El Briophyllum Daigramontianum Commonly called Espinazo del Diablo is a plant that can grow to a meter high, has branches that are thick like wavy and modified, which in turn are called photosynthetic branches, they are quite fleshy and with an elongated appearance that can measure about 20 cm in length and 3,2 cm wide
Its branches are green at the top and with some dots that are purple at the bottom, on the edges of each of the branches has some spurs that are bulbous with the shape similar to that of a spoon that have tips with the ability to form roots when they are still attached to it.
Characteristics of the Briophyllum Daigramontianum
This plant has the ability to produce roots on the sides of its main stem, they do not exceed the measurement of 10 or 15 cm above the ground, the branches of the upper part of the Briophyllum Daigramontianum can develop quite large in size.
Likewise, it has the ability to achieve that its main stem has modifications and that it can point downwards, achieving that the adjacent roots can enter the ground and the shoots that are vertical have the ability to develop from the main shoot.
The flowers of this plant are very similar to a parasol and it is made up of small flowers that look like a bell, their color can be greyish, sometimes it has shades of orange.
We can observe the presence of these flowers at the beginning of a warm season and it also has the ability to withstand long periods of drought.
Cultivation of the Briophyllum Daigramontianum plant
This is a rather complicated plant to grow, and it is that the Briophyllum Daigramontianum It is a name that has its origin because of the small plants that form in each of the buds on the leaves of the same.
This is a plant that requires direct sunlight in the morning hours and it has no appreciation for a soil with high humidity, if we want to avoid it, we only have to place it in a pot that has cactus soil, to be able to make it our own, we simply have to place equal parts of a potting soil that is of general use. It is important that we plant our Briophyllum Daigramontianum in a pot that is terracotta that has a hole for drainage.
Briophyllum Daigramontianum care
Each of the species needs moderate watering in the spring as well as in the summer, allowing the substrate to dry out between each watering. In the autumn and winter months we have to wet the earth only when it is dry and the lower the temperature, the less the amount of water.
This is a plant that has to be transplanted every year using a compost especially for cacti To which we can place a little sand to make its drainage easier.
In the spring and summer it is necessary that we compost twice a month at an average dose following the indications of the fertilizer. In the rest of the periods we have to suspend the subscription. If we compost excessively, this plant can lose its compact shape.
Regarding pruning, the leaves we simply have to remove them when little by little they dry out, in order to prevent them from being a link to diseases.
Pests of Briophyllum Daigramontianum
Phytophthora spp is a fungus that can cause rot in the part of the neck of the plant that causes leaves as well as flower stems to dry out.
If we observe some small round spots that are slightly enhanced in green areas we know that it is the fungus Puccinia spp.
When we see spots on the underside of the leaves, it may be the cottony mealybug. Its main feature is a kind of white shield.