Aptenia cordifolia grow and care – herbaceous subshrub succulent of the genus also known as Baby sun rose or Heartleaf iceplant, Aptenia cordifolia perennial evergreen used as ornamental plant it’s drought tolerant and can grow ground cover plant, can grow in mediterranean, desert, subtropics, temperate climate or indoor as houseplant with a lot of light and growing in hardiness zone 9-12.
Leaves edible color green and can be variegata with yellow or white in elliptic shape leaves are fleshy.
More than -3, (better in sandy soil), well-drained soil, indoor
How to care for aptenia cordifolia: Prune one a year, do not overwater, help the plant to make new roots by bending a branch over and covering it with soil, the plant need always to have new roots or else slowly die in this care of method the plants will grow for years
What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seed / Vegetative reproduction – bending a branch over and covering it with soil and keep the soil little moist, cuttings propagation – cut stems possible to put in water take care not to keep it too much time in water if the roots not grow put in the soil, in soil can be leaf or stems keep the soil moist with good drainage don’t over water, better to do it in the spring but possible all year in the tropical.
Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction? No, but for variegata propagation by cutting ensure that it will be variegata
Difficulties or problems when growing: Invasive
Planting season: Spring to summer in hardiness zone 9-10a, spring to autumn in hardiness zone 10b-11, all year in hardiness zone 12+
Pests and diseases: Snails, slugs
Pruning season: All year
How to prune:
Just for design and control
Size of the plant? 20-50 cm, 8-20 inches
Growth speed in optimal condition: Fast growing / Medium growing
Water requirement: Small amount of water / Average amount of water
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing: Full Sun / Half Shade / Full Shade (with a lot of light)
Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant? Yes, indoor care include, change soil once in few year, put small amount of water, prune dead parts
Growing is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers: Yes, when grow in container need to choose the right soil, can be sand soil or potting mix or even peat soil with perlite, care not to put too much water, switch the soil every few years and cut the roots, the container need to be bigger than the root ball 50% or the desirable size if the roots too much big prune the roots and the leaves.
Blooming information
Bloom season: Spring / Summer
General information about the flower Flat flower with multi petals color can be: purple, pink, red or white
Aptenia cordifolia edible leaves
Leaves harvesting season: Spring to autumn in hardiness zone 9-10, all years in hardiness zone 11+
How to harvest the leaves? After the plant establish two option one it’s to cut only the leaves and the other to cut leaves with stems
Information about leaves: Green color or variegata green with yellow or white in elliptic shape leaves are fleshy, better to harvest fully grown young leaves
Uses of Aptenia cordifolia leaves: Cooked
Aptenia cordifolia seeds
Sowing requirement: Location with light and better sandy or well ventilated soil and also good drainage is important
Saving seeds and care until sowing: Dry and dark place in room temperature
Sowing season: Spring will be better but possible in hardiness zone 9 spring to summer, in hardiness zone 10-11 spring to autumn, hardiness zone 12+ all year, better in hot summer location not to sow in the summer
Planting spacing: 20-30cm, (8-12 inches)
Depth of Sowing: 0.5cm, (0.25inches)
Conditions for seeds germinate: Moist soil but do not over water and don’t let it dry
Watering requires for Seeds: Small amount of water / Average amount of water
Germination time: 2-4 weeks
Condition of seedling: Light with moist soil and well ventilated soil
Scientific name:
Aptenia cordifolia
Alternative names: Red apple ice plant, Red apple aptenia, Baby sun rose red apple, Baby sun rose, Aptenia baby sunrose
