Pleiospilos nelii grow and care – leaf plant succulent of the genus Pleiospilos also known as Split rock, Pleiospilos nelii perennial evergreen used as ornamental plant and can use as ground cover plant but after a lot of years, the plant is drought tolerant, can grow in mediterranean, desert or subtropics climate or as houseplant and growing in hardiness zone 10-12a and in the right care in hardiness zone 9b.
Leaves color can be: green, red, blue, orange, brown, purple, brown, pink or more than one color the color structure is clean or with a lot of dots, the leaves shape stone with like little mouth, leaves grow in pairs from each pair of leaves grow one pair inside the old pair in angle 90 degree of growth.
Well drained soil, hot summer cool and dry winter, do not overwater
What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seed / Vegetative reproduction
Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction? No, but it’s easier and faster to start from daughter plant
Difficulties or problems when growing: Sensitive to water
Recommended planting season? All year in hardiness zone 11-12a, spring to summer hardiness zone 10, spring in hardiness zone 9, indoor all the year
Pests and diseases: Slugs
Pruning season: All year
How to prune:
Dead leaves and bloom stems
Size of the plant? 3-7cm, 1-3 inches
Growth speed in optimal condition: Slow growing
Water requirement: Small amount of water, let it dry between watering and do not over water, the plant is drought tolerant and like drought
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing: Half Shade / Full Shade
Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant? Yes, when grow indoor need to put less water because it’s there are less factor that drain the soil, but if there ventilator, air condition and heaters, be aware that it’s dry the air and take care of the plant.
Growing is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers: Yes, in containers need soil that will be with good drainage, possible potting mix or sandy soil, it’s good to use lava grit but after few year need to switch, also potting mix lose the water absorb, this is why sandy will be the best result but need to add small amount of fertilizer, need to choose container that 15% to 30 % bigger than the roots ball and switch to bigger when the plant fill the pot.
Blooming information
Bloom season: Summer / Autumn
General information about the flower Yellow, red, white, pink, orange or purple, flowers with multi petals there like needle is one flower from each pair of leaves.
