Titanopsis

The Titanopsis plant is a succulent from the Aizov family. Representatives of this genus are adapted to life in African deserts. Most often they can be found in countries in the southwest of the continent. In appearance, the leaves of titanopsis hardly differ from the limestones on which they grow. Even their name is translated as "like limestone".

Thanks to its unpretentiousness and endurance, it is not at all difficult to grow titanopsis blooming "pebbles" at home. The plant has a slow rate of development, and its flowering lasts from late August to mid-autumn.

Description of titanopsis

Thick leaves really resemble clusters of small pebbles - they have a fleshy structure and wart growths. The greenish-gray color also adds similarities. At the same time, warts are colored in tones of yellow, red, blue, silver and other colors. During the flowering period, titanopsis becomes more decorative. Single flowers bloom on it, reminiscent of daisies with thin petals. Their petals are usually yellow or orange in color.

Brief rules for growing titanopsis

The table shows brief rules for caring for titanopsis at home.

Titanopsis care at home

Lighting

During the growth period, titanopsis is kept in the brightest light, trying to provide long daylight hours. For a succulent, the south or southeast side is ideal.In winter, the need for light in plants remains, but it should not be direct, but diffused - otherwise, burns from bright direct rays may remain on the foliage. In the spring, the bushes return to the previous light regime gradually.

It is noteworthy that the multi-colored wart growths on the leaves of the plant act as lenses, scattering or focusing the rays falling on them.

Temperature

During the growth period, the unpretentiousness of titanopsis allows it to endure both low temperature and intense heat up to 40 degrees. The optimum temperature in summer is 18-27 degrees during the day and 10-16 degrees at night. In winter, the plant needs to provide coolness - from 5 to 10 degrees.

Watering

In spring and summer, the soil in the pot is moistened as it dries, waiting for the earth to dry out to the very bottom of the pot. Watering titanopsis should be sparse and scarce, especially when there is a long period of cloudy days. Even if, due to drought, the plant begins to shed its buds, it should not be poured - this may result in the development of rot with subsequent death. But in general, during the flowering period, the bushes need a little more moisture.

The bush wintering in the cool is not watered until spring. An exception can be made for specimens with wrinkled foliage.

Humidity level

For the full development of titanopsis, a very low level of humidity is required, therefore, it is impossible to spray and humidify the air near it. For this reason, you should not keep such a succulent next to flowers that need high humidity.

Capacity selection

A wide pot is suitable for growing titanopsis - the plant spreads in width. Despite the small size of the bush itself, its roots have a pivotal structure and are large in size, so the capacity must also be deep. An indispensable condition is the presence of drainage holes that help drain excess moisture. In addition, drainage is laid in the pot and they make sure that the container does not get too hot from the sun - although the bush itself is not afraid of the heat, its roots can react to overheating.

The soil

You can grow titanopsis in light and loose soil. A ready-made substrate for succulents or homemade soil, made up of leafy soil, sand and any drainage elements - granite or brick chips, shells, pumice, etc., is suitable. The soil surface after planting a bush can be covered with fine gravel.

Top dressing

Titanopsis usually does not need regular fertilization, but occasionally it can still be fed using a very weak solution of succulent fertilizer.

Transfer

The bushes have sensitive roots and do not tolerate the transplanting process well. Transplanting titanopsis is required only when necessary, no more than once every 2-3 years. The plant is carefully rolled over to a new place, trying not to destroy the soil coma. This procedure is carried out in the second half of summer - before the beginning of the growth and flowering phase. If damaged or dry roots are found on the plant, they are removed. After transplantation, titanopsis is not watered for about 3 weeks and they try to keep it in a bright place.

Pruning

Titanopsis bushes do not form long shoots and have only shortened stems, so they do not need shaping pruning. If one of the leaves of the plant is damaged, it is carefully cut off until it causes the development of putrefactive processes.

Bloom

Most often, indoor titanopsis bloom at the very end of summer - this time corresponds to the end of winter in their homeland. During this period, in the center of their rosette, the same stone-shaped buds are formed, which turn into single sessile chamomile flowers, painted in shades of orange or lemon. Their size is about 1.5-2 cm. After opening, the flowers do not stay on the bush for long - within a week, closing at night and on cloudy days.

Dormant period

The health of home titanopsis largely depends on proper wintering. At this time, the bushes are resting and need coolness - no more than 10-12 degrees.Plants are kept in diffused light and dry air, protecting them from direct rays. Watering and feeding in the winter is not carried out.

Titanopsis breeding methods

Growing from seeds

You can grow new titanopsis from seeds. In early spring, they are sown in a light and slightly damp substrate, slightly pressing into the ground. Do not sprinkle seeds on top. Such seed will not need preliminary preparation - when soaked, the seeds germinate very quickly and can damage the roots during sowing.

The container with crops is covered with glass or foil and exposed to light in a very warm (about 30 degrees) place, remembering to regularly ventilate the container. The first shoots appear after a few days, but young plants should be dived only six months after germination, allowing them to get stronger. When the seedlings have 3 pairs of true leaves, they are planted in their own small pots. Such titanopsis will begin to bloom only for 2-3 years of cultivation.

Division of sockets

For the reproduction of titanopsis, you can also use the division of large outlets. Usually it is combined with bushes transplants. Each division must have at least three full-fledged roots. All the resulting sections are treated with crushed coal, allowed to dry for several hours, and parts of the bush are planted in separate pots with sandy soil.

After transplanting, such plants are not watered for about 2-3 weeks, giving them time to root. Titanopsis propagated in this way bloom one year after dividing the bush.

Diseases and pests

Titanopsis is almost not affected by diseases and pests, but violations of growing conditions can result in the formation of rot on the roots of the plant. It usually develops due to a combination of coolness with too moist soil. The roots of the affected bush must be cleaned of soil and cut off all rotten areas to healthy places. After that, the roots are treated with a fungicide and the bush is transplanted into fresh soil, without watering it for a while. The irrigation schedule must then be adjusted.

Lack of lighting will not lead to diseases, but it can affect the decorative effect of titanopsis. Its leaves will become more elongated, and the bush will begin to fall apart. Flowering may also become weaker.

Sometimes a spider mite can harm plantings; when it appears, they use acaricide.

Types of titanopsis with photos and names

Of the 4-8 types of titanopsis in room conditions, the following are usually found:

Titanopsis calcarea (Titanopsis calcarea)

Or titanopsis calzarea. It is this type of succulent that is most often grown at home. Titanopsis calcarea can have a variety of foliage hues, ranging from gray-green to beige-orange in color. The flowers have lemon petals. In nature, such plants are ground covers and form a kind of "pillow" by their colonies. The diameter of one rosette reaches 8 cm.

Fuller's Titanopsis (Titanopsis Fulleri)

The silvery green foliage of Titanopsis Fulleri is combined with dark yellow flowers. The size of the leaves is about 2 cm. Sometimes they are reddish, and there are grayish-brown growths along the edges. Flowering occurs in the second half of autumn.

Titanopsis hugo-schlechteri

The color of the leaves of this species can be gray-green or rusty brown. The difference in the species is that the surface of its foliage is slightly shiny. The leaf size reaches 1.5 cm. Titanopsis hugo-schlechteri forms yellow-orange flowers that can appear in winter or spring. Such plants can develop in winter and rest in summer. The juice of this species is sometimes considered slightly poisonous, so work with the bush should be done carefully.

Titanopsis luederitzii

Titanopsis luederitzii bushes have greenish foliage and double flowers, combining shades of white and yellow.