How To Take Care of Aloinopsis Plant

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These past few weeks, we have been looking at different Echeveria plants. But today, we want to look at caring for the Aloinopsis care, a species of ice plant growing in parts of South Africa.

The genus Aloinopsis is a popular succulent with low maintenance care available in attractive shapes like the Aloinopsis schooneesii as a good example.

You can plant them in the garden or in a pot to place indoors.

Aloinopsis Plant Care

Aloinopsis succulent

The consideration remains the same when you look at general care, whether you have the Aloinopsis schooneesii or other species. The highly sought-after plants have a vast root system that gardeners lift from the soil to create a trunk for a bonsai specimen.

There are up to 15 dwarf perennial succulents in the genus or ice plant family. In South Africa, we call them vygies. The succulent produces fleshy leaves with daisy-like flowers with strap-shaped petals instead of single clusters.

The flower is vibrant in color, from white and yellow, to pink, seen in late winter to spring.

The Plant Prefers Loose Ventilated Soil

Whether you grow the succulent potted or in the garden, it needs well-ventilated soil. Hence, you can provide the Aloinopsis with three soil layers when planted. The lower layer is the hydrophobic layer at the bottom of the container.

The layer helps to remove excess water from the root system to prevent root rot. You can use volcanic stone, cermsite, or large-scale media. Even using coal is an excellent choice. Planting in the garden also helps to provide the succulent with bottom drainage.

The middle layer helps to provide nutrients to your plants. You can use a succulent potting medium or one made for cacti. The recommended soil formulation is 4:2:2:2 peat moss, perlite, volcanic rock, and vermiculite.

Lastly, you have the top deco soil to prevent insects and diseases; when completely dry, you know it is time to water. You can use white pebbles, kanuma soil, or akadama soil.

Not Too Much Direct Sunlight For Aloinopsis Plant

Aloinopsis

No matter what species you have, whether the Aloinopsis schooneesii or another, it needs sufficient bright light and part shade. Hence, it requires direct sunlight for up to six hours with partial shade forthe rest of the day.

When your plant grows in a spindling form, it needs more light, and the leaf tissue becomes brittle. The full sun for a long time can damage it, and the original color fades. So, intense light will let it grow in a loose shape turning green and yellow.

While too much sunlight can also burn those gorgeous leaves and stems. It can stop growing and grow compact with shorter internodes.

Water When Soil Surface is Dry

The living stone, another fascinating name for these ice plants, thrives with moderate watering. When watering Aloinopsis, we recommend the soak and dry method. Hence, you can provide deep watering and wait until the soil dries. Also, avoid your plant sitting in excess water, leading to root rot.

You may find the plant outdoors prefer more water in early summer when it is warm compared to winter when cold. Yet, a fact is that succulents, whether hot or low, can enter a dormant period.

When your plant enters the dormant period, it is best not to water too much. Also, keep the environment dry and well-ventilated. Seeing your plant’s leaves curling and wrinkling signifies that it needs watering.

Temperature and Humidity Levels During The Growing Season

The Aloinopsis is not a cold-loving plant and prefers high temperatures to freeze ones. So, you can grow your succulent in the hardiness zones nine to ten outdoors and all other zones as potted plants. The growing season is from early spring to fall and needs little water and should be reduced in late summer to winter.

Fertilizer Needs

succulent fertilizer

As the succulent grows in the wild in poor nutrient soil, it does not need a lot of fertilizer. If you want to boost the growth a bit, it helps to use a slow-release fertilizer at the beginning of summer. Also, please do not feed your plant during the dormant season, as it can cause damage to your succulent growth.

Pruning Your Succulent

As important as it is to provide your plants with a high temperature, deep pot, and good light, it also needs a trim. When planted outside, it can grow too dense branches and be removed from spring to fall.

Propagation of Aloinopsis Schooneesii and Other Species

The succulent can be propagated using seeds you can collect, but germinating them is difficult. Alternatively, you can use leaf cuttings taken from spring to fall. We recommend removing a whole leaf from the mother plant and leaving it to be callous for a few days.

Then you can place the leaf on moist soil with the base as close to the soil. Provide it with enough intense light and only keep it moist until you notice roots developing. Lastly, another excellent way for propagation is selecting the offsets that grow from the parent plant.

Aloinopsis Plant Varieties

As mentioned, the ice plants have quite a few species, and here you can see our favorites.

Aloinopsis malherbei 

Aloinopsis malherbei 

The giant jewel plant you find growing in South Africa produces a thick tuber with yellowish flowers. You only see bumps growing at the leaf tips.

Aloinopsis rosulata

Aloinopsis rosulata

Another fabulous indoor plant is the Aloinopsis rosulata, which grows thick tubers with pink flowers with red stripes.

Aloinopsis schooneesii

Aloinopsis schooneesii

The main feature of this succulent is the strange-looking fleshy stem in green that grows upwards. When it blooms, you see a display of fragrant yellow flowers.

Aloinopsis Plant Diseases and Pests

Some concerns with the species are diseases resulting from a very high temperature in a humid environment. These can include black rot, powdery mildew, to sooty mold. Other concerns are pests like aphids, white butterflies, scale insects to spider mites.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may find that old leaves start to turn yellow, and there is no need to panic. Still, it is a concern if new buds start turning yellow and looking withered. It can be from the lack of fertilizer or the results of sunburn

A water shortage can lead to your plant’s leaves wrinkling, so give it some water.

It can be from the lack of sunlight as it stretches out to receive natural light. You can remove the top section and place it in a bright spot to receive more natural light.

The Aloinopsis is not a rare plant, and you find them at your local nursery. But we have good news: Plantly has a wide selection of ice plants for you.

Whether you want to buy, sell or simply reach out to other plant enthusiasts, Plantly is the right place to be!

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