Aeonium arboreum: care

Do you like succulent plants? Me too. There are so many! But without a doubt one of the easiest to take care of is the Aeonium arboreum, of which there are other varieties and cultivars, such as 'Atropurpureum', which has brown leaves, or 'Nigrum', which has almost black leaves.

In addition, they multiply very well by cuttings. They take root very well, they grow quite fast, and as if that were not enough, they are not too demanding. Now, if you want to show off your plant, then I will explain what the care of the Aeonium arboreum.

what does he need Aeonium arboreum?

Our protagonist is a succulent plant, or if you want a non-cacti succulent plant to differentiate it from cacti (remember that cacti are also succulents), native to Morocco, but can be grown anywhere where summer temperatures are high and winter temperatures are not extreme. That is, what this plant needs most is heat. It will withstand the cold without any problem, and even some very light frosts, but only if it is kept in a sheltered area..

Likewise, we will have to plant it in a sandy soil, which is capable of absorbing and filtering water quickly. And it is that, apart from the extreme cold, what he fears the most is having his roots waterlogged. That's why it's so good in places like the Mediterranean region, for example, since in many parts of that region - like the town where I live - it only rains a few days a year.

But what else do you need? Of course, when it is grown, it will need someone to provide the care that I am going to tell you about now.

How do you take care of the Aeonium arboreum?

It is a crass simple to maintain, ideal for beginners. So let's talk in detail about your care:

Where should it be placed: outside or inside?

Based on my own experience not only do I advise having it outside, but I will also tell you that you have to have it in an area where it gets the sun for the whole day.

When it is kept indoors, it often happens that it becomes etiolated, that is, its stem begins to grow much in the direction of the most powerful light source. But in doing so, it weakens, loses strength, and can break.

For this reason, It will only be kept indoors in the event that frost is recorded during the winter. And yet, she will put herself in a room where there are windows that let in lots and lots of light.

In a pot or in the ground?

If the land is suitable, you can plant it wherever you want. Just keep in mind that the pot must have holes in its base, and that if winters are very cold in your area, you will have to bring it indoors, so it will be more practical to keep it in a container.

And by the way as a substrate it is possible to use, for example, one specific for cacti and succulents (on sale here), or mix black peat with perlite in equal parts. Even if you want to have it in the garden but the soil you have is very compact, make a hole of about 40 x 40 centimeters, cover the sides -except the base- with a shading mesh, and then put about 20 centimeters of clay (in sale here), and finally substrate for cacti.

When do you have to water it?

As it resists drought very well, will be watered only when the soil is dry. This means that in summer it will be watered once or twice a week, but in winter the irrigations will be spaced out since the soil remains moist for much longer.

In any case, in case of doubt, always check the humidity by inserting a stick, as we indicate in this video:

When should it be paid?

As I said, he really likes the heat, and this is so for a reason: because with it he can grow more. And of course, if we are going to pay it, we will have to do it during the growth period, because that's when you can make the most of it. This season begins when the lowest temperature is about 15ºC, and ends in autumn or winter as soon as the cold returns, that is, when the thermometer begins to show 10ºC or less.

Now, what fertilizer to use? Can be fertilized with a succulent fertilizer, but it must be taken into account that the instructions for use must be followed; that is, we cannot take the dose that we want, but only the one indicated by the container.

How does it reproduce?

Although it can be done by seeds in spring, which will be sown in pots with substrate for succulents, it is much easier to do it by stem cuttings, also in spring or at the latest in summer. To do this, you simply have to cut one and plant it in a pot with the substrate that I just mentioned, and water it. Put it in a sunny place, and go watering from time to time.

You will see that, more or less, in about 14 days it will begin to take root.

What pests do you usually have?

The truth is that it is quite resistant. However, you may have mealybugs, which are removed well with diatomaceous earth. But while it can greatly weaken you, they are the snails and slugs those that cause the most damage, especially if you are still very young.

What is its resistance to cold?

Supports weak frosts down to -2ºC. But be careful: I am talking about very occasional frosts (that is, they occur perhaps once or twice throughout the winter) and of short duration. If your area tends to freeze frequently, it is better to keep it indoors.

And you, do you have any?