Last updated on August 25th, 2023 at 12:36 pm
The aeonium arboreum zwartkop is a beautiful plant that has a tropical flair. This plant is a succulent, which means it can survive in desert-like conditions without much water. The aeonium arboreum zwartkop also does not require any fertilizer or soil enrichment and thrives on just the natural minerals already present in the ground.
This plant has many other benefits as well: for example, it is very easy to grow and propagate from cuttings and clippings. If you’re looking for a new houseplant to fill your space with some greenery, then this might be perfect for you!
The aeonium arboreum zwartkop is native to the Canary Islands and can be found in many other places around the world. It thrives in climates with warm, dry summers and mild winters. This plant needs little water or sun exposure, but it does need rich organic soil with good drainage.
Many aeoniums are a good starter plant for a novice gardener, but the Aeonium arboreum is one of the best. This plant has a lush tropical feel to it and its dark green leaves with small white spots make it stand out against other plants in your garden.
Origin and description
Aeonium arboreum zwartkop comes from the Canary Islands. It is a shrub that can reach up to two meters in height and width, with leaves of about ten centimeters long. The plant has an erect stem with wavy edges, which are greenish-gray or gray-brown at first glance but turn red when young. These red edges are why it is called “red edge succulent.”
The leaves of Aeonium arboreum zwartkop end in a sharp spine on the top, which makes them particularly elegant. The flowers come out at the tip between March and July (in some areas as early as February), forming long flower stalks with hundreds of individual little yellowish-green flowers.
Aeonium arboreum zwartkop can be planted in the ground, but it is more commonly grown as a potted plant or rock garden succulent because of its slow growth habit and susceptibility to root rot when over-watered. As with all other species in the Aeonium genus, this plant does not look so great in the winter because it looses its leaves.
Aeonium arboreum zwartkop propagation
Aeonium arboreum zwartkop propagation is best done by cuttings. These have to be made from the shoots that grow at the base of the plant and should not be longer than 15 centimeters, otherwise, they are too heavy for their own stem and can break off when you remove them from the parent plant. The cuttings should be made after the middle of spring when the plant is still dormant.
This usually means that you have to wait for a while before taking them because they can appear anytime from March till June. When winter has passed and new growth appears, it’s time to take aeonium arboreum cuttings.
Aeonium arboreum zwartkop care
Aeonium arboreum zwartkop care is easy if you choose the right location. This plant does not like full sun, so find a spot with some shade during hot parts of the day. It likes well-draining soil and dry conditions between watering to keep it healthy. While this succulent can do well in low humidity locations, it will do best if humidity is above 30%.
Light requirements
Aeonium arboreum zwartkop is a sun-loving species. Their natural habitat is in rocky, dry areas with little vegetation so they need bright sunlight for at least half the day to thrive well. If you want these plants to grow big and beautiful, provide them with as much light as possible by placing them near south-facing windows or in a greenhouse.
Soil/potting mix
Although these plants are very hardy, they do need porous soil to thrive well. A sandy potting mix is best for them because it helps the plant drain off excess water so that their roots don’t rot easily.
If you notice any signs of rotting on the stem or at the base of your plant, immediately repot it in a clean pot with fresh soil.
Watering
Don’t water these plants too much because they are prone to root rot. It’s best if you allow the soil surface to dry out between watering sessions, just enough so that it doesn’t remain soggy for more than a few hours after each watering. Watering frequency will depend on how sunny your plant is exposed to and its size at the moment.
Fertilizer
Aeonium arboreum zwartkop doesn’t need fertilizer to grow well. Too much feeding will make them weak and they may die because of nutrient burn. However, you can provide them with a balanced organic fertilizer like kelp extract once in a while as this contains all the essential nutrients that these plants require for healthy growth.
You should stop fertilizing your plant when it starts to flower.
Temperature
Aeonium arboreum zwartkop can survive in temperatures as low as -15° Celsius. They are generally known to be hardy succulents that can grow even when exposed to high heat or cold conditions, although they may not flower well if the temperature is too extreme for them.
Humidity
Although these plants grow fine in very dry areas, they still benefit from the occasional misting with water to provide some humidity during winter when your home is too dry for them.
An ideal humidity range is 40% to 60%.
Pruning
Pruning is not necessary for these plants because they grow well without being pruned. However, if you want to control their growth or promote branching, trim the stems back in late winter after flowering has occurred.
They will branch out more and produce side shoots with regular pinching which promotes bushy growth.
When to repot
Once aeonium arboreum zwartkop has filled the pot with roots, it’s time to repot. Since these plants are slow-growing perennials, you can also wait until they have outgrown their pots too much before moving them into larger containers.
When repotting your plant in spring or summer, choose a container that is only slightly larger than your plant’s current pot. This will help it root easily and grow well without falling over or developing a long, leggy stem because of too much space.
You can move these plants into slightly bigger pots every spring until they reach the desired size for their final home in your garden or indoor display area. You should avoid using very large pots because the soil in them will dry out easily, making your plant more prone to root rot.
Dormancy
Aeonium arboreum zwartkop goes into a dormant state during winter when they lose their leaves. During this time, it’s best to place your plant in an area that is cool and doesn’t receive any light because the lack of heat will make them grow more slowly.
When you see new growth on these plants after dormancy ends, you can resume regular watering and feeding.
Flowers & Fragrance
Aeonium arboreum zwartkop produces gorgeous orange-red flowers that are believed to be the main reason why people grow these plants.
These blooms will start appearing once your plant is about three years old, although they may vary in color from red to pink or yellow depending on where you live and their own genetics.
Their fragrance attracts pollinating insects to ensure that they can reproduce.
Growth rate
Aeonium arboreum zwartkop grows slowly and only reaches a size of about two feet after years of growth.
They can also take months to develop their flowers, so it’s best not to prune them too much if you want your plant to grow more quickly and flower well.
These plants are generally considered slow-growers, that make them an ideal choice for gardeners who want something that is easy to care for and won’t grow too quickly.
Toxicity
Aeonium arboreum zwartkop is not considered to be toxic. However, all parts of this plant are poisonous when eaten and can cause digestive problems or even a coma in extreme cases, so it should never be ingested by pets or children.
If your skin comes into contact with the sap from its leaves, you should wash off any excess immediately with soap and water.
USDA Hardiness Zones
Aeonium arboreum zwartkop is hardy in USDA planting zones 11 and 12.
This means that these plants can survive even the coldest winter conditions where temperatures drop below -15° Celsius, although they may not flower as well if it’s too extreme for them.
Pests and diseases
Aeonium arboreum zwartkop is generally a healthy plant that only develops insect problems if it’s not cared for properly.
If your plants are infested with sap-sucking pests such as whitefly, you can remove them by hand and treat the whole plant with an appropriate pesticide to prevent future outbreaks from occurring.
These plants may also get infested with mealybugs, spider mites, or scale insects. Although you can use the same treatment to combat all of these bugs, it’s best to check if they are not resistant to certain pesticides first before applying them to your plant.
Since aeonium arboreum zwartkop is susceptible to root rot, make sure that their soil drains well and that the container has a drainage hole so excess water can escape.
You should also avoid watering your plant with cold water because this may damage its roots or cause them to rot after they have been damaged by pests or diseases in the past.
Conclusion
Aeonium arboreum zwartkop is a beautiful plant that can add color and interest to your garden or indoor display area with its tropical flair.
It’s easy to care for, grows slowly, and produces gorgeous orange-red flowers when it matures. However, make sure you don’t overwater them while they are dormant in the winter because this may cause them to rot.
If you see signs of pests or diseases on your plant, be sure to check if they are resistant to certain chemicals first before using any pesticides on it. Also, protect their roots by making sure that the soil drains well and doesn’t stay too wet for too long after watering them with cold water.
And last but not least, remember that this plant is poisonous and should never be ingested by children or pets.
