Aptenia cordifolia

How to grow Aptenia cordifolia growing and care:

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