, then this leads to the following problems:
- if the substrate is flooded for a long time, rotting of the root system will follow, the leaves will turn yellow, the glottiphyllum will have to be transplanted;
- also observed in the absence of drainage in the pot;
- leaf plates grow disproportionate, and flowering does not occur in the case of "excess" liquid, too nutritious substrate in the pot, or when the dose of fertilizer is very large;
- when the shoots are stretched, then this is a sign of insufficient lighting;
- foliage discharge begins due to too cold air and the action of a draft.
With low humidity, a spider mite can attack the plant, then you will have to treat it with an insecticidal agent, and with excessive humidity, a mealybug appears, which is also removed with insecticides.
Interesting facts and types of glottiphyllum
Plants of the Aizoon family only in the middle of the 17th century began to grow as home flowers, and the British were the first to do this.
- Glottiphyllum related (Glottiphyllum propinquum) is a highly succulent plant that has adapted to survive in very dry areas. Its leaves are arranged in two rows, lingual, grow straight, but sometimes there is a bend. Their length ranges from 4–8 cm with a width of up to 1.5–2 cm. The thickness of the leaf plate does not exceed 0.5 cm. The top of the leaf is flattened on both sides, and the leaf is convex below, the color is light greenish. Blooms in buds with yellow petals. Native territories fall on the lands of the Cape Province (Africa).
- Glottiphyllum linguistic (Glottiphyllum linguiforme) is a native of the rocky desert, located in the Cape province in southwestern South Africa. The plant is short and has a long life cycle, succulent and rather unusual in outline. Shoots reaching a length of 10 cm practically lie on the surface of the soil. They have forked branching. Leaf plates of a light green color, their surface is soft and fleshy, petioles are absent, their location is opposite. At the top, the leaves, pointed with a bend, are very similar in contours to long tongues. Their size reaches 6 cm in length and about 4 cm in width. The flowers, when opened, reach 4–7 cm in diameter, they are located singly, in the leaf axils. The petals are painted in a golden yellow color scheme. The buds are crowned with a short pedicel, the length of which is no more than 4 cm. The flowers on the plant last 3-4 days. Often, several buds bloom on one succulent. The flowering process occurs in spring and autumn, but sometimes it lasts from August to the end of winter. If you want to get seeds, you will need to cross-pollinate. The seeds ripen small, but their number is large, the color is brown. If you plant them immediately after harvesting, then the seeds germinate weakly. It is recommended to sow seed in the spring, when several months have already passed after collection.
- Glottiphyllum Nelii (Glottiphyllum Nelii) has glossy leaf plates painted in a grayish-green color, but when exposed to sunlight, they begin to acquire a reddish tone. The shape of the leaves is lingual. In length, they reach 11–12 cm, with an obliquely chopped off top, which has a bend.
- Glottiphyllum infertile (Glottiphyllum oligocarpun). This representative of succulents looks very much like a pile of stacked stones. The stem of the plant is short, The leaf plates are cylindrical in shape, rounded, they are of different sizes in length, the surface is covered with a matte bloom, The flowers bloom in yellow.
- Glottiphyllum Davis (Glottiphyllum davisii). The plant has a bushy form of growth with stems lying on the ground. Shoots have forked (dichotomous) branching. Leaf plates with oblique-lingual contours or cylindrical. Their sizes range from 12-15 cm. The surface is thick and fleshy, the color of the foliage is bright green. The flowers have golden yellow petals.
- Fragrant glottiphyllum (Glottiphyllum fragrans). A succulent plant from which whole clumps are formed (the plant can cover the ground with itself like a carpet). The leaf plates are juicy with finger-like outlines, flattened, the tips are rounded. The color of the leaves is bright green, the surface is glossy, the leaf is very fragile and easily breakable. It blooms with large yellow buds.
- Glottiphyllum Jordan (Glottiphyllum jordaanianum). The succulent has 9-10 leaf plates, their arrangement is opposite, creeping over time, reaching a length of 7.5 cm, there is a thickening at the base. The color of the leaves is light green, there is a blurry light speck on the surface. The flowers have no pedicels (they are sessile), the petals are yellow.
- Glottiphyllum broadleaf (Glottiphyllum latifolium). The leaves are lingual, almost flattened, soft and fleshy. The color of the leaf plate is bright green. Dimensions in length reach 6 cm with a width of about 4 cm. The arrangement is two-row, the leaves are attached to short dichotomously branched shoots. At the top, the leaf is dull and has a slight upward bend. The flower buds are sessile, they can open up to 7 cm in diameter, the petals are shiny golden.
- Glottiphyllum long (Glottiphyllum longum). Shoots are forked branched, stems are practically recumbent. Leaf plates have oblique-lingual contours or cylindrical. Their length varies between 12-15 cm. The leaves are thick with a fleshy surface, the color is bright greenish. The flowers have golden yellow petals.
- Small-leaved glottiphyllum (Glottiphyllum parvifolium). This succulent has a dwarf size, due to which, growing, it covers the surface of the soil like a carpet. The arrangement of the sheet plates is cross (criss-cross) by 6 units. Separate rosettes are collected from the leaves, which reach 5–8 cm in diameter. The length of the leaves varies in size from 4–6 cm with a width of one and a half to one centimeter. Their outlines are fleshy, in shape they sometimes take on lingual outlines. Their color from bright green changes almost to black, with a long stay under the bright rays of the sun, they acquire a reddish or purple tint. When blooming, flowers appear that are very similar to dandelion buds, which have bright yellow petals.
- Glottiphyllum regal (Glottiphyllum regium). Succulent plant, growing, forming clumps, reaching 13-15 cm in height. Shoots are short, the leaves are elongated, lingual, their color is dark emerald, the surface is shiny, smooth. The yellow buds can open up to 3.5 cm across.
- Glottiphyllum erect (Glottiphyllum surrectum). A dwarf succulent plant, which grows slowly in breadth, covers the soil, forming a kind of carpet. The leaf arrangement is cross, 3 pairs each. Rosettes of leaves reach 5–8 cm across. The leaf plates are short, only 4–6 cm long and up to 0.5–1 cm wide. They are thin, but fleshy, and occasionally acquire lingual outlines. The color of the leaves is bright green, but can reach black, if the plant is in the sun for a long time, it acquires purple or red hues. When blooming, buds appear with a bright yellow color of the petals, when opened, it looks like dandelion flowers.
What does glottiphyllum look like, see:
